Improving Quality of Life with Fibromyalgia

Twin Cities Pain Clinic Nurse Practitioner Nancy Cleveland sees several patients a week with fibromyalgia - and has some life-changing advice for people struggling with the disease.

People with fibromyalgia can improve how they feel. “This may seem out of reach when you’re feeling hopeless and depressed, but it’s true,” said Twin Cities Pain Clinic Nurse Practitioner Nancy Cleveland. The first step is to rule out other more life-threatening diseases because the symptoms can be similar to so many other illnesses.

Fibromyalgia (say: fi-bro-my-al-gee-uh) is a disorder that causes pain in your muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons. The pain is especially intense when pressure is applied to areas called “tender points.” Common tender points are the back of the head, the elbows, the shoulders, the knees, the hip joints, and around the neck.

Fibromyalgia affects around 2% of the population in the United States. This disorder might be hereditary (which means it runs in families), so you may have family members with similar symptoms. More women than men have fibromyalgia.

Eating Your Way to Reduced Pain: Food Tips for Chronic Pain Patients

With treatment from a pain specialist, physical therapy, and some other lifestyle alterations, chronic pain patients can help keep their pain under control. New research is showing that what we eat can also have an effect on the body’s pain levels – especially in fibromyalgia patients.

Many experts blame fibromyalgia pain on oversensitive nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, and certain foods may stimulate the release of neurotransmitters that heighten this pain. While research in the area is young, specialists have compiled a list of healthy and helpful eating tips for chronic pain patients.

We're Moving!

To 7235 Ohms Lane

Twin Cities Pain Clinic will be moving on Nov. 30th to 7235 Ohms Lane in Edina - just 3 miles from our current location. Next month look for more photos of the new clinic space.

Do you know a loved one who suffers from pain?

Call TCPC at 952-841-2345