(Publisher’s Note: Dr. Suresh Srinivasan will appear on River Talk this Wednesday at 4 p.m. to discuss this issue with host Steve Novotney.)
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue, trouble sleeping, memory, and emotional distress.
Who Gets Fibromyalgia?
Anyone can get fibromyalgia, Women are twice as likely to have fibromyalgia as men. It can affect people of any age, even children, but it usually starts in middle age. It occurs in people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Around 4 million people in the U.S. are living with fibromyalgia.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
# Chronic, widespread pain throughout the body or at multiple sites. People often describe it as aching, burning, or throbbing
# Fatigue
# Trouble sleeping
Fibromyalgia often coexists with other conditions, such as
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Migraine and other types of headaches
- Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome
- Temporomandibular joint disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Postural tachycardia syndrome
Causes of Fibromyalgia
The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, but studies show that people with the disorder have a heightened sensitivity to pain, so they feel pain when others do not. Brain imaging studies and other research have uncovered evidence of altered signaling in neural pathways that transmit and receive pain in people with fibromyalgia.
What triggers a fibromyalgia flare-up?
Certain events or changes in your life can trigger a fibromyalgia flare-up. Everyone is different. In general, anything that increases your stress can trigger a flare-up, including:
- Emotional stress caused.
- Changes in your daily routine.
- Changes in your diet or not getting enough nutrition.
- Hormone changes.
- Not getting enough sleep or changing when you sleep.
- Weather or temperature changes.
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?
A healthcare provider will diagnose fibromyalgia with a physical exam and discussion of your health history. They’ll ask about your symptoms and when you first noticed them. There’s no test that can diagnose fibromyalgia. Usually, diagnosis is a process of eliminating other diseases.
How is fibromyalgia treated?
Fibromyalgia can be effectively treated and managed with medication and self-management strategies.
- Medications, including prescription drugs and over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Aerobic exercise and muscle strengthening exercise.
- Patient education classes
- Stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, and massage.
- Good sleep habits to improve the quality of sleep
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat underlying depression. CBT is a type of talk therapy meant to change the way people act or think.
What are the complications of fibromyalgia?
# More hospitalizations. Patients with fibromyalgia are twice as likely to be hospitalized as someone without fibromyalgia.
# Lower quality of life. Women with fibromyalgia may experience a lower quality of life.
# Higher rates of major depression. Adults with fibromyalgia are more than 3 times more likely to have major depression than adults without fibromyalgia.
# Higher death rates from suicide and injuries. Death rates from suicide and injuries are higher among fibromyalgia patients. However, overall mortality among adults with fibromyalgia is similar to the general population.
# Higher rates of other rheumatic conditions. Fibromyalgia often co-occurs with other types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and ankylosing spondylitis.
