CONDITIONS

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic, long-term illness. It causes all-over muscle pain, joint pain and fatigue. The pain may come and go. There’s no known cause, although certain factors such as stress and genetics may predispose someone toward the disease. Although there isn’t a cure, medications, lifestyle changes and other therapies offer relief.

People with fibromyalgia experience chronic, all-over muscle and joint pain. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue and memory problems. There’s no known cause or cure. Most people see improvements when they take steps to manage stress, improve sleep, exercise and eat healthier. Certain medications also ease symptoms.

Who are at risk ?

Anyone can get fibromyalgia, including children. Women are twice as likely as men to have fibromyalgia. Symptoms often appear during middle age. Up to 20% of patients who suffer from other chronic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and sarcoidosis can also have fibromyalgia.

Causes

Medical experts don’t know why some people develop fibromyalgia. It sometimes runs in families. Certain conditions or events may bring on symptoms, such as:

• Stressors such as: being born premature, traumatic life events such as abuse, accidents.
• Medical conditions such as viral infections or other illnesses.
• Anxiety, depression, other mood disorders, PTSD.
• Poor sleep.
• Lack of exercise.

Symptoms

Widespread muscle pain and joint pain along with fatigue and poor sleep are the defining symptoms of fibromyalgia. The disease affects people differently. You may also experience:

• Anxiety or depression.
• Digestive problems, including diarrhea or constipation.
• Face or jaw pain (temporomandibular disorders).
• Headaches or migraines.
• Memory problems.
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet.

What triggers a fibromyalgia attack?

Certain things can bring on fibromyalgia symptoms (a flare-up) especially those that increase the level of stress. These include:

• Changes in daily routines.
• Dietary changes or a poor diet.
• Hormone fluctuations.
• Lack of sleep.
• Stressors such as work-related, illness, emotional stress.
• Treatment changes.
• Change in sleep patterns (for example, shift work).
• Weather or temperature changes.

Diagnosis

There isn’t a test that definitively diagnoses fibromyalgia. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is clinical based on your symptoms and physical exam. Basic blood tests are recommended to exclude other causes of fatigue such as anemia or thyroid disease. The diagnosis relies on your family and medical history combined with your symptoms.

People with fibromyalgia tend to be deeply sensitive to pain that wouldn’t bother most people. Your specialist may assess the number of tender points, or areas, on your body that are highly sensitive to touch. For a diagnosis, widespread pain should be present for three months along with fatigue and other symptoms such as memory and conc

entration difficulties, poor sleep, symptoms of depression and irritable syndrome.