Fibromyalgiacan cause pain anywhere, includingleg pain.
Some common overlapping conditions can cause or contribute to leg pain, as well.
Fibromyalgia Leg Pain
Fibromyalgia causesabnormal pain typesthat can strike the legs.
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X-rays and imaging studies will show what looks like healthy bones and tissues.
That doesn’t mean the pain isn’t realit is.
Treating Fibromyalgia Leg Pain
Leg pain from fibromyalgia should go away when your fibromyalgia is properly treated.
Neuropathy
Neuropathyis pain from nerve damage.
Movement generally makes the sensations stop temporarily.
The sensations are often described as throbbing, creeping, or pulling.
In many people, these sensations aren’t painful.
However, in fibromyalgia, the brain interprets all unpleasant sensations as painful.
Treating Restless Legs Syndrome
Some cases of RLS are because of another medical condition.
These include:
In those cases, treating the underlying condition may alleviate RLS.
When it’s aggravated, you may developITB syndrome(or “runner’s knee”).
The pain of ITB syndrome usually starts on the outside of your knee.
It may spread up the thigh clear to the hip, as well.
It may be especially noticeable when you go up or down stairs.
It’s unknown whether ITB syndrome is more common in people with fibromyalgia.
Healthcare providers often diagnose ITB syndrome based on symptoms and a physical exam.
If they’re not sure what’s causing the pain, they may order imaging tests, too.
Trigger points in the legs are common.
Many people with fibromyalgia also have MPS.
Symptoms of MPS include:
MPS doesn’t have a diagnostic test.
It then creates specialized cells called antibodies that attack and attempt to destroy that particular part.
That was once thought to be a one-way relationship.
Now, though, newer research suggests fibromyalgia may predispose you to autoimmunity.
Dozens of different autoimmune diseases exist, all with different targets.
Other tests vary depending on what your healthcare provider suspects.
Treating Autoimmune Disease
Treatment depends on which autoimmune disease you have.
By calming the immune system, these drugs scale back the attack on your body.
Summary
Leg pain is common in fibromyalgia.
It may be sparked by fibromyalgia itself or by other conditions that are common in fibromyalgia.
Treatment depends on your diagnosis.
It may include medications, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and CAM treatments.
If it’s not “just” another fibromyalgia symptom, you may be able to treat it successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fibromyalgia causes pain throughout the body, so leg pain is a common symptom.
If pain is only in your legs, however, it’s not fibromyalgia.
It’s impossible to predict how long any fibromyalgia symptom will last.
It’s a chronic (long-lasting) condition, but symptoms fluctuate over time and change with treatment.
A common description of fibromyalgia pain is “a migraine all over your body.”
It may also move around the body or generally stay in the same places.
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