To help cut through the brain fog and thinking more clearly, here are some strategies: Exercise your body You and your doctor will determine the best plan for you. But the goal is the same: help minimize symptoms and improve general health. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to managing fibromyalgia, says Dr. It’s important to stick to your fibromyalgia treatment plan, which may include medication, therapy, and self-care. The cognitive effects of fibromyalgia can be challenging, and - as some CreakyJoints members admit - embarrassing. More research is needed as to how and why fibromyalgia is associated with cognitive problems. One study published in the journal PLOS One suggests many of the cognitive issues experienced by patients with fibromyalgia can be attributed to depression. Morris.ĭepression, which is common among people with fibro, may be another factor. Sleep deprivation can cause processing problems, adds Dr. Sleep is often disrupted by pain, and many patients with fibromyalgia have other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea. “All of the things that are interacting in some of the same pathways that are causing the pain might be having the same effect on thought processes,” he explains.įibro fog may also be associated with other aspects of fibromyalgia, such as poor sleep. There is a dysregulation of how certain neurologic pathways and neurotransmitters function within the brain, which may also play a role in cognitive issues. Managing chronic pain demands attention and may some take mental effort, which can reduce available cognitive processing resources and affect performance on a cognitive task.Īlso, fibromyalgia in and of itself is a neurologic health problem, adds Dr. Some experts theorize that fibro fog may be related to the impact of fibromyalgia pain. It makes you feel like you’re losing your mind, CreakyJoints member Sharon C. In fact, patients with fibromyalgia often report that these cognitive symptoms are more disabling than their pain. The impact of fibro fog on everyday life is significant. Some research has also shown deficits in what’s known as executive functioning skills, such as planning abilities, decision making, and abstract thinking. Problems thinking clearly or mental slowness.Impaired ability to concentrate or stay focused.You can’t find the words you want to say or you misspeak without realizing it. When you have fibro fog, it can cause you to be in a state of confusion that you don’t even know you’re in, CreakyJoints member Joan W. These cognitive difficulties - called fibro fog - are common: Research suggests more than half of people with fibromyalgia show a decline in memory and clear thinking. It can also lead to problems with memory or thinking clearly. What Exactly Is Fibro Fog?įibromyalgia causes aches and pains all over the body, as well as fatigue, sleep, and mood issues. Patients will say they seem more forgetful or feel like they’re walking around in a daze all the time. “Fibro fog is something we hear about quite a bit,” says Christopher Morris, MD, a rheumatologist with Arthritis Associates of Kingsport, in Tennessee. But it is one that can be just as problematic as the pain that’s characteristic of the condition. Another describes it as being under water - where your senses are dulled and movement is slow and clumsy.įibro fog, or brain fog, is symptom of fibromyalgia that you may not expect. That’s what fibro fog feels like to CreakyJoints member Kathy M. You feel hungover, and typically hurt everywhere. Then it all trickles back to reality slowly. And then falling asleep and waking up with no idea where you are, who you are, and what somebody just said - you see mouths moving, but it’s gibberish. It’s like wearing one ear plug, floppy shoes, and a parka while swimming through a muddy ditch.
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