Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain all over the body long-term. This condition is often characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain that affects the muscles and soft tissue.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Other than widespread pain and discomfort, fibromyalgia can disguise itself in many other symptoms throughout your body such as:

• Fatigue: Many people with fibromyalgia complain that they are still tired after a full night’s rest.
• “Fibro-fog”: This condition is common for people with fibromyalgia which translates to problems with mental processes like memory or concentration
• Difficulty sleeping
• Heightened sensitivity to pain
• Muscle stiffness
• IBS (irritable bowel syndrome): A digestive condition that causes stomach bloating and pain

Causes of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is one of those conditions in which the exact cause is unknown, but it’s thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain types of chemicals in the brain. This chemical imbalance leads to changes in the way the central nervous system (nerves, spinal cord, and brain) processes pain messages that are carried around the body.

Also, it is believed that some people are more likely to develop fibromyalgia due to genes inherited from their parents. However, in many cases, the condition can be triggered by emotionally or physically stressful events like:

• Having an operation
• Giving birth
• An infection or injury
• The death of a loved one or the breakdown of a relationship

Fibromyalgia most often develops between the ages 30-50, and women are seven times more likely to develop the condition than men. Some studies suggest that 1 in 20 people are affected by the condition.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Fibromyalgia

There are no tests in particular to diagnose this condition, so it can be tricky. Symptoms of fibromyalgia are very similar to symptoms of many other conditions, so the first thing done by your doctor will be ruling out other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. In order to rule these out, your doctor may want to perform certain tests such as:

• Blood and urine tests
• Physical exams involving flexibility and movement
• X-rays and other scans

Certain criteria have to be met in order to correctly diagnose fibromyalgia such as:

• Either having mild pain in seven or more areas or having severe pain in 3-6 different areas in the body
• Symptoms have stayed constant for at least three months
• All other possible conditions have been ruled out

If you are diagnosed with fibromyalgia, it is common to be treated for other conditions that go hand-in-hand with the condition such as depression, anxiety, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Your doctor will play a very important role in your treatment, but you may also get help with treatment by other healthcare professionals such as a psychologist (mental health and psychological treatments), neurologist (conditions of the central nervous system), or a rheumatologist (conditions that affect joints and muscles).

Some treatments work for some people, while other treatments work for other people. Most people with fibromyalgia have a treatment plan personalized to their needs. Many treatments include:

• Alternative therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, or acupuncture
• Medications that can be either OTC or prescribed to you such as paracetamol (for milder pain), codeine or tramadol (which should be taken for short periods of time due to addiction)
• Antidepressants: these boost levels of certain chemicals that carry messages to and from the brain (neurotransmitters) that can result in alleviating pain
• Muscle relaxers such as diazepam if you are experiencing muscle spasms or stiffness. Muscle relaxers may also help with sleeping problems due to their sedative (sleep-inducing) effects.

Other than medication, your doctor most likely will suggest adopting an exercise plan that will slowly strengthen muscles and relieve tension. A commonly advised exercise is swimming or exercising in a heated pool.