Fibromyalgia is a condition in which a person has long-term, body-wide pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues. It is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States, afflicting about 10 million people, most of them women.
Because there are no tests to diagnose fibromyalgia and no medications which will cure it, it is a disorder which is often misunderstood and unrecognized.
Causes
While the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, it is believed that it can be triggered by physical or emotional trauma, an abnormal pain response which originates in the brain, sleep disturbances or an infection or virus (although none have yet been identified). In some cases, symptoms begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In others, symptoms develop gradually over time with no single triggering factor or event.
Studies have shown that women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than men, leading researchers to believe there may be a hormonal connection.
Symptoms
Fibromyalgia typically presents with pain which originates in the muscles. The pain ranges from a dull ache to a stabbing sensation. It may be felt anywhere on the body and intensifies when you touch or press down in a specific area, called a tender point. Tender points are found on the back of the head, the top of the shoulders between the shoulder blades, the front of the neck, the top of the chest, outside the elbows, on the sides of the hips and on the inner knee.
Many people with fibromyalgia also experience tension headaches, unexplained rashes and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. An irritable bowel and bladder, anxiety, depression and sleep, memory and mood problems are also common in people with fibromyalgia.
Diagnosis
There are no laboratory tests to diagnose fibromyalgia. To receive a diagnosis, a patient must experience widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for at least three months. He or she must experience tenderness or pain in 11 of 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied.
A doctor must also take into account the patient's medical history and rule out other conditions which may be causing the pain. He or she will also complete a physical examination and an accurate manual tender point examination.
Treatment
Although fibromyalgia cannot be cured, symptoms can be managed through a combination of regular and alternative medicine. The prescription medications Lyrica and Cymbalta have been FDA approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, narcolepsy drugs, pain relievers and sleep aids are also used to relieve symptoms. Research has shown that acupressure, therapeutic massage, yoga and even music therapy can be beneficial.
If you suspect you may have fibromyalgia, see your doctor to have your symptoms evaluated. He or she may refer you to a specialist who is experienced in diagnosing and treating this chronic condition.
Sources
- William Wilke, The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Fibromyalgia, Kaplan Publishing, December 2009
- R. Paul T. Amand and Claudia Craig Marek, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia, Grand Central Life and Style, January 2006
- Daniel J. Wallace and Janice Brock Wallace, All About Fibromyalgia: A Guide for Patients and Their Families, Oxford University Press, April 2002
Danielle McGinnis - Danielle McGinnis is the mother of a college freshman and full-time freelance writer.
