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How Can Hospital Beds Help Someone With Fibromyalgia?
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Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by muscle and joint pain and stiffness. Roughly 4 million people in the United States alone handle this disorder, and although the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known, there are ways they can treat and manage symptoms. Medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes are all key to treating fibromyalgia, and many people bring home an in-home hospital bed as part of their changes. How Can Hospital Beds Help Someone With Fibromyalgia?
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All of our articles are written by a professional medical writer and edited for accuracy by a hospital bed expert. SonderCare is a Hospital Bed company with locations across the U.S. and Canada. We distribute, install and service our certified home hospital beds across North America. Our staff is made up of several hospital bed experts that have worked in the medical equipment industry for more than 20 years. Read more about our company here.
Fibromyalgia is believed to occur when the brain and spinal cord misinterpret pain signals from sensory nerves. These crisscrossed signals cause pain throughout the body, and patients may develop “tender points” in muscles, joints, and soft tissues. They can experience excruciating pain and discomfort from simple things like being touched or lying down; the feeling of being overworked and worn out can also accompany the condition.
Medical researchers suggest that fibromyalgia lowers the brain’s threshold for pain, making the patient more sensitive to routine touch and pressure compared to those who do not have this medical condition. Recurring episodes of these symptoms can decrease quality of life and lead to profound emotional distress. Many patients also have mobility problems due to dizziness, balance issues, and extreme physical and mental exhaustion characterized by chronic fatigue syndrome.
While there’s no cure for fibromyalgia, it’s possible to minimize symptoms and improve overall health by combining lifestyle changes and medication. Trying a variety of treatment strategies can have a cumulative effect. Many patients turn to in-home hospital beds to improve their sleep and combat daytime fatigue, a common symptom of this condition.
Sleep problems are a common symptom of fibromyalgia. The pain of the pressure from lying down leads those who have fibromyalgia to suffer from a lack of quality sleep. Some data suggest patients experience wakefulness during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep cycle stages and receive less slow-wave sleep. It means they tend to sleep lightly and can’t enter the deeper sleep stages, during which the body repairs and builds tissues, strengthens the immune system, and retains memory.
For some people with the disorder, their sleep disturbances also exacerbate the symptoms. It creates a vicious cycle, where more pain leads to poorer sleep, and it can even create other medical issues. For example, insomnia often occurs in people with fibromyalgia; it’s even a common marker for a medical diagnosis. Defined as persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep, insomnia can worsen fibromyalgia symptoms by decreasing the patient’s pain threshold.
In fact, all forms of sleep deprivation may exacerbate a patient’s feelings of pain and tenderness. Fibromyalgia symptoms can occur in otherwise healthy people struggling with sleep issues. Practicing good sleep hygiene and adopting healthy bedtime habits can alleviate fibromyalgia-related sleep deprivation issues.
Deep sleep is essential for healing the body, refreshing the mind, and diminishing the pain of fibromyalgia. As such, improving sleep quality is a top priority for patients. When they get a good night’s sleep, they are more mentally ready to manage their symptoms during the day. It creates a positive feedback loop; for many, it starts with changing their bed. An in-home hospital bed is especially suited to meet their needs.
The mattress on the bed is vital; fibromyalgia patients should have one that evenly distributes pressure in a way that does not aggravate tender points. SonderCare mattresses have a two-inch Visco-elastic Memory Foam top layer with a cooling gel injection that helps regulate the user’s body temperature while on the mattress. It provides unparalleled pressure redistribution to maximize the comfort of anyone with widespread pain due to fibromyalgia.
For those with the condition who need mobility assistance, the SonderCare bedframe and mattress help, too. The mattress has a firm perimeter edge that supports transfers into and out of bed. If the patient is feeling dizzy or stiff from pain, the high-low elevation and side assist rails give them more stability when they need to get into bed.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia start with musculoskeletal pain, but it’s well known for the many difficulties that extend beyond discomfort. A SonderCare luxury hospital bed can be essential to a patient’s management system. Our signature line of pressure-relieving mattresses and adjustable hospital bed frames can help patients overcome the obstacles posed by this chronic condition.
Adjustable hospital beds and mattresses have been shown to be beneficial for those suffering from fibromyalgia, allowing users to adjust the position of the head or foot of the bed to achieve greater comfort. It is recommended that individuals considering a purchase of an adjustable hospital bed should first test it in-store to ensure that it meets their needs.
One can take a variety of steps to provide support to a family member or friend affected by Fibromyalgia. It is important to educate oneself about the condition, assist with establishing a daily routine, encourage engagement in daily activities, recognize when it is necessary to take a break from activities, and provide emotional support.
The correlation between sleep and fibromyalgia is reciprocal; the symptoms of fibromyalgia can prevent people from obtaining the necessary amount of sleep, and in turn, insufficient sleep can escalate the discomfort and hypersensitivity caused by fibromyalgia. Furthermore, lack of rest can also reduce a person’s pain tolerance.
Individuals with Fibromyalgia may experience pain, disability, and a decreased quality of life. Complications associated with Fibromyalgia in North American adults include increased hospitalization rates: those with Fibromyalgia are twice as likely to require hospitalization compared to those without Fibromyalgia.
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Are you recently discharged from hospital, experiencing mobility issues, or in need of palliative or senior care? Enjoy a smoother recovery and get the luxury you deserve by choosing our home hospital products. Contact us today to discuss home hospital beds, mattresses, stand assist chairs and other accessories to make your home hospice perfect for a truly comfortable experience.
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