Symptom 8. Headaches or Migraines: A Real Headbanger
Headaches and migraines are another symptom that frequently affects those with fibromyalgia. However, these aren’t just your typical, tension-type headaches. People with fibromyalgia often experience chronic daily headaches that can be incapacitating. Think of it as an intense pressure, almost as if your head is in a vise.
The pain can vary from a constant dull ache to sharp, throbbing pain, often accompanied by increased sensitivity to light or sound. It can feel as though someone’s playing a ruthless drum solo in your head, disrupting your day and making concentration a battle.
And then there are the migraines – severe headaches characterized by intense, pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head. Migraines can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.
It’s worth noting that headaches and migraines can often be triggered or worsened by stress, sleep deprivation, and certain foods – factors that are already a significant part of life for those with fibromyalgia, thus creating a challenging cycle to break. (*)
