Fibromyalgia and Bruising: Effects of an invisible disease

Does Fibromyalgia Cause Bruising?

Some days are better than others for sufferers of fibromyalgia. The bad days can make you feel like you’ve been beaten black and blue. The least touch, handshake, hug or squeeze can be agonizing, leaving you sore, painful and shying away from contact with those you love the most. One sufferer of fibromyalgia defined it this manner:

“Every single inch of me feels injured, tender to touch. My shirt touching against my arm feels like somebody pushing on a bruise. Initially it was just my upper arms, then my shoulders, chest and abdomen joined in this tender fest. When I bow down, my skin hurts as it creases against itself.”

Oftentimes, that bruised feeling is considerably more than a feeling; it is real bruises, mysterious marks on the arms, legs, hips and several parts of the body. I experienced this for myself just yesterday.

During my once a night facial cleansing, I went to dry my face and just under my left eye, was an unpleasant purple bruise. I had not bumped my face or rubbed my eyes with unnecessary pressure, at least not enough to cause bruising, still there it was for all to see.

Bruising and Tender Skin

It is assessed that between 70 and 80 percent of people with fibromyalgia suffer from skin complications related with their illness. On top of the skin problems, these complaints frequently make fibromyalgia symptoms even worse.

In addition to the additional pain, they can be unattractive, and cause some FM sufferers to retreat from social events. It just looks easier to stay home than to manage with the humiliation or the embarrassment of trying to clarify.

Two common skin problems are:

Tender skin: As formerly stated, many fibromyalgia sufferers inform that their skin really hurts when it is touched. Denoted as allodynia, this sensitive skin can cause many difficulties, from soreness and swelling, to bruising and scarring. Although the reasons of tender skin are still an unknown to doctors, scientists and researchers, it is speculated that allodynia may be a straight outcome of a dysfunction in the brain’s central nervous system. Fibromyalgia stops the brain from understanding pain signals properly, and this may cause the skin to feel sore or tender to the touch.

Rashes: A fibromyalgia skin rash frequently develops on the body as an outcome of dry skin and itching. These skin rashes look as raised bumps on the skin, and can sometimes be scaly and rough to the touch. Some sufferers have noted that after rubbing these parts even lightly, profound bruising happens lasting for days and occasionally weeks.

Where Are These Unexplained Bruises Coming From?

For a suffer of FM, pain is an ordinary incidence so occasionally a bump to the leg, stub of a toe, or pinch of a finger might not go as noted as it would by someone who does not deal with pain on a day-to-day basis. Pain is a cause that something is incorrect or something has taken place that require care. However, if pain is a part of one’s daily life, certain mishaps may not even be observed until a mysterious bruise abruptly appears.

Some of the more noticeable reasons of bruises, and why they seem to appear out of nowhere, include:

Clumsiness: Due to loss of movement sometimes, those suffering from fibromyalgia discover they are clumsier than they have been in the past. Disequilibrium (imbalance in your inner ear) can originate dizziness and light headedness to the point of trembling and hitting into furniture and walls. This could explain for some of the bruising we don’t even notice until later.

Fibro fog: because of chronic tiredness, poor sleep, consistent pain, vitamin deficiencies, etc., FM sufferers fight with amnesia, clarity of thinking and more. It is likely that certain accidents during the day that might have produced bruising were just forgotten.

Sleep deprivation: Due to the absence of sleep, muscle repair does not happen well for those suffering with fibromyalgia, and consequently muscles take longer to restore and regenerate after micro wounds or trauma, as is experienced by every person in day to day life.

How to Cope

If you are facing easy bruising on a everyday basis, there are some useful things you can do to decrease the danger of trauma to your skin and muscles. If tangled in extra vigorous events, wear protecting outfit.

If kneeling, put padding underneath your knees and legs. If working with arms relaxing on a desk or countertop, place a soft fabric or small cushion under your arms. Evade activities that will lead to tough blows.

If bruising originates with a rash or itchy skin, inquire your doctor about creams or ointments to fight the need to scratch, thus evading likely bruising.

Also, oral medicines may require to be adjusted for severe bruising; but, never stop taking any medications or supplements without formerly chatting with your doctor. Should the bruising become severe, there could be another underlying condition; inform noteworthy variations to your doctor.

Lastly, treat yourself with the extreme carefulness. Some things cannot be evaded. Do not exhaust yourself up mentally for physical conditions outside your control. Make the alterations you can and be accommodating of yourself and the things that cannot be evaded.

Make every effort to relish each day and experience enjoyable moments in your day, no matter how minor. There is life outside the flare-ups, pain and regular irritations. Keep pressing through.

Resources

eHealth Forum (Easy Bruising)

eHow (Is Bruising a Symptom of Fibromyalgia)

NLO( Fibromyalgia and effect of brusing)

For support and Discussion join the group “Living with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Illness”

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