Stuff About Fibromyalgia

Introduction

Fibromyalgia is a neurological chronic condition that affects the musculoskeletal tissues of the body. It is a complex chronic condition which predominantly affects women. In fact, the latest statistics show us that 9 out of every 10 sufferers are women.

The disorder is mostly responsible for inducing discomfort, pain and fatigue in the muscles, ligaments, tendons and in the areas surrounding the joints. People who suffer from fibromyalgia are constantly confronted with intense pain that tends to reoccur on a regular time basis.

While this condition does not affect the sufferers life span, full recovery from Fibromyalgia is very uncommon and where this happens, the likelihood of a recurrence is very high.

What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

An interesting aspect of fibromyalgia is that it can be very difficult to detect in some patients. The symptoms of fibromyalgia are common to many other conditions and therefore they can be misleading in establishing the appropriate diagnose.

The main symptom of Fibromyalgia is that of pain, tender areas of the body and tiredness. However, the symptoms which each patient suffers from vary in both number and degree. The severity of the symptoms can vary due to the level of stress, general lifestyle choices and sometimes even the weather. None of the most common symptoms are visible outwardly, which is why it is classified as an “invisible illness”. All this can make diagnosis of Fibromyalgia very difficult.

Although some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia may resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis, people with fibromyalgia seem to be in perfect health when they are examined by a physician, revealing no signs of muscular dysfunctions.

Basic physical examinations and common laboratory tests usually don’t reveal the presence of fibromyalgia. This is due to the fact that pain, fatigue and discomfort are mentally induced to patients with fibromyalgia, as a consequence of abnormal activity of their nervous system.

Although they show no physical abnormalities or dysfunctions, their experienced pain is real!

There is a big list of the most common symptoms which includes, but is not limited to:

Fatigue, severe tiredness and a significant lack of stamina

Headaches and facial pain, often as a result of neck, shoulder and jaw muscle stiffness

General pain and stiffness especially in the trunk and abdomen

Specific soreness and tenderness

An itching or burning pain accompanied occasionally with a muscle spasm

Irritable bowels or bladder, also a need or urgency to pass urine

Anxiety and depression

Poor concentration

Restlessness in legs

What is the cause of Fibromyalgia?

A high output of the mesencephalon (the upper region of the brain) accelerates the heart rate, increases blood pressure and raises the body temperature.

People with fibromyalgia often experience sudden changes in body temperature and sometimes they sweat abundantly and even have fever. Also, a high activity of the mesencephalon is responsible for difficulties in falling asleep and inconstant sleep patterns. Most people who suffer from fibromyalgia have trouble sleeping and in some cases they even suffer from insomnia.

Therefore, the cause for fibromyalgia lack of sleep is thought to be the abnormal activity of the mesencephalon. The permanent fatigue felt throughout the whole body by people with the disorder is amplified by inappropriate sleeping patterns, un-refreshing sleep or insomnia.

Another part of the brain that is considered to be responsible for inducing other fibromyalgia symptoms (anxiety, depression, lack of concentration, poor cognitive abilities, loss of short-term memory and confusion) is the cerebellum. A lower activity of the cerebellum is thought to be the cause of other fibromyalgia symptoms and the majority of people who suffer from the disorder reveal abnormal activity of both cerebellum and mesencephalon.

How to treat Fibromyalgia

The treatment of Fibromyalgia generally consists of relieving the symptoms. There are a variety of medical methods, plus there are a number of things which you can personally do to help relieve the symptoms.

The self-help methods include

Increase your level of exercise. It has been shown that those patients with high levels of aerobic fitness generally suffer less from Fibromyalgia.

Regular stretching or yoga.

Avoid using nasal decongestants and also reduce your consumption of coffee and alcohol.

Sometimes more easily said than done, but by controlling your emotions and behavior, hopefully this will reduce your stress levels.

On top of these self help methods, your doctor will probably be able to reduce your symptoms by:

Prescribing low dose tricyclic anti-depressants to deal with the serotonin deficiency. This will help to promote better sleep and hopefully reduce the pain.

Local anesthetic mixed with corticosteroids for local pain relief.

Pain killers e.g. paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

In some cases, stronger narcotic painkillers may be used.

Fibromyalgia is considered to be a serious condition. Due to the chronic character of fibromyalgia, patients require ongoing treatment and therapy. If left untreated, fibromyalgia can cause other symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and swelling, vomiting, internal distress.

Many people with fibromyalgia also seem to become depressed as the disorder develops and sometimes they even indulge in suicidal acts. Therefore, it is vital to spot the presence of fibromyalgia in time and appropriate measures must be taken in order to prevent further complications and undesirable effects.

Tell me, do you struggle with fibromyalgia or chronic pain? If so, do you have ways you mitigate your “off” or “down” days? Comment below and let’s chat about it!