Fibromyalgia
Background
One in 50 people at some point in their lives and is
common in young and middle-aged women.
There are no outward signs, may look well but feel awful.
Varies from day to day with pain level and can be mild or
very severe
Can be permanent or long standing.
No long term damage is done physically
Symptoms
Ache or burn.
Change location but more severe in areas of the body you
use most
Can also make you feel very tired.
Also can cause:
difficulty sleeping
headaches
diarrhoea and abdominal pain
feeling an urgent need to urinate
difficulty concentrating
feeling irritable
poor circulation to your hands and feet
painful periods
depression or anxiety
forgetfulness or confusion
Obviously these symptoms could be from another cause so
it is advisable to get checked out by your G.P
Similar to ME (myalgic encephalopathy) although the pain
is usually worse. Doctors don’t know if they are different or the same
condition
Causes
No-one knows!
Sometimes after a traumatic event, for example a car
accident
Chemical changes in the nervous system that make them
more sensitive to pressure and pain.
Some doctors think it’s caused by a lack of deep sleep,
But it could be that fibromyalgia causes pain and then this causes a lack of
sleep
Chicken or the Egg
Diagnosis
Symptoms vary and there is no test for the condition so
if you think you are suffering from fibromyalgia, you should see your GP.
They will apply pressure to various places on your body
and if they are particularly tender when they shouldn’t be and you have
widespread pain for at least three months and show enough 'tender' points, your
GP may diagnose fibromyalgia.
Your GP may carry out some tests, such as X-rays and
blood tests, to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
These conditions include:
Arthritis
systemic lupus erythematosus
under or overactive thyroid
multiple sclerosis
chronic fatigue syndrome
irritable bowel syndrome
depression
Treatment
No cure!
Treatments are available to help manage the symptoms.
Lifestyle changes
Self-help treatments
Take time out to relax your mind and muscles, for example
have a massage.
Don't drink alcohol, tea or coffee late at night, as
these could make sleeping difficult.
Eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of fruit and
vegetables.
Physical therapies
Swimming in a heated pool. Heated pool treatment
(hydrotherapy)
Gentle exercises that increase your heart rate and make you
feel slightly out of breath
Gentle muscle stretching
Ask your GP or physiotherapist to help you plan an exercise
programme to suit your needs
Psychological therapies
(These can help you to cope with the symptoms better and
don't mean that it is a psychological condition)
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Talking to other people who have fibromyalgia can reassure
you that you are not alone.
Complementary therapies
Some people find that therapies such as acupuncture and
massage can help.
Medicines
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairments. So fibromyalgia literally means “fibrous tissue and muscle pain.” That name initially seemed appropriate since fibromyalgia was originally thought to be a musculoskeletal disorder because most of the pain was felt in the muscles and other soft tissues. Stem cells fibromyalgia treatment
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