Fibromyalgia Case Studies

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)

     Many people do not realize what effects your body can get when it does not have the proper physical needs to stay strong and healthy. One of the effects is a rheumatic syndrome called FIBROMYALGIA, also known as Fibrositis and Myofasical pain syndrome. This syndrome is diagnosed with a history of at least three months of widespread pain and tenderness in eleven to eighteen of tender-point sites. These points include: the neck, the shoulders, the chest, the rib cage, the lower back, the thighs, the knees, the arms(mainly the elbows), and the buttocks. The pain in these areas is defined as an overwhelming characteristic of FIBROMYALGIA and is long standing. These points are the trigger points,

The treatment of Fibromyalgia should be viewed as a “team approach”. Most chronic pain does not respond to drugs and may require an aggressive use of no pharmacological therapies or “the rehab approach”. This includes a lifestyle change, physically, mentally, and emotionally. This approach should include use of a physician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, massage therapist, chiropractor, an acupuncturist and any specialists, such as a Rheumatologist. (Mondell, D. L., &ump; Wright, P. (2005)) Psychological counseling is recommended early after receiving the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. Mainly because it takes many years of visiting doctors and having tests results come back negative that an individual will begin to think this is “all in their head”. Then when finally a diagnosis is given like Fibromyalgia and they are told that “the cause is unknown, the treatment is unknown and there is no cure” can be hard to accept. It is recommended that the patient’s loved ones attend sessions, because they, too, will find it hard to understand the diagnosis. In 2007 pregabalin became the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug for the treatment of FM. Pregabalin and its precursor gabapentin play an important

Noehren B, Dailey D, Rakel B, Vance C, Zimmerman M, Crofford L, Sluka K: Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain, Function, and Quality of Life in Fibromyalgia: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial; Physical Therapy 95(1) 129-140, 2015

Fibromyalgia is a disease known to cause chronic, muscular pain and tenderness at specific areas on the body. Fibromyalgia claims two to four percent of Americans with ninety percent being women. Fibromyalgia can be a disabling condition and can be a tremendous frustration. The cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown so there is not a definite way to prevent it. The symptoms of fibromyalgia vary so much that it may take a long time to diagnose.

Fibromyalgia is a non-communicable, or non-contagious, syndrome that those afflicted suffer from long-term, full-body aches and pains and tenderness in joints, muscles, or tendons. Fibromyalgia can also cause fatigue, sleep deprivation, headaches, anxiety, or depression.

Fibromyalgia is a genetic disease that is portrayed by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas. Fibromyalgia is when there is pain throughout the whole body. Being diagnosed with fibromyalgia can be a big life changer! Some of the reasons why this is a life changing disease are symptoms of fibromyalgia, how it is inherited, the type of mutation, the protein that is affected, the chromosome number, and treatment for fibromyalgia.

On any given day in America, adults around the world may be suffering with a crippling type of pain. Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that affects at least five million americans mostly women, it's characterized by non restorative sleep, muscle aches and stiffness that may last all day, pain in all four quadrants of the body and the presence of specific tender points.

Fibromyalgia is a quite common chronic disorder, causing an overall sensation of pain and tenderness. It could be in one area of the body, but could also spread to others. Fibromyalgia tends to affect not only the physical, but mental and social way of life of the sufferer. Approximately 2-4% of Americans experience Fibromyalgia first hand, that is around 10 million people in the U.S alone, women typically being more susceptible than men. This disease is known to occur in all people, even children, therefore everyone is susceptible to getting fibromyalgia. Being knowledgeable about what fibromyalgia is, understanding what it’s like to live with it , and being aware of treatment plans available are all major factors in dealing with the disease.

An important topic is being discussed, and it concerns fibromyalgia. Indeed, there are many views about this chronic disorder. However, Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by wide spread, monoarticular musculoskeletal pain and fatigue with multiple tender points (Lewis, Pg. 1590). People with fibromyalgia may also experience nonrestorative sleep, morning stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome, and anxiety (Lewis, Pg. 1590). Additionally, fibromyalgia has a varied and fluctuating clinical spectrum (Guymer 2013). Cardinal features include widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness, poor quality, unrefreshing sleep and significant levels of fatigue (Guymer 2013). Other key features include cognitive disturbances, particularly problems

There are many curable disorders in the world, while others offer much complexity and have no rhyme or reason. Many of these incurable conditions include HIV, schizophrenia, cancer, and the common cold. As medicine and technology continue to evolve, so does the research for cures of these disorders. Unfortunately, fibromyalgia remains among the long list of incurable disorders.

There is no known history of drug allergy. She takes the medications herself from the pill bottles.

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.

Classical pain presentation in fibromyalgia is often manifested in the muscle on various tender spots all over the four (4) quadrants of the body. Generally, patients complain of joint pain when in fact only the surrounding muscles sore. Pain may be accompanied by fatigue, skin sensitivity, tingling sensations, diarrhea, constipation and sleep disorder. Although, these symptoms are also linked to other chronic pain syndromes, the health experts came up of a unique tool to discretely differentiate fibromyalgia from other disease conditions.

Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook 1 Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest 1