Fibromyalgia & Other Chronic Pain Syndromes

FIBROMYALGIA

You hurt all over with “flu like” aching symptoms, do not get a restful night’s sleep, and you frequently feel exhausted. Even after numerous tests, your doctor can not find anything specifically wrong with you. If this sounds familiar, you may have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome, characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and sensitivity in specific tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain. Other “traveler symptoms” include: alternating diarrhea or constipation (irritable bowel syndrome), grinding of your teeth and/or TMJ, and irregular menstrual cycle in woman.

Fibromyalgia is more common in women than in men. Previously, fibromyalgia was known by other names such as fibrositis, chronic muscle pain syndrome, psychogenic rheumatism, and tension myalgias. Although the intensity of your symptoms may vary (“wax and wane”), the condition is usually chronic.  

The exact cause of fibromyalgia remains elusive, but there are many triggering events thought to precipitate its onset. A few examples would be a specific event, like an automobile accident or slip and fall where one sustains injuries, a failed surgery, an infection (viral or bacteria), or the development of another disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, or lupus. These triggering events probably don’t cause fibromyalgia, but rather, they awaken an underlying physiological abnormality that’s already present.

CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROMES

Description of Chronic Pain Syndrome

Rare is the person who has not experienced pain and misery from a kidney stone, eye scratch, childbirth, or other problem. But the eye healed, the stone was passed, and the baby born. In each case, pain flared up in response to a known cause. With treatment, or with the body’s healing powers alone, the pain went away.

Chronic pain is different in that it persists. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, even years. There may have been an initial mishap such as a sprained back, an unsuccessful surgery, or an emotional traumatizing event. However, some people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of body damage. Whatever the matter may be, chronic pain is real, unrelenting, and demoralizing.

Pain of such proportions often overwhelms all other symptoms and becomes the problem. People may not be able to work. Many of a persons activities of daily living are affected, such as their ability to sleep, drive/ride in a car, get dressed, bathroom habits (often due to medication), and even sexual function can be affected. People in chronic pain often have emotional issues. The emotional issues stem from the fact the person is “living in pain,” as well as the impact the pain has on the persons activities of daily living. Physical activity of any kind is often exhausting and may exacerbate the pain.

Soon the person becomes the victim of a vicious circle in which total preoccupation with pain leads to irritability and depression. The sufferer cannot sleep at night and the next day’s weariness compounds the problem, leading to more irritability, depression, and pain. Specialists call that unhappy state the “terrible triad” of suffering, sleeplessness, and sadness, a calamity that is as hard on the family as it is on the victim.

The urge to do something, anything, to stop the pain makes some patients drug-dependent, drives others to undergo repeated operations or worse, and resort to questionable practitioners who promise quick and permanent “cures.”

Chronic pain may be from low back pain, other orthopedic pains, headache, or perhaps arthritis pain. Other pain disorders stem from neuralgias and neuropathies that affect nerves throughout the body.

The Law Firm of Rowen, Gurvey & Win has the pre-eminent reputation in the state of California for representing clients in their workers’ compensation claims who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and/or other chronic pain syndromes. Our firm has had great success in the settlement of these “chronic pain syndrome” cases. The settlement of fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome cases depends upon several factors, including the severity of symptoms, the need for medical care, the age of the individual, and the extent of permanent disability/whole person impairment. In addition, for those who are able to continue to work, the firm has stipulated to specific permanent disability/whole person impairment percentages and lifetime medical care, including multidisciplinary treatment modalities for both physical and psychological treatment.

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of our website for further information on the California workers’ compensation system and the benefits to injured workers, provided under the California workers’ compensation laws.

For further information and a free consultation , please contact us: (818) 981-9960.