Fibromyalgia Syndrome - An Overview
What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia syndrome or 'FMS' is a condition that causes musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. It is not yet known what causes the disorder. FMS can be very disruptive and causes sufferers a lot of pain and discomfort on a daily basis.
Patients with fibromyalgia will experience pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These are the soft fibrous tissues in the body. People who have FMS complain that they ache all over as though the muscles have been strained. At times the muscles may twitch or even burn. Fibromyalgia occurs more commonly in women that in men but it affects all age groups and genders.
If you don't have fibromyalgia you can get a sense of what it feels like by remembering what it feels like to have flu. Every muscle aches and you feel drained of energy. The symptoms of FMS vary from person to person and may seem like a post-viral condition. In this sense it is theorized that FMS and chronic fatigue syndrome may overlap or be the same condition, though this has not been proven.
The most common symptom of fibromyalgia is pain and this can be quite severe. The pain may be a deep aching in the muscles or it may be throbbing, shooting, or stabbing. It may even be described as a burning pain. There may also be stiffness, especially in the morning and affecting muscles that get the most use during the day.
Patients with fibromyalgia also experience tiredness. This varies from mild to severe fatigue which prevents daily activities. They also feel tired psychologically as though their brains are caught in a 'fog'. Despite the fatigue patients may not be able to sleep. Many FMS patients have a sleep disorder called an 'alpha-EEG anomaly'. This means that while they may fall asleep easily they show sleep pattern interruption during deep sleep.
Other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia include irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, gas and nausea. Chronic headaches occur in about 50% of people with FMS and these can be very troubling. They may also have pain in the jaw, premenstrual syndrome, painful periods, chest pain, cognitive and memory impairments, numbness and tingling, and irritable bladder, sensitive skin, dry eyes and mouth, dizziness and problems with their coordination.
Fibromyalgia can be can be triggered by several events: changes in weather allergies and stress can all bring on acute attacks. It is not known what causes FMS but some experts believe it can be brought on by viral or bacterial infections, car accidents, or other disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or hypothyroidism.
The treatment for fibromyalgia aims to control pain and improve sleep patterns. In order to function properly the body needs to have adequate deep level sleep. This restful sleep aids in tissue repair, antibody production, neurotransmitter action, hormones, and the functioning of the immune system. Drugs such as amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine and Celexa are often prescribed as are opioids like Ultram. Muscle relaxants are also used to minimize FMS symptoms.
Trigger point injections with lidocaine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, relaxation and biofeedback, osteopathy, chiropractic and therapeutic massage and exercise are also important in the management of fibromyalgia syndrome.
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