What to Know About Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia can cause a widespread feeling of pain in every muscle group and at certain points, making it harder to do things and enjoy daily activities. Understanding the disease, its symptoms, and how to manage it may be the key to a better quality of life. Let’s explore what we know.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes bodily pain, fatigue, and mental distress. This common condition may range from mild to debilitating. Unfortunately, its symptoms are often confused with those of other conditions, so it may go untreated for some time before it’s correctly diagnosed. And likewise, some who have been diagnosed with fibro may actually have a different condition. But either way, nearly 5 million US adults have fibromyalgia, and over 80 percent of them are women. 

Fibromyalgia is currently believed to be a rheumatic condition that causes myofascial pain and soft tissue pain that can be widespread throughout the body. The pain may range from mild to more severe and may not fully go away, even with treatment. However, some treatments may generally help to improve the condition.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

There’s no known official cause of fibromyalgia, but there are some risk factors to consider. These include a history of rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disorders, genetic factors, traumatic injuries, viral illnesses, obesity, repetitive injuries, and age.

Most people receive their fibromyalgia diagnosis in middle age or older, and it tends to be a diagnosis of exclusion. Doctors take a patient history, x-rays, an exam, and blood work to rule out other causes before considering a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. There are no specific tests to diagnose the disease as yet.

What Are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia may produce a lot of symptoms. Most commonly, this results in pain and possibly stiffness throughout the body. In addition to that, people with fibromyalgia often experience depression and anxiety, tiredness and fatigue, problems with sleep, thinking, concentration, and memory, as well as headaches. They may also have numbness and tingling, pain in the face and jaw, and digestive problems, such as IBS. Some or all of these may also be attributable to other conditions.

What is the Treatment for Fibromyalgia?

It can be challenging to manage fibromyalgia, but some treatments may help. These include exercise, physical therapy, psychotherapy and even acupuncture.

Additional treatment options may include medications like tricyclic antidepressants, chiropractic care, massage, TENS units, and behavior modification therapy. Working with a medical professional is very important in treating fibromyalgia, as each patient may have different symptoms and need an individualized plan. Some physicians may provide access to pain relief or they may address the symptoms as individual challenges and treat accordingly.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but working with a doctor may make it easier to manage the condition and minimize pain. By following an individualized treatment plan, patients may have the opportunity to feel better and get back to living life without as much pain and discomfort.

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