Fibromyalgia (FM) can be hard to diagnose and treat mainly because it causes widespread pain throughout the body. The actual cause of the condition is unknown and doctors typically have trouble pinpointing its origin. Because of this, fibromyalgia has been called a mysterious illness that also has no cure.
Treatment may be necessary to prevent complications such as anxiety, depression, frequent hospitalizations, and low quality of life. The best way to cope with the condition depends on factors such as the severity of the symptoms.
Your doctor may recommend painkillers or other types of medication to help you manage pain and other common symptoms. But a combination of treatments and therapies may be the best approach for helping you cope with this pain disorder.
Fibromyalgia is described as a chronic pain disorder or syndrome that affects about 4 million adults in the United States. This is according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although the exact cause is unknown, clinical researchers suspect that physical injury, trauma, illness, infection or chronic inflammation, e.g., arthritis, and psychological stress can set off the symptoms. Any of these or other factors may interfere with the way the brain perceives pain.
Other research suggests that this particular pain syndrome develops from changes in the nervous system. For example, the release of excess glutamate, a neurotransmitter in the brain, has been linked to fibromyalgia pain. Glutamate imbalances can also cause a condition called hyperalgesia which makes the body increasingly sensitive to pain.
Middle-age people, those with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia. According to the CDC, women are twice as likely to have fibromyalgia compared to men. Other risk factors are genetics, obesity, repetitive stress injury on the joints, and having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Symptoms may be mild in severity or chronic and debilitating. They also vary from person to person but could include one or more of the following:
Other possible symptoms include:
Fibromyalgia is largely misunderstood and not all doctors have the training or expertise to accurately diagnose the disorder. The difficulty in making a diagnosis may arise because it causes symptoms that are similar to a myriad of other conditions.
Nevertheless, doctors usually diagnose fibromyalgia by doing a comprehensive clinical evaluation that involves a look at the patient's symptoms and medical history, a physical examination, X-rays, and blood work. Many patients diagnosed with the condition typically experienced widespread pain for three or more months. They also experience pain or tenderness when pressure is applied to 11 of the 18 trigger points found in these areas of the body:
Traditional medicine and natural remedies are general ways to relieve fibromyalgia pain. The symptoms can also be effectively treated and managed with self-management strategies. Your doctor may recommend one or a combination of the following options:
Since there is no cure, fibromyalgia can last a lifetime and has the potential to reduce a person's quality of life. Managing stress, anxiety, and other triggers can help to reduce flare-ups, keep the symptoms at bay, and decrease the number of hospital trips.
You and your doctor can explore the available treatment options to prevent the condition from causing anxiety, depression, or interfering with your quality of life. Bear in mind that drugs may trigger a range of side effects including headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs may cause bleeding and stomach problems.
Some patients may opt for natural or alternative therapies that can help them cope and avoid the side effects of medication. However, it is important to still speak with your doctor before incorporating exercise, herbal medicine, and natural treatments into your wellness regimen. Some herbal medicines can adversely interact with certain medications or produce negative side effects.
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