Fibromyalgia and weak connective tissue both cause specific complaints, but the combination of these two defects is often not recognized by doctors. The symptoms are then either labeled as fibromyalgia, or (much less often) as weak connective tissue. However, the combination of these two can make things extra difficult for the patient. Patients often experience a lot of pain. Not just in certain places, but throughout the body, sometimes in the back and sometimes in the legs. Moisture and cold in particular worsen the complaints. Not only are these conditions rarely properly recognized by doctors, but even if they are recognized, the treatment is often not reimbursed by health insurance. Only through expensive additional insurance can a patient sometimes receive some reimbursement for physiotherapy.

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic condition

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disease of the soft tissues, such as muscles, connective tissue and even the intestines are often involved. Fibromyalgia is therefore often called ‘soft tissue rheumatism’. It often looks like rheumatism, but there is usually no trace of it in the blood, so patients often spend years going from one doctor to another before they finally receive the correct diagnosis. A fibromyalgia patient has chronic pain all over the body. Sometimes it’s worse here and sometimes there.

Weak connective tissue (or hypermobility)

Weak connective tissue often occurs in combination with fibromyalgia. The weak connective tissue provides insufficient support to the muscles and joints. This requires greater activity from the muscles to keep the body in balance and upright. In addition, the joints can often bend further than is normally intended.

The muscles have to work harder

The muscles have to supply more energy, but the larger amount of waste products this produces is not always removed quickly enough by the blood. The muscles become stiffer and thus the effect of the symptoms of fibromyalgia is aggravated.

Hands, feet and back often cause the biggest problems

Patients with weak connective tissue and fibromyalgia often cannot open a jar of jam. Their hands just can’t muster that force without hurting badly. They are also more likely to sprain their feet and cannot walk for long periods of time. The vertebrae can also shift more easily relative to each other because the connective tissue around them is too weak to keep them in line with every movement.

Practicing usually doesn’t help

Exercise does not help with this, because even if they exercise their muscles in their feet and legs, their connective tissue does not become stronger. However, they must continue to walk and exercise to keep their muscles optimal, although their muscles will always tire more quickly than those of their peers. This is usually noticeable, especially as we get older. The muscles of the back and neck are also required more than is the case with healthy people. This also results in more pain complaints (and often headaches).

Fatigue due to the extra effort that the muscles have to make

Anyone who has a combination of fibromyalgia and weak connective tissue therefore gets tired much faster than healthy people. Regular rest and good sleep are necessary, but even during rest and sleep, the connective tissue and muscles do not recover completely, as is the case in healthy people. Patients often do not wake up rested in the morning, but feel tired again when they have only just gotten up.

Intestinal problems in the combination of fibromyalgia and weak connective tissue

Intestinal problems also occur quite often with the combination of fibromyalgia and weak connective tissue. This in turn means that too few good foods, vitamins and building materials are absorbed into the body, so that the overtired muscles and connective tissue do not even receive the necessary support that they should actually have.

Infections can develop more quickly

Where waste products linger for too long and are not removed in a timely manner, infections can occur more easily. Many people with weak connective tissue and fibromyalgia regularly have small inflammations in connective tissue and muscles, which can cause a slight increase in temperature and their blood sedimentation rate is often too high. These symptoms also cause extra fatigue.

Exercise is very important

However, staying active is necessary. Anyone who stays on the couch and does not regularly go for a walk or exercise in some other way will develop increasingly stiff muscles. Things get ‘stuck’, after which it takes a lot of physiotherapy and a lot of pain to be able to function somewhat normally again. Walking every day is therefore very wise.

Healthy food and drinks

One of the most important ways to stay as healthy as possible with this combination of problems is to eat and drink as healthily as possible. This means as few refined sugars and as few added substances as possible.

No ready-made food

Prepare as much fresh food as possible. No ready-made soups, sauces, seasoned and/or breaded meat and so on. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and a good variety of other foods are therefore necessary. It all takes a bit more work, but it is usually not only better for the body, but also much tastier.

Deal with the defects sensibly

The combination of fibromyalgia and hypermobility does not have to entail major limitations. Once you have been diagnosed, try to organize your life in such a way that it limits you as little as possible. For example, if you can only walk for two hours at a time, do not take longer walks, but make sure that you walk regularly for those two hours, so that it does not become less and less.

Do not exercise excessively

Don’t join a walking club that will walk for four hours, after which you won’t be able to stand on your feet for two days. Also try to spread the exercise activities over the day if possible, so that periods of rest are alternated with periods of exercise. If you have an office job, take the stairs more often than the elevator, alternate sitting now and then with a walk to the warehouse, getting up to grab something, and so on.

Cold and moisture are disastrous

Cold and damp are not only bad for people with rheumatism, but also for people with weak connective tissue and fibromyalgia. Therefore, make sure you wear warm clothing, especially in autumn and winter, and keep your hands and feet warm. Good blood circulation prevents more pain and more restriction of movement. Also have a weather station at home, so that you can measure the humidity in your home and then take measures against it.

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