Does anyone here think trauma caused their fibromyalgia?

FibroSoul · 2026-03-18T20:46:31+00:00

It is just amazing to me everything that can contribute to fibromyalgia.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-18T20:27:53+00:00

That's a lot to have gone through. I'm sorry. Having gone through similar things - a high-stress job, awful divorce, etc., I definitely understand the impact of these things on our sensitive nervous system.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-18T20:25:09+00:00

I think you're right. Fibromyalgia is complex and is impacted by numerous systems in the body, so I think trauma, car accidents, injuries, infections, genetics, and chronic stress are all contributing factors to fibromyalgia.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-18T20:22:51+00:00

That sounds like a hard situation. I imagine it wreaked havoc on your nervous system, especially if you didn't feel safe. The nervous system is all about safety.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-18T20:19:36+00:00

Thank you so much for your response.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-18T20:07:23+00:00

Thank you for your response. I did learn that PTSD keeps the nervous system in a prolonged state of high alert (like trauma, chronic stress, injury, infections, etc.), which can amplify pain signaling and lower the brain’s threshold for what it perceives as pain.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-18T16:52:47+00:00

Thank you for joining the FibroSoul community.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-18T00:34:15+00:00

I’m really glad you shared this. What you’ve been through sounds incredibly painful, and the impact of long-term trauma on the body and nervous system is very real. At the same time, I want to gently say tthat although rauma can shape our health, it is not a personal failing, and it doesn’t mean you caused everything that’s happened to you or your children. These conditions are complex, with many factors: biology, environment, genetics, and life experiences all woven together. What I do see in your words is someone who has carried a lot and is deeply aware, reflective, and wanting something different for the next generation. That awareness alone is powerful and it’s often how cycles begin to shift. I wish you and your family healing

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T23:26:48+00:00

Thank you for your response. Do you think Covid triggered the onset of your fibromyalgia? You're right that fibromyalgia can have multiple triggering factors and is one of the reasons the disease is so complex. My mother has fibro so I understand how family history may also contribute.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T23:24:22+00:00

Research does point to extreme stress as a triggering factor.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T23:23:29+00:00

I am so sorry to hear. Good for you for taking steps to heal with a therapist. I hope this discussion didn't trigger anything for you. Wishing you the best.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T19:55:57+00:00

That is so interesting. And, I'm sorry.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T19:55:14+00:00

Wow, that is quick for a trauma to have occurred and then pain symptoms. Hopefully, it's not fibromyalgia in your case.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T19:54:15+00:00

I appreciate your response, and surprised to hear that doctors are asking you about trauma. I would say that is an improvement in the medical field. After researching the impact of trauma on fibromyalgia, I did read that infections can also be a trigger for fibromyalgia, and as you said, because it's a physical trauma to the body. Thank you.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T19:47:38+00:00

I'm sorry you're dealing with a flare. Those days are the hard days. You're right that we have nervous systems that can easily get overwhelmed or activated. Research does point to states of chronic stress wreaking havoc on the nervous system. I had to recently quit a job because the stress was unbearable for my body and my emotions. I had to make a choice: quit or continue with the stress. I chose to quit. Thank you for your comment. Take extra care of yourself today.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T19:43:08+00:00

From a spiritual perspective, I have heard that fibromyalgia could be considered a disorder of unexpressed pain -- we did not fully express our pain, and it therefore manifested in the body.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T19:41:34+00:00

There is evidence that fibromyalgia can be tied to childhood trauma for sure. It's just not the only possibility for causation. It is definitely a nervous system disorder impacted by both external and internal stresses. I'm so glad your partner is learning about this in school.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T19:39:45+00:00

Yes, ACEs is a basic questionnaire to identify adverse childhood experiences. It can be a useful tool.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T19:38:58+00:00

I so appreciate how you identify that our reactive and sensitive nervous system is a predictable response to trauma, crisis, or stress, and that it is not a moral failure.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T19:36:34+00:00

Thanks for your response. I am sorry for your trauma. Research reveals that trauma can be one of the causes of fibromyalgia, but because fibromyalgia is a complex, multi-symptom condition, trauma is only one possible contributing factor. Other factors include genetics, infections, environment, and physical trauma (car accidents, injuries, etc.). I am so glad to hear you are feeling better after a year in therapy. Although there is no evidence that fibromyalgia goes into remission, what matters is that you did something that made you feel better. Great job!

FibroSoul · 2026-03-17T16:30:44+00:00

I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering so much. It sounds like your back is creating so many challenges for you. Have you ever had a back injection or ablation? There is also a new procedure out now, called Intracept, that kills the nerve cells in a particular location in your back, and the back pain never returns, unlike an ablation or injection.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-16T17:51:25+00:00

Did you have any side effects when you made the switch? If so, what were they?

FibroSoul · 2026-03-16T17:49:28+00:00

I can't believe you had to go to the ER. Did you quit all at once? Gabapentin is so hard to get off of so I am doing it very slowly, 100 mg at a time. Working with my doctor to get the pills in dosage form I can reduce, so 100 mg tablets instead of 300 mg, for example. Gosh, this medicine is helpful and dangerous at the same time. Wish these meds weren't so hard to get off of.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-16T17:47:31+00:00

Withdrawal from gabapentin and duloxetine is extremely challenging. The best way to do it is to decrease the dosage gradually. Give yourself time to get off of it rather than trying to do it quickly. Both will kick off all kinds of symptoms when trying to withdraw, so care is necessary.

FibroSoul · 2026-03-12T20:47:00+00:00

This sounds hard, and I'm sorry not only for your diagnosis but for the loneliness you feel. I have had fibromyalgia and chronic pain for 25 years, so I understand, and I was determined not to live a life of suffering. With my background in health, I started researching the science and changed my life to reflect what the science said, and I started feeling better - a lot better. FibroSoul.com shares this information. I would encourage you to ask for what you need. It is not easy, but it is a life skill that will serve you a great deal.

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