Causes And Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a musculoskeletal illness (which causes chronic pain) and a chronic fatigue disorder. It can also change sleep patterns and cause the following: digestive disorders, chronic headaches, painful menstrual periods, temperature sensitivity, morning stiffness, numbness or tingling of extremities, and even cognitive memory problems. The name fibromyalgia comes from "fibro" in Latin meaning tissue, "my" in Greek meaning muscle, and "algia" (also Greek) meaning pain.(source 5)

Fibromyalgia has been described as a full-body migraine. Another common explanation is to compare everyday life with FMS as being similar to the aches and pains associated with a severe

Everybody hurts! If you decide to join a local group, you will meet other fibromites who understand the black cloud you’re living under. If you met them on the street, you wouldn’t realize they were kindred spirits. That’s why fibromyalgia has been dubbed the invisible syndrome.

Among children, the most common symptom of fibromyalgia is sore spots on specific muscles. If these tender spots are touched, they will hurt. A doctor will normally touch 18 spots on the teenager's body that are common locations for fibromyalgia pain. Patients who have experienced pain in at least five of these spots for at least three months are diagnosed with the condition. Teenagers may describe the soreness as tenderness, stiffness, aching, tightness or burning.

To diagnose this disorder, doctors used to check multiple different tender points on a person’s body for pain. Today, all the patient has to complain of is widespread pain across their body for more than 3 months. Generally there is no definitive test for fibromyalgia, all the tests performed are to rule out any other condition or illness. Diagnostic images might be used in this process as well, X-Rays and or an MRI may be used to examine the joints more closely to ensure that there isn’t any soft tissue damage or damage to the boney structures themselves. Only when everything else has been ruled out will the treating physician diagnose the patient with this condition. Blood values may be examined for any signs of inflammatory disease or infection, as well as serious disorders like Cancer. Physicians may also use electrodes to try and pick up the firing of these neurons to see if they can get an actual objective measurement.

No, to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia you must meet a criteria of a certain number of tender spots and this was not met. Also, this disease deals with soft tissue only and since the patient complained of moderate joint pain fibromyalgia is unlikely.

"Approximately 10 million Americans (2-4%) have Fibromyalgia with a ratio of about 8 to 2, women over men." This is a ratio that has been found by the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association. Fibromyalgia is a disease that affects the body in many different ways. It comes with pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Along with chronic muscle pain, it also comes with fatigue, sleep problems, and painful trigger points. Although many doubt a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, it is a real disease affecting so many people. This confusing diagnosis leads to daily struggles like fatigue, pain all throughout the body, and even depression from time to time, affecting not only the victim of the disease, but also the people around them.

Problem pain areas that are commonly affected by this disorder are the: neck, back, shoulders, and the hips. Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis also commonly are linked to having fibromyalgia. Due to numerous pain areas within the body that overcome a person, they can sometimes be left immobile and unable to perform daily functions. Headaches are widely common with each description that are described in the physical examinations. With this heightened pain response, sleep and anxiety issues can attribute to their

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is complex and multi-faceted. It affects numerous areas of a person’s life and its symptoms can interfere with their ability to carry on daily activities. Fibromyalgia impairs the joints and/or soft tissues resulting in severe & chronic pain; in this way it resembles arthritis. However, because it doesn’t cause inflammation or permanent damage to the joints, muscles, or other soft tissues, it is not considered a true form of arthritis (NIAMS). The many symptoms of FMS include sleep disturbances & unrestorative sleep; generalized morning stiffness; headaches; irritable bowel syndrome; painful menstrual periods; numbness, tingling, and/or weakness of the extremities; restless leg syndrome; temperature sensitivity; and sensitivity to loud noises, bright lights, touch, and even smell. One of the more challenging symptoms is “Fibro Fog”—an experience of confusion and forgetfulness, the inability to concentrate, and the loss of short-term memory.

Fibromyalgia is typically very painful and the aching beings around the neck and shoulders, eventually involving the chest, back, arms, hips, and legs. Fibromyalgia often causes the victim to be depressed, have sleeping problems, and be fatigued. Many women suffer from health complications such

It’s a life of severe chronic fatigue, pain, depression, and anxiety. Unheard of as recently as twenty years ago, fibromyalgia is now the most common diagnosis made by rheumatologists in America, affecting around 10 million people.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that is characterized by a set of symptoms. These symptoms include muscle pain, joint pain, and fatigue. It can also lead to depression. Fibromyalgia has been compared to other disorders such as bursitis and tendinitis. The similarities in signs and symptoms make it a little difficult to diagnose. Women are most likely to be diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. It is still unknown as to why Fibromyalgia is more common in women. However, men and children are still susceptible to the disorder. The cause for Fibromyalgia is relatively unknown. However, there are indicators that my lead medical professionals to believe that certain factors can lead to Fibromyalgia. Researchers are currently undergoing tests to determine whether or not a person is predisposed with a gene that may cause Fibromyalgia. Diagnosing Fibromyalgia in patients is based strictly on the amount of pain felt by the patient. Treatment of Fibromyalgia can be difficult due to the small number of doctors who have knowledge of the condition. It is important to seek medical help from providers who have extensive knowledge of Fibromyalgia such as rheumatologist.

There are many hypotheses as to what actually causes Fibromyalgia. Many scientists believe that FMS is caused through from a combination of multiple physical and emotional stressors. Other theories include having hormonal disturbances, stress, and/or it being hereditary (genetics). It is theorized that lower levels of a brain neurotransmitter called serotonin leads to lowered pain thresholds or an increase in sensitivity to pain. Serotonin is associated with a calming, anxiety-reducing reaction. The lowered pain thresholds in fibromyalgia patients could be possibly due to the decreasing efficacy of the body's natural endorphin painkillers and the growing presence of a chemical called "substance P." Substance P amplifies pain signals. Studies

Fibromyalgia was initially thought to be a musculoskeletal syndrome since maximum of the pain was felt in the muscles and other soft tissue. However, recent studies and research have shown that fibromyalgia is a central nervous system ailment which causes uncharacteristic pain processing and leads in pain amplification. The three chief symptoms that are common to virtually everybody who struggles with fibromyalgia are pain, tiredness and sleep disorders.

Physiotherapy is typically unheeded when equated to medical or surgical regimens in the management of less-debated health concerns like fibromyalgia. However, as per a research report, almost millions of individuals are presently suffering from fibromyalgia across the globe. The authentic pathogenesis of fibromyalgia is not very well understood, so it is a disorder of unidentified etiology. However, just lately, a number of research studies have verified that physiotherapy can manage the signs of fibromyalgia without imposing the need of any supplementary therapy. Fibromyalgia is categorized by a horde of symptoms affecting muscles and skeletal system. It is marked by temperate to severe malicious pain, stiffness encompassing muscles and joints, tenderness in joints and other portions of the body, numbness or tingling feeling in the limbs and other broad-spectrum symptoms that embrace fatigue, drowsiness, psychological problems and sleeping problems.