![]() So, it’s almost certainly not be as simple as saying that injuries to the nervous system cause fibromyalgia. But neurological symptoms like hyperreflexia might be a sign that there is some sort of relationship between the condition and the nervous system. Of course, many people who have fibromyalgia have never suffered those kinds of injuries. This might mean that damage to the nervous system can actually lead to fibromyalgia. This makes you more sensitive to sources of pain and may play a role in how intense your fibromyalgia symptoms are.Īnd what’s particularly interesting is that fibromyalgia is 13 times more likely after an injury to the neck or spine than to the lower limbs. ![]() Often, trauma to the nerves like that of serious injuries creates something called central sensitization. We know that those kinds of injuries can have a serious impact on the nervous system. Not only that, but many people who develop fibromyalgia do so after a serious injury. Studies have shown that these symptoms are so common that it suggests a link between the disease itself and the neurological conditions. Many people with fibromyalgia have neurological symptoms like tingling in the limbs, chronic itching, and often problems with motor skills. In fact, fibromyalgia may be more closely related to the nervous system than we ever realized. What might be most interesting about the relationship between neurological symptoms like hyperreflexia and fibromyalgia is what it can tell us about the possible cause of the disease itself. Patients with fibromyalgia are more likely to show neurological symptoms that the general population. And there does seem to be a significant link between the nervous system and the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Obviously, the condition has something to do with the nervous system. We aren’t completely sure why some people with fibromyalgia have hyperreflexia. And for reasons we don’t completely understand, there seems to be a link between the condition and fibromyalgia. So can imbalances of electrolytes in the body. Certain medications can lead to the condition. But there are a lot of things that can lead to the condition. The most common cause of hyperreflexia is spinal cord injury. These sorts of over-active reflexes are a good sign that you’re suffering from hyperreflexia. In this case, a light touch to the jaw might cause the mouth to suddenly clench. In cases of hyperreflexia, the natural motion of extending the fingers can cause them to suddenly contract. Or there’s the jaw jerk reflex. And this reaction can take a few different forms.įor instance, there are the finger flexion reflexes. Usually, that means that you become more sensitive to things that stimulate the reflexes. Hyperreflexia is a condition where, as you might have guessed from the name, your reflexes become more sensitive. So, let’s talk about what hyperreflexia is, how it might be related to fibromyalgia, and what you can do to treat it. And while the condition isn’t life-threatening, it can be difficult to live with. Hyperreflexia is a neurological symptom, meaning that it’s related to the brain and nervous system. For instance, many people with fibromyalgia experience something called hyperreflexia. Generally upper motor neuron (UMN) lesions result in hyperreflexia while lower motor neuron (LMN) lesions result in hyporeflexia.While we often think of fibromyalgia as a disease of the body, many people with the condition suffer from symptoms related to the brain. Of course you should correlate the reflex findings with the sensory findings and motor strength ( remember the good old ASIA exam for testing specific nerve roots) to help determine if it is a terminal branch issue or something higher up.Īnd don’t forget to grade those reflexes! Grade Only triceps absent – potential problem with C7.Both brachioradialis and triceps absent – problem with the radial nerve.Only biceps reflex absent – might be problem with musculocutaneous nerve or C5.One of the ways to help suss this out is by testing the deep tendon reflexes. The problem is that someone comes in with weakness or numbness and you need to think, “Where in the brain/spine/nerve root/bits of brachial plexus/terminal branch is the actual problem?!”
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