Overview
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain and stiffness (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) and adversely affects sleep, mood, and memory. Research has indicated that fibromyalgia causes the brain to amplify painful sensations. People with fibromyalgia often have headaches, TMJ issues, anxiety, and depression.
While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are a variety of pain-relieving treatment options that can help control and relieve symptoms.
Learn more in the video below.
Treatment options may include:
- Exercise
- Relaxation
- Acupuncture
- Physical therapy
- Medications (pain relievers, opioids, antidepressants, antiseizure drugs)
- Occupational therapy
- Counseling
- Sleep
- Meditation
- Yoga
- surgery
- vitamins
- weight management
Symptoms include:
- Widespread (occurring on both sides of body, above and below the waist)
- Constant, dull pain
- Fatigue
- Cognitive difficulties (a.k.a. “Fibro fog”, impaired focus, attention, concentration)
- Muscle stiffness
- Sleep disorders (insomnia, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
There is no specific lab test that can confirm a diagnosis. However, a physician can review medical history and perform a physical examination among other blood tests to rule out conditions with similar symptoms. These tests include:
- Complete blood count
- Cyclic citrullinated peptide test
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- Rheumatoid factor
- Thyroid function tests
Common forms of Fibromyalgia pain include:
- Abdominal pain
- Allodynia
- Headaches
- Hyperalgesia
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Paresthesia
There is no known specific cause, but it likely is related to several factors working in conjunction. These include:
- Anxiety or depression
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Genetics
- Infection
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Physical trauma
- Stress
- Surgery
- Tension headaches
- Fibromyalgia is chronic and often lasts a lifetime.
- More women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia than men.
- The risk of developing fibromyalgia is higher if a family member has it.
- There is no specific lab test that can confirm a diagnosis.
- People with osteoarthritis, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to have fibromyalgia.
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