I owe an apology to many of the ladies is some of the various fibro Facebook groups I’ve been it. There have been many conversations over the years about Fibromites whose *hair* hurts. Turns out it’s a form of allodynia
I always assumed that they were talking about head pain but not the sensation that it actually does feel like your hair actually hurts – not your scalp. You see, over the years I have had a bunch of concussions.. Three of those concussion inflame on occassion, so I will have swelling & tender points on my scalp. I can even tell which incident it was.. One of my bike accidents? Falling on the ice at school? Accidentally bashing my head against a wall?
Well, nope, that is not the feeling it turns out. Those repetitive reactions are *not* what these women mean. I found that out today.
I was brushing my hair like I normally do, and decided to wash my hair. When I do this because my hair is so thick I tend to flip my hair over and back brush to get the hair to relax so I can more effectively clean it. Well my head felt weird bending over and putting my hair down.. I started your back brush from the base of my skull and I was good until I got about 4 in down then – Oh! My! God!! My hair was in agony.. Not my scalp – My Hair!
So I stopped brushing my hair stood up flipping my hair back & again – Oh My God! More excruciating pain. I had to have a shower because I was stinky from heat sweat, I still had to do something with my hair. I put it in a quick loose bun that was clipped in not elasticized in.. I found that was the least painful option for hopping into the shower..
I can still brush my hair normally and it doesn’t bother me but if I could try to do anything else for my hair right now, I’m f**ked..
So I owe these ladies an apology cuz I was thinking their issue was not so bad cuz my version wasn’t too bad. I should know better.. Cuz my Fibro is not her Fibro & her Fibro is not my Fibro.
A little research yeilded this information:
Apparently the number one culprit for this kind of pain is not washing your hair.. The oils that your scalp produces naturally accumulate around your hair shaft, and if not cleaned can promote an overgrowth of yeast on the scalp. It is apparently the region around each hair, pore, or follicle that is becoming inflamed, which translates to sensitivity that can feel like your hair hurts.
Wearing your hair in the same style, like a high ponytail, cornrows, buns, or braids for days at a time, can also contribute to more pain.
How can we help it? It all depends on what hair type you’re starting off with. Finer hair can’t go multiple days, because it produces more oil, Yet curly or gray hair can, as it produces less. As a rule of thumb, people with oily hair should shampoo every day or every other day. Dry or coarser hair should do every three to four days.
I know we tend to be exhausted an washing one’s hair is an exhausting chore, but consider that it might be worth it.
Fibromyalgia 