Fibromyalgia is a chronic painful illness that causes both physical and emotional suffering. Fibromyalgia affects two times more women than males.
A person can live a normal and active life with fibromyalgia if they have the support of a physician, as well as friends and family. Physicians provide a wide range of services and treatment options, including preventive medicine to reduce the pain inflicted by fibromyalgia.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition. It produces generalized muscular discomfort, joint ache, and exhaustion. The discomfort may peak and reduce and is believed to be present at certain “points” in the body.
There is no cure to this illness although drugs, dietary changes, and other therapy may help.
The following are the most common fibromyalgia symptoms:
- Fibromyalgia pain is frequently described as a persistent dull aching that lasts for at least three months.
- The discomfort must be felt on both sides of the body and above and below the waist to be termed widespread or severe.
- Even if they sleep for a lengthy period, people with fibromyalgia typically wake up weary.
- Sleep is frequently interrupted by pain, and many fibromyalgia patients suffer from other sleep problems, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
- Fibro fog is a condition that inhibits one's ability to focus, pay attention, and concentrate on mental tasks.
What causes fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia's actual etiology is unknown. Furthermore, recent research in the field of rheumatology reveals that fibromyalgia is a fault with central pain processing in the brain with heightened sensitivity or perception of pain in response to a specific trigger.
Some of the diagnosed causes include:
- An accident
- Injuries that occur repeatedly
- Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
- Problems with the central nervous system
- The way genes control responses to unpleasant stimuli
- Weather or temperature changes can trigger it
- Hormone fluctuations especially during menopause
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?
Fibromyalgia can be diagnosed by a general practitioner, internist, or rheumatologist. Additional healthcare providers, such as a chiropractor or physiatrist, treating the patient for back pain might initially suggest a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Typically, blood tests are conducted to rule out illnesses that have similar symptoms. There is no universally approved medical test for fibromyalgia diagnosis. Other tests may include X-rays or electromyography to assess muscular electrical activity, depending on the symptoms stated.
If this is the case, the diagnosis is made based on the patient's issues in two primary areas: broad pain and symptom severity during the previous week.
Fibromyalgia is not a fatal illness. Task and routine responsibilities become more difficult if the condition is not controlled. When people take efforts to manage stress, sleep better, exercise more, and eat healthier, they usually see a difference, and medications help too.
5 ways to help manage fibromyalgia
The following are the ways to prevent fibromyalgia:
- Medications: Medications prescribed by doctors can help reduce the pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. Doctors may prescribe nerve pain medication, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and medications to promote sleep.
- Massage: More forceful Massages may help reduce fibromyalgia-related deep muscle discomfort. One can try to relieve some fibromyalgia pain themselves.
- Hot bath: Heat can help with fibromyalgia discomfort and stiffness by increasing the blood flow to the areas that suffer.
- Acupuncture: In the short term, this Chinese therapeutic method may help with fibromyalgia symptoms. Acupuncture has been demonstrated to help with pain, exhaustion, and anxiety in some trials.
- Stress relief: Fibromyalgia symptoms may be triggered by too much stress. Stress reduction can help with worry, nervousness, and exhaustion, as well as enhance sleep.
QUESTION
What characterizes fibromyalgia? See AnswerBoomershine CS. Fibromyalgia. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/329838-overview
Goldenberg DL. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of fibromyalgia in adults. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-fibromyalgia-in-adults
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