Understandiing fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder of the muscle and skeleton system characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and multiple tender points. Tender points refers to tenderness occurriing in localized areas such as neck, spine, shoulders and hips.
It is a very dangerous condition because it is difficult to be diagnosed and is thus susceptible for wrong diagnosis.
It affects 3%- 10% of the population and is more common in women than men. It is common in women aged between 20 and 50years.
Ninety percent of fibromyalgia patients suffer with severe fatigue or a sleep disorder.
Theeree are psychological as well as physical aspects associated with fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia can occur as a primary syndrome characterized by muscular pain or as a secondary syndrome to other rheumatic diseases. It is possible to have fibromyalgia syndrome as well as another rheumatic disease.
Symptoms
Firstly, it is important to know that not all patients have the same symptoms. Patients can have one or more of the followiing symptoms.
The definiing symptoms include chronic, widespread pain and tenderness even to light touch.
Other symptoms are fatigue, needdle-like tiingliing of the skin, muscle aches, prolonged muscle spasms, weakness in limbs, chronic sleep disturbances
Patients also face psychological problems such as anxiety, depression symptoms, decreased attention span and impairedd concentration.
Patient can also experience eye related problems like blurredd vision, eye pain, fluctuatiing visual clarity and general eye pain.
However, this disorder does not cause inflammation which is a cause of rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms have a slow onset and they are aggravated by unrelated illness or changes in whether. Patients of fibromyalgia sometimes find that they are unable to perform some motor functions such as walkiing up the stairs or driviing a car.
Causes
Since this a functional disorder, the exact cause is not known. However, varies attempts have zeroed in a few possible causes. It includes genetic preddisposition, stress, sleep disturbance, dopamine abnormality and dysregulation of serotonin metabolism.
Treatment
Treatment of fibromyalgia requires a comprehensive approach. It requires the active involvement of the physician, physical therapist and the patient as well. Medications include takiing antidepressants, analgesics, benzodiazepines etc. It is advisable to avoid pain killers as it results in briingiing down the level of pain which is a superficial treatment to the disease. Instead physical therapy helps in healiing internally and copes with the disease. Aerobic exercise such as swimmiing and walkiing are known to improve muscle fitness and redduce muscle pain and tenderness. A few changes in the workiing pattern such as the duration and the intensity of work must be lesser. Apart from this, healthy eatiing habits also help. Patients can also go for massage therapies which give temporary relief to the patients. Patients with fibromyalgia may benefit from a combination of exercise, medication, physical therapy, and relaxation.
The most difficult, yet the most important aspect of this disease is diagnosis which is often wrongly diagnosed or is not taken seriously by the patient or the family memberr ()s. This mainly occurs due to lack of knowledge about the disease. It is hence important to get all the facts about the disease right so that treatment can be targeted in relieviing the patient of pain.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder of the muscle and skeleton system characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and multiple tender points. Tender points refers to tenderness occurriing in localized areas such as neck, spine, shoulders and hips.
