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At least one in ten people experience some form of chronic pain. But not all of them have fibromyalgia. Figures like Lady Gaga, Sinead O’Connor and Morgan Freeman have used their fame to bring much-needed visibility to this condition. Yet, despite increased eyeballs and attention, fibromyalgia still remains largely misunderstood.
While chronic pain can take many-a-form, fibromyalgia is deceptively different. Characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties, it tends to affect nearly every aspect of day to day life.
More than seven years ago, Lady Gaga’s Netflix documentaryGaga: Five Foot Twointrigued her fans (and also ones afflicted by the condition) on multiple levels. While the film provided insight into the singer’s personal life, career, and struggles, it also shed light on her battle with fibromyalgia.
What is Fibromyalgia and what causes it?
Fibromyalgia is not just musculoskeletal pain. It affects other systems in the body as well, leading to difficulty concentrating and memory lapses, often labeled as“fibro fog.” There is no cure to the condition, however, treatment can help manage symptoms.
Treatment experiences vary. What may work for one may not work for another. Drugs such as pregabalin and duloxetine, which alter neurotransmitters (gamma amino butyric acid and serotonin) in the brain are often prescribed. TENS machines, using electrical pulses to interfere with pain signals, are another common option for pain management.
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One of the biggest challenges with the condition, both in diagnosing and treating, is that the exact cause remains unclear. What little we do know is that it involves a complex interaction of genetics and dysfunction in the central nervous system. Talking to Vogue in October of 2017Gaga said,
I get so irritated with people who don’t believe fibromyalgia is real. People need to be more compassionate. Chronic pain is no joke. And it’s every day waking up not knowing how you’re going to feel.
Research suggests that up to 50% of an individual’s susceptibility to the condition can be decided by their genes. Before her interview, in early September of that year, Gaga announced she was pushing back the European leg of her world tour due to“severe physical pain.”
She eventually further explained on her social media,“I have to be with my doctors right now so I can be strong and perform for you all for the next 60 years or more.”Almost a week later, it was disclosed that the pain is from fibromyalgia in the Netflix documentaryGaga: Five Foot Two.
Many studies have estimated that fibromyalgia affects around 2% of the world’s population, not a small number by any means of the imagination. Some even suggest a prevalence as high as 6.6% in certain areas. With almost three times the chance of developing the condition, women are disproportionately affected.
Lady Gaga’s personal health and journey with the condition
InGaga: Five Foot Two, a chunk of the documentary explores the influence of Gaga’s deceased aunt, Joanne. Having passed at 19 from systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), Gaga now identifies with her, despite never having met her.“I am Joanne,”she says. Drawing such a connection may seem strange and out of pocket. This may have, however, fueled Gaga’s concerns about her own health, as both lupus and fibromyalgia have genetic components.
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The pop-star hasn’t shied away from admitting how her relationship with chronic pain changes her mood, particularly how emotional stresses makes her physical symptoms a whole lot worse.
Sleep disturbance is another symptom of fibromyalgia, especially non-restorative sleep. In her documentary, theJoker Folie à Deuxstar struggles with maintaining a healthy sleep cycle. At one point, her staff asks if she’ll sleep before the release of her album, and in another scene, she is seen trying to fall asleep on her plane.
The trigger and the diagnosis
In one snippet of her the film,Lady Gagareferences a broken hip as a turning point in her journey with pain. An online survey of 596 fibromyalgia patients revealed that around two-thirds of participants could link the onset of their symptoms to a specific triggering event. This may be the that event for the pop icon – a severe hip injury that cause the onset of fibromyalgia.
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As it happens with many patients, the road to diagnosis was long, winding and not easy for Gaga—with her rather vividly wording it as“chasing this pain”for five years before receiving answers. She is no stranger to how difficult it can be to get diagnosed. We see it in the film too.
Gaga understands that the average person must find it even more difficult to get a timely diagnosis and optimal treatment. The healthcare team she has access to may be financially out of reach for most people. Many of the therapies the pop-star undergoes, such as platelet-rich plasma injections, are not covered by standard healthcare insurance.
How Gaga manages the pain
To deal with her pain, Lady Gaga receives physical treatments such as deep muscle massage, trigger point injections, and various other forms of physical therapy. While these treatments may provide some relief for her pain, they primarily address the physical aspects of her condition.
Despite the focus on and the affect of physical treatments, Gaga is well-aware of the connection between her emotional well-being and her pain. She describes how three failed relationships made both her pain and depression significantly worse.“If I get depressed, my body goes into spasm,”says Gaga. With the mind-body connection that often defines this condition, it also naturally affects one’s mood and ability to live life.
In one of the most poignant moments ofFive Foot Two, Lady Gaga is seen in pain. She is plagued by questions of whether she looks strong enough or if others see her as weak. Covering her face entirely with her hands, she asks,“Do I look pathetic?”
The real impact of this scene, however, isn’t in what we see on screen, but in the fact that she lets us see it at all. By willing to reveal herself at her most vulnerable, Germanotta, brings out one of the most important aspects of the condition – vulnerability is not a sign of weakness.
You can check outGaga: Five Foot TwoonNetflix
Jayant Chhabra
Articles Published :123
Jayant Chhabra is a long-form writer and Creative Producer, who has worked with several renowned publications and production houses. Yet, there’s more to Jayant than meets the word count. You’ll find him cheering for the Red Devils, trying to produce music, or yet again being enamoured by the countless films, essays, and books that he holds close to his heart.
