What is Fibromyalgia
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 82, Word Count: 581,
What is fibromyalgia? Let us focus on it, so as to know its exact causes, symptoms and treatments.
What is Fibromyalgia?
· Fibromyalgia is known to be a chronic condition causing stiffness, pain, and tenderness of the muscles, joints and tendons.
· It is also characterized by awakening, feeling tired, restless sleep, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, and trouble in bowel function.
· Fibromyalgia is sometimes called fibromyalgia syndrome or FMS
· It is the common diseases which affect muscles
· Fibromyalgia does not cause any damage to our internal body organs
Causes of Fibromyalgia
- The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known
- Researchers have found elevated levels of a chemical signal called substance P, and nerve growth factor of fibromyalgia patients.
- It is also found that the level of the brain chemical called serotonin is relatively low in fibromyalgia patients.
- Patients suffering from fibromyalgia have an impaired non-rapid eye movement, and sleep phase.
- The onset of fibromyalgia is also connected with psychological trauma, distress, and infection.
- Fibromyalgia affects mainly women between the ages of 35 and 55
- The occurrence of fibromyalgia varies along with the countries
- Although fibromyalgia is considered as an arthritis-related condition, it does not cause damage to the joints, or muscles like arthritis.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
In addition to pain, the patient with fibromyalgia may experience different types of symptoms as below:
· Cognitive and memory problems
· Irritable bowel syndrome
· Painful menstrual periods
· Numbness or tingling of the extremities
· Restless leg syndrome
· Temperature sensitivity
· Sensitivity to noises or light
· Sleep disturbances
· Morning stiffness
· Headaches
From this, we can predict that fibromyalgia is more a syndrome than a disease.
Fibromyalgia Diagnosis
- The symptoms of fibromyalgia can be overlapped with other conditions. Currently, there are not any laboratory tests for fibromyalgia.
- A doctor, however, can make a diagnosis based on specific criteria customary by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
- ACR designated 18 sites on the body as possible tender points. Patients with fibromyalgia certainly feel pain at those sites.
Treatment of Fibromyalgia
- There are three medications, milnacipran (Savella), duloxetine (Cymbalta1), and pregabalin (Lyrica) that are approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the fibromyalgia treatment.
- Fibromyalgia can be very difficult to treat because not all doctors are familiar with this fibromyalgia.
- Rheumatologists can treat fibromyalgia to some extent
- Keep in mind that treatment of fibromyalgia requires a team approach with your doctor, possibly other health professionals, a physical therapist, and most importantly, you.
Additional Drugs for Fibromyalgia
Analgesics
This is a painkiller. For the patient of fibromyalgia, these narcotic medications are prescribed in case of severe muscle pain. Along with this, the doctor may also prescribe the following drugs as a part of the treatment.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Antidepressants
- Benzodiazepines
- Antispasmodic medications
In this way, now we are aware of what is fibromyalgia.
About the Author
Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
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