What You Should Know About Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is the medical term for a disorder marked by a chronic widespread pain and a heightened response to pressure, known as allodynia. An alternative term, fibromyalgia syndrome, may be used to describe cases in which symptoms are not confined to pain. Other common symptoms may include joint stiffness, fatigue and sleep disturbance.

There are some who may suffer with abnormalities with bowels and the bladder. Others have complained of tingling and numbness, as well as cognitive dysfunction. It is not uncommon for individuals to experience difficulty swallowing as well. It is important to note that not all people diagnosed with this condition suffer from every symptom.

This disorder is often present, or comorbid, with psychiatric problems, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and other stress-related disorders and depression. Statistics show that between two and four percent of the population suffer with this medical condition, which is more common in females. The word itself is taken from Latin and Greek terminology and translates to muscle and connective tissue pain.

All symptoms and signs are expected to vary by person, but there are some commonalities. Most people complain of widespread pain, heightened response to pressure and fatigue. Other symptoms: palpitations, muscle spasms, limb weakness, bowel disturbances, muscle twitching, nerve pain, chronic sleep problems, and skin tingling. Cognitive dysfunction is common and may be referred to as fibrofog. This is characterized by problems with long and short-term memory, impaired concentration, inability to multi-task, lack of speed in performance, and short attention span.

In the past, fibromyalgia was classified as a neuropsychiatric condition or musculoskeletal disease. There is no known cure for this condition. However, treatments are available, such as exercise, interventions, medications and education, geared toward helping sufferers. One of the more modern approaches to diagnosing this condition involves measuring key symptoms and their severity through a practice known as pain index.

The cause of this problem remains unknown. Several hypotheses have been proposed, including central sensitization. With this theory, it is said that patients have a low pain threshold. This is because there is increased sensitivity of the brain to pain signals. Some other potential causes: genetic predisposition, dopamine dysfunction, stress, abnormal metabolism of serotonin, adenosine monophosphate deaminase deficiency, poor sleep, psychological factors, physical trauma, deficient growth hormone secretion, and neuroimmunoendocrine disorder.

Numerous tests are used before a final diagnosis is made on a patient. In some cases, individuals suffering with several symptoms produce normal lab results. Sometimes symptoms may mimic those of fibromyalgia, but be caused by osteoporosis or arthritis. Generally, physicians will make their verdict based on differential diagnosis. That is, they will consider all possibilities based on age, gender, geographical location, medical history and symptoms of a patient. From there, they will narrow things down.

As a result of the unknown cause of fibromyalgia, it is nearly impossible to find a cure. Still, treatment can lessen symptoms and allow individuals to live a relatively normal life. The type of treatment applied will be related to the symptoms and severity. Some common treatment methods: behavioral or psychological therapy; antidepressants, Tramadol, anti-seizure medicine, dopamine agonists, opioids, muscle relaxants, Quercetin, Naltrexone and other pharmaceuticals; physical treatments; and combination therapy.


The Important Facts About Fibromyalgia

The medical term that is used to describe the disorder in which people suffer from allodynia, heightened reaction to pressure, and widespread chronic pain is known as fibromyalgia. A closely related term fibromyalgia syndrome is often used where referencing cases of the disorder that include other symptoms in addition to pain. Joint stiffness, sleep problems and fatigue are common reported symptoms of this condition.

However, there are a variety of symptoms that sufferers may recognize. Some may experience abnormalities when it comes to their bladder or bowel movements. Others may find that they have cognitive dysfunction or suffer with numbness and tingling in different areas of the body. There have been cases in which people have found it difficult to swallow. Be aware that every person who is diagnosed with this disorder may have different symptoms at varying degrees.

Fibromyalgia is often present with other psychiatric issues, including stress-related disorders, depression and anxiety. Statistics hold that up to four percentage of people suffer with this disorder and it is often more common in women. The word originates from Greek and Latin terms and can be translated into the definition that suggests connective tissue and muscle pain.

Although signs and symptoms are known to vary, there do exists some commonalities. Most sufferers complain of fatigue and pain, especially in response to pressure. Some additional symptoms: nerve pain, tingling of skin, weakness in limbs, disturbance of bowels, twitching muscles, palpitations, chronic sleep disturbance, and muscle spasms. Cognitive dysfunction may be present. This, also known as fibrofog, involves loss of short and long-term memory, difficulty concentrating, short attention span, lack of speed with performance, and failure to multi-task.

Historically, this condition was considered a musculoskeletal disease or neuropsychiatric problem. Still today, there is no cure that has been found. Nonetheless, treatments have been developed to help sufferers cope with this condition. Examples of treatments: interventions, exercise, education, medications. When it comes to diagnosis, a modern technique involves pain index, or measuring primary symptoms and the severity of them.

The cause for this condition has not been discovered. There are several theories that have been suggested. One of the more common being central sensitization, or the belief that patients have a low threshold for pain and as a result of this, increased brain sensitivity when it comes to pain signals. Other possible causes: dopamine dysfunction, adenosine monophosphate deaminase deficiency or AMDD, physical trauma, neuroimmunoendocrine disorder, a deficiency of growth hormone secretion, abnormal serotonin metabolism, poor sleeping habits, psychological factors, stress, or even genetics.

There are a variety of tests that are performed before a diagnosis is given. Sometimes, patients who suffer with numerous symptoms still produce lab results that are deemed normal. Symptoms of fibromyalgia are also very similar to those of arthritis and osteoporosis. Because there is so much room for potential misdiagnosis, many doctors apply differential diagnosis. This essentially involves assessing location, gender, medical history and age of a patient and then narrowing down possibilities from there.

Just as the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, so is a cure. Treatment is beneficial in allowing patients with this condition to live a normal lifestyle. The kind of treatment methods used depend upon the individual person. Some common methods: psychological or behavioral therapy, physical treatments, combination therapy, and pharmaceuticals.


The Key Elements Of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia refers to a medical disorder that involves chronic pain that is widespread, and heightens in response to pressure, a condition called allodynia. The disorder may also be referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome although this particular terminology often refers to cases where symptoms are more than just pain. Joint stiffness, sleep problems and fatigue are some common problems associated with fibromyalgia.

Some struggle with bladder and bowel abnormalities. Others experience numbness and tingling, in addition to cognitive dysfunction. It is quite common for sufferers to struggle when it comes to basic tasks, such as swallowing. Not all who are diagnosed with the disorder will share symptoms.

Often this disorder comes paired with psychiatric problems that include, but are not limited to: depression, anxiety and stress disorders. It is estimated that as little as two percent or as much of four percent of people suffer with the disorder that is most common in the female sex. The word originates from Greek and Latin terms and roughly translates into connective tissue and muscle pain.

Signs and symptoms will range, but there are some shared afflictions. Many people complain of chronic pain that is heightened in response to certain types of pressure. They may also suffer from debilitating fatigue. Other issues: muscle spasms, chronic sleep issues, twitching of the muscles, bowel irregularity, skin tingles, palpitations and weakness of all limbs. There is also the issue of fibrofog, or cognitive dysfunction. This symptom is associated with lack of performance speed, loss of memory-both short and long, trouble concentrating, incapability of multi-tasking, and a notably short attention span.

Fibromyalgia, historically, was known as a neuropsychiatric disorder or musculoskeletal disease. To date, there has been no cure found. But treatments, such as medication, intervention, exercise and education, have proved helpful for patients. A more modern technique for diagnosis involves pain index and doctors measuring the main symptoms and how sever they are.

What causes this condition is still unknown. There are many theories that have been presented over the years. One of the most popular and well known involves central sensitization. This is the hypothesis that patients who suffer from the disorder have a low threshold for pain and thus, an increased brain sensitivity when it comes to pain signals. Other speculated causes: stress, poor sleep behaviors, neuroimmunoendocrine disorder, physical trauma, AMDD, a different serotonin metabolism than normal, lack of secretion of growth hormone, psychological elements, dopamine dysfunction, as well as genetic makeup.

Many tests may be performed on a patient before a final diagnosis is given. There have been instances in which individuals with several of the associated symptoms are tested and the lab results come back normal. Furthermore, the fibromyalgia symptoms are much like those produced by osteoporosis and arthritis. In general, doctors opt for differential diagnosis. This means that they consider factors including gender, medical history, age and location and then begin to narrow down possibilities.

Fibromyalgia has no known cause, therefore it is difficult to produce a cure. However, treatment has been known to help many individuals live a normal life. The care that is given will depend upon the patient. Some of the most common treatments: pharmaceuticals, combination therapy, psychological therapy, physical treatments, and behavioral therapy.



