Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized
by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory
and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies
painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain
signals.
Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma,
surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases,
symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.
Women are much more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. Many
people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches,
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome,
anxiety and depression.
While there is no cure for fibromyalgia,
a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Exercise,
relaxation and stress-reduction measures also may help.
Massage therapy. This is one of the oldest methods of
health care still in practice. It involves use of different manipulative
techniques to move your body's muscles and soft tissues. Massage can
reduce your heart rate, relax your muscles, improve range of motion in
your joints and increase production of your body's natural painkillers.
It often helps relieve stress and anxiety.
Symptoms
The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant
dull ache, typically arising from muscles. To be considered widespread,
the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your
waist.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by additional pain when
firm pressure is applied to specific areas of your body, called tender
points. Tender point locations include:
- Back of the head
- Between shoulder blades
- Top of shoulders
- Front sides of neck
- Upper chest
- Outer elbows
- Upper hips
- Sides of hips
- Inner knees
Fatigue and sleep disturbances
People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even though they report
sleeping for long periods of time. Sleep is frequently disrupted by
pain, and many patients with fibromyalgia have other sleep disorders,
such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea, that further worsen
symptoms.
Coexisting conditions
Many people who have fibromyalgia also may have:
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Endometriosis
- Headaches
- Irritable bowel syndrome
Causes
Doctors don't know what causes fibromyalgia, but it most likely
involves a variety of factors working together. These may include:
- Genetics.
Because fibromyalgia tends to run in families, there may be certain
genetic mutations that may make you more susceptible to developing the
disorder.
- Infections. Some illnesses appear to trigger or aggravate fibromyalgia.
- Physical or emotional trauma. Post-traumatic stress disorder has been linked to fibromyalgia.
Why does it hurt?
Current thinking centers around a theory called central sensitization.
This theory states that people with fibromyalgia have a lower threshold
for pain because of increased sensitivity in the brain to pain signals.
Researchers believe repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of
people with fibromyalgia to change. This change involves an abnormal
increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain
(neurotransmitters). In addition, the brain's pain receptors seem to
develop a sort of memory of the pain and become more sensitive, meaning
they can overreact to pain signals.
Risk factors
Risk factors for fibromyalgia include:
- Your sex.
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed more often in women than in men. Female
reproductive hormones may play a part in how women experience pain.
- Family history. You may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia if a relative also has the condition.
- Rheumatic disease. If you have a rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, you may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia
