FAQ: What Age Do You Get Fibromyalgia?

One of the more commonly asked questions that are out there concerning fibromyalgia is just what age do you get this? Is there are certain age that you can start watching for signs and symptoms?

You must remember that we are still looking into fibromyalgia, we are still studying all the ailments that may go along with this issue.

Thus, answers that we are given today could change in the future. However, with this being said, the age at which fibromyalgia strikes a person can vary.

But, more women are affected at the age of 18 years of age and older. This does not mean that men and children are not affected, as they are.

An Interesting Finding…

What is interesting that has been found by those who are comparing their symptoms and talking with each other is that those who are middle aged are feeling the effects more so than someone who is young. Why is this?

Does this mean that it really only flares up once the person gets to the age of 40 years old? No. However, many people are speculating that it is at this age that you seriously start to notice that something is wrong.

It is at this age that you notice just how tired and achy you feel and you no longer ignore the symptoms that you are having.

Many kids who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia are often taken into the doctor with flu like symptoms that are not going away. Many parents have the worry that this could be cancer.

However, blood tests and the doctor’s knowledge of the body show that fibromyalgia is often to blame. Kids who are affected are going to find that it can drastically change the way that they handle everything.

Many become home schooled in order to avoid having to get out and having to deal with the stress of daily school activities. However, it is important that parents still let these kids be kids.

Why Middle Age is When Most People Report Signs?

Why is it that middle age is when most people report that they have signs of having fibromyalgia? Have these signs been dormant since this time?

Has the person done something differently in order to make these signs start appearing? There are several schools of theory on this subject.

For example:

– Many people note that younger adults and teens are rather active and are in better health for being this active. It is a known fact that exercise can help to keep the tired and achy feeling at bay.

– Other people state that other health problems often make themselves known during this time, which is why fibromyalgia often is diagnosed.

– The pain tolerance of a person may decrease as they age, thus they start to notice the symptoms of fibromyalgia starting.

– At this age, the person may have had several physical injuries which is one of the causes that many medical professionals have noted as the beginning of the symptoms.

– Hormones could play a great deal in making these symptoms show up as many women who start having hormonal imbalances show signs of fibromyalgia.

– Emotional stress has been shown to play a huge role in having fibromyalgia. Those who are middle aged are often dealing with numerous stressors, which could explain why this is seen in older adults.

What Can Be Done About Fibromyalgia?

Unfortunately, fibromyalgia is viewed as a chronic illness. Thus, there is no real cure. However, the goal is to minimize the symptoms so that this does not affect the everyday life of the person.

There are several things that people have used in the past to get fibromyalgia under control. These methods include:

1- Exercise more! While it may seem counterintuitive to workout when you are feeling a lot of pain, this can actually be very beneficial to the body. You are going to find that the exercise can help the muscles become stronger and help with the pain that you may be feeling.

2- Massage therapy has been shown to dramatically help a person to feel better. During a massage, the blood flow is encouraged to parts of the body that may not get exercised much. In the end, this also helps with relaxation, which is important for those who are dealing with fibromyalgia.

3- Learning how to take some time for yourself can help fibromyalgia, especially for those who are under a lot of stress from their jobs and lives in general. Many people try mindful meditation to get them in the right state of mind, so to say.

4- Be sure to get enough sleep. This can be a huge issue for those with fibromyalgia, as they often find that they are in pain and this can interfere with their sleep.

However, do whatever you must in order to sleep restfully, as you are going to find that a good night’s sleep can help tremendously the next day.

5- Talk with your doctor about any medications that could help. You are going to find that depression medications have bene shown to help with the emotional toll that this illness can take on a person. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medications that could help you.

6- There are several herbal remedies that people talk about utilizing. However, it should be noted that herbal remedies are not something that you need to jump into without talking with your doctor, especially if you are taking prescription medications.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness. Thus, there is no getting rid of it. And it seems that those who are middle aged are being affected the most.

The key to surviving this is to keep your head up and be optimistic about this illness. It does not have to be a life sentence in which you have to change everything about your life.

There are several hundreds of people who have fully functional lives even though they are suffering with this illness.