Fibromyalgia: Risk factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Fibromyalgia is also known as fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic ailment that causes pain all over the body. Fibromyalgia is characterized by musculoskeletal pain along with fatigue, sleep, memory and mood disorder.
Fibromyalgia is seen as a rheumatic condition involving soft tissue pain or myofascial pain. There is no cure for it but with the help of some exercises and medicines, the symptoms can be controlled.
Symptoms :
Symptoms of this ailment are :
- Widespread pain with dullness, lasting for at least 3 months. The pain is on either side of the body.
- Pain and stiffness in jaws.
- Extreme fatigue, sleepiness even after waking up from a long sleep.
- Severe headache
- Dysmenorrhoea or painful mensuration
- Irregular sleep
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
- Extreme sensitivity to heat and cold
- Lack of concentration.
- Weakened memory
- Mood disorders
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Flu symptoms
- Breathing problems
- Pelvic and urinary ailments
- Extreme sensitivity to pain
Causes :
Although there is no specific cause, it is thought to affect due to the following reasons :
- Imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain which changes the way of the central nervous system to process pain message that is carried in the body.
- Family history
- Emotional trauma
- Giving birth
- Autoimmune diseases
- Repetitive injuries
- After surgery
Causes that flare symptoms :
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy or menstruation
- Stress
- Change in temperature
Risk factors:
- Females are seven times more susceptible than men.
- People with a family history are more prone to develop this ailment.
- Although there is no age barrier, people between ages 30-40 years are more prone.
- Obese people are at higher risk
- Smoking increases the chances of development
Diagnosis:
There is no test to confirm or rule out fibromyalgia. However, after noting the symptoms and ruling all other causes for developing pain the doctor can conclude it to be fibromyalgia.
Complications:
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal disorder causing pain and distress to the patients
- Due to pain, it becomes very difficult for people to concentrate on work and movements are quite distressing
- People suffering from fibromyalgia are more prone to develop the following diseases :
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Migraine
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Depression
- Tension headache
- Endometriosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
- Restless leg syndrome
Lifestyle modifications to relief symptoms :
- Taking medicines as prescribed by the doctor.
- Reducing stress levels
- Getting proper sleep
- Going for walks regularly
- Gentle stretching exercises must be done regularly
- Using comfortable chairs while working
- Having a comfortable mattress
- Practicing good posture
- Eating magnesium and vitamin D rich food
- Avoiding lactose rich food
- Avoiding excessive intake of a fructose-rich diet
- Avoiding junk food
- Avoiding artificial sweetener
- Including fish, onion, and nuts in the diet
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