Fibromyalgia or FM is a chronic disease, a condition of which etiology is not yet known and is believed to be caused by alterations in pain control processes, even questioning its character as an organic disease and calling it a psychosomatic origin. It is a relatively recent disease and did not receive recognition from WHO as such until 1992, when the first consensual diagnoses were also published.
Its prevalence ranges between 2 and 3% of the adult population over 20 years of age. It is more common among women and can occur at any age, although the first symptoms are usually detected between 35 and 55 years of age. Recent studies show that this is a disease that has always existed without a precise definition until the popularization of the term fibromyalgia. Below, we will discover the causes of fibromyalgia, its symptoms, and its treatment.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and complex disease that is characterized by causing widespread pain and deep tiredness, as well as coming with a wide variety of symptoms. Pain that affects any part of the body, although mainly soft tissues, without causing swelling of the joints.
People affected by fibromyalgia have greater pain sensitivity, considering that they suffer from pain control at the central nervous system level. Although chronic, the intensity of symptoms can vary over the years and cause a constant quality of life for patients.
Causes of fibromyalgia
As for the causes of fibromyalgia, it is unknown what may be the exact cause of it, being complex its diagnosis. Specialists point out that there can be certain processes that can act as triggers of the disease. Thus, a viral or bacterial infection, a car accident, or trauma caused by any tense or violent situation such as separation or divorce, among other experiences, can activate the disease.
It is also often associated with other limiting diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, while it has also been found that, in general, it seems to respond to a person’s inability to respond to factors that cause stress or certain stimuli.
Although it has not yet been conclusively documented, some studies have shown that there may be some genetic component. Thus, it has been shown that first-degree relatives of patients with fibromyalgia are more likely to suffer from the disease. Furthermore, this disease affects women more than men.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
Symptoms of a mainstream fibromyalgia are generalized tiredness and pain, sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. These symptoms are often reflected in what is known as the pain points of fibromyalgia.
Added to all this is a battery of secondary symptoms such as:
– stiffness or rigidity of the body
– headaches or facial pain
– Abdominal pains
– Diarrhea or constipation
– Digestive disorders
– Excessive sensitivity to temperature changes
– chest and thoracic pains in general
– irritable bowel syndrome
– vertigo problems
Diagnosing fibromyalgia is not easy, sometimes requiring several medical specialists to reach a definitive conclusion. The problem is that there is no conclusive test for fibromyalgia, and many of the symptoms are common to other pathologies.
Health professionals should rule out other causes of the symptoms before making a definitive diagnosis. With the medical history, a physical examination and tests such as blood tests and X-rays, the specialist will assess the type of pain, fatigue and other problems associated with it, in addition to the percentage of parts of the body affected by pain.
Treatment for fibromyalgia
Just as there is no standard diagnosis, there is also no standard treatment, with the ideal customizing it according to the symptoms each patient presents. When their origin is unknown, treatments are always aimed at mitigating the effects of the disease, from tiredness to pain or sleep disorders.
The ultimate goal of the treatment for which one is chosen must always be to improve the quality of life of patients and maintain osteomuscular functionality, in addition to achieving greater emotional and psychological well-being. This combines the use of painkillers and antidepressants with conversational therapies, exercises for fibromyalgia, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, as well as a change in lifestyle habits. It is important to bear in mind that in the presence of any symptom, the specialist should be consulted for an assessment and medical prescription of appropriate treatment.
Also, doing muscle stretching exercises regularly, massages, and other physiotherapy treatments that help muscle strengthening and reduce the feeling of fatigue are a good starting point for fibromyalgia. Measures to which it is convenient to add habits such as sleeping well, learn to manage stress levels, following a diet for fibromyalgia, and finding a balance between rest and activity.
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