Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Sleep Apnea

Does Sleep Apnea Cause Fybromyalgia Symptoms?

Discover why so many people with sleep apnea have fibromyalgia.

How can you treat fibromyalgia?

What is Fibromyalgia (FM)?

Many patients with obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome experience rheumatic manifestation and fibromyalgia symptoms.

The disease is more prevalent in women, especially after menopause, and the age of the patients is between 30 and 50 years of age.

You can find a short description of fibromyalgia symptoms in this video:

Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Signs

• inadequate sleep,
• insomnia,
• early morning awakenings,
• fatigue,
• dizziness,
• mental-concentration difficulties,
• memory fog,
• anxiety,
• depression

An interesting description of fibromyalgia symptoms by a real patient:

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

• after a trauma - like a car accident,
• due to some viruses who can attack the nervous system,
• sleep deprivation - this can increase pain sensitivity,
• many patients with upper airway resistance syndrome or sleep apnea have also symptoms of fibromyalgia.

This video explains more about the causes of fibromyalgia:

The Link Between Fibromyalgia and Sleep Disorders

You can read more in the article about Rheumatic manifestations of sleep disorders.

Another study discusses about obstructive sleep apnea being a direct cause of fibromyalgia; however, although sleep apnea is found in select patients with FM, it does not appear to be responsible for symptoms of fibromyalgia.

You can read more in the article about Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome as an uncommon cause of fibromyalgia.

Encouraging is the fact that patients with a successful sleep apnea treatment can also diminish or even cure the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

When the sleep quality increases using the CPAP therapy, the pain intensity decreases. If the therapy stops, the chronic pain will reappear.

Fibromyalgia Treatment

More exactly, polysomnographic studies of patients with fibromyalgia describe a multitude of sleep related issues (also caused by sleep apnea), such as:

• decrease in sleep efficiency,
• decrease in total sleep time,
• increase in frequency of arousals and awakenings.

The spectral electroencephalographic (EEG) analyses of patients with fibromyalgia have demonstrated an increase power in alpha frequency bands, which has been correlated with worsening of pain after sleep.

That's why the natural treatment for fibromyalgia is:

• good sleep hygiene, such as: keeping a regular sleep-wake schedule, ensuring adequate sleep time, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, which can interfere with sleep),
• exercise,
• and cognitive behavioral therapy: rest, warm baths, heat and relaxation.

This video explain why the exercises can ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia:

More info in the article about Non-pharmacological therapy and complementary and alternative medicine in fibromyalgia

Regarding the treatment with medicine, some chemicals can be useful for one patient but ineffective for others. That's why is important for the treatment strategies to be individualized.

These medications are:

• tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline),
• nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic drugs,
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine),
• gabapentin,
• Sodium oxybate (Xyrem) reduces pain and fatigue symptoms, and it improves sleep quality in patients with fibromyalgia,
• pregabalin, which is the only drug approved by the FDA for treating and managing fibromyalgia.

Bottom line...Patients with fibromyalgia symptoms should be evaluated for sleep disorders, including obstructive apnea and restless legs syndrome. In these type of patients, CPAP therapy can be really helpful, improving the fatigue, pain and sleep problems altogether.

Some more interesting pages for you to check out:

• Multiple Sleep Latency Test

• Obstructive sleep apnea in children

• Parasomnia, from from simple movements in sleep to very complex behaviors

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