An amazing connection exists between fibromyalgia and migraine illness- the majority of  fibromyalgia patients also suffer from migraine headaches.  Moreover, some natural ingredients (like magnesium) are equally beneficial for migraine and fibromyalgia patients.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease that causes muscular pain, joint aches, and tactile sensitivity.  Fibromyalgia patients experience sharp pain while doing things that don’t normally cause pain to others, and without any visible sign of injury or inflammation.  Scientists haven’t found an exact cause for fibromyalgia, nor have they discovered a cure, but there are some therapies and natural ingredients that benefit fibromyalgia patients.

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Migraines are a comorbid condition of fibromyalgia

People who suffer from chronic migraine symptoms- debilitating head pain, nausea, stomach cramps, migraine aura, and migraine triggers- have a strong chance of also receiving a diagnosis of chronic fibromyalgia.  Likewise, a high percentage of fibromyalgia sufferers are likely to get diagnosed migraine attacks.  That doesn’t mean that one illness causes the other, only that they often appear side by side in a patient’s medical history.

Migraines and fibromyalgia both respond well to similar medications

Several prescription chronic pain remedies are available as double-duty fibromyalgia-migraine treatments.  Drugs such as Cymbalta, Savella, and Lyrica, “officially” prescribed for fibromyalgia symptoms, are also helpful for easing migraines, depression, and anxiety.  While these fibromyalgia drugs are not approved by the FDA specifically for migraines, it is a commonly accepted practice for headache experts and neurologists to prescribe them for patients who exhibit symptoms of both fibromyalgia and migraine headaches.

Magnesium deficiency is prevalent among migraineurs and fibro sufferers

Magnesium increases stamina, builds and strengthens joint cartilage, regulates and balances healthy metabolic function, and alleviates tension .  For migraineurs or fibro patients seeking natural nutrients for pain, magnesium supplements are the best choice.  That is because scientists have noted a high incidence of magnesium deficiency in patients of migraine and fibromyalgia.

Some of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency are:

• Low levels of Adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), a chemical your body needs for quick bursts of energy, and for all exercises requiring physical exertion.  Fibromyalgia and migraine patients alike often experience severe pain after a workout, or even after minimal physical exercise.
• Hyper-stimulation of the nervous system is a common sign of magnesium deficiency, in addition to fibromyalgia and chronic migraines.  Migraine patients and fibromyalgia sufferers experience a strong overreaction to outside stimuli such as noise, scents, sounds, weather changes, and air pressure, resulting in excruciating throbbing pain.
• Magnesium deficiency causes an increase in substance P, a chemical that your body makes to help perceive pain signals.  The more substance P you have in your system, the more frequently- and intensely- you will experience pain.  Sufferers of migraine illness and fibromyalgia have significantly higher levels of substance P than non-chronic pain sufferers.
• People who have digestive problems are likely to suffer from malnourishment, including deficiency in vitamins and minerals.  Migraine sufferers often experience nausea, stomach cramping, and the urge to vomit.  Fibromyalgia symptoms may include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), gluten intolerance, and other gastrointestinal issues.  Therefore, it’s not surprising that magnesium deficiency would play a strong role in their pain symptoms.

Talk to your headache specialist

If you suffer from migraine illness, and you suspect that you might also have some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, then you should speak to your physician.  A diagnosis of fibromyalgia might lead to finding a successful cure for your chronic pain, either in the form of a prescribed fibromyalgia drug or natural magnesium supplements.

Read more about preventing migraines:

Best Twitter Pages to Follow for Migraine Sufferers- Top 40

Top 25 Fragrance-Free, Migraine-Free Cleansers and Cosmetics

Sources:

• Expert Answer: Migraine & Fibromyalgia
• Fibromyalgia
• Fibromyalgia and migraine, two faces of the same mechanism. Serotonin as the common clue for pathogenesis and therapy- PubMed-NCBI
• MHNI Migraine Headache and Head Pain Treatment – Other Pain Disorders
• Fibromyalgia and Chronic Headaches- Headache Expert
• The Connection Between Magnesium and Fibromyalgia – Associated Content from Yahoo!

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