Fibromyalgia Basics

Is it just my imagination, or is fibromyalgia more prevalent today than it was 10 years ago? Perhaps it only seems that way because we have easy access to more information. In any case, the disorder appears to be fairly common.

What It Is
The correct term is fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). It is a pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is not known. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons – in other words, all the soft fibrous tissues of the body. The sufferer aches all over; muscles feel like they have been overworked, sometimes twitching, sometimes burning; and energy level is very low. It shows up in people of all ages and affects more women than men. Severity of symptoms varies from one individual to another and may resemble a post-viral state.

Symptoms
     1.Pain is described as deep muscular aching, throbbing, shooting, stabbing and sometimes burning. It is usually worse in the morning.
     2.Fatigue is mild in some, incapacitating in others; often described as ‘brain fatigue’ in which patients feel totally drained of energy.
     3.Sleep disorder called the alpha-EEG anomaly is often associated with FMS. Most patients can get to sleep without trouble, but their deep level sleep is constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like activity. Other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, sleep myoclonus (nighttime jerking of the arms and legs) and restless legs syndrome also occur in some.
     4.Irritable Bowel Syndrome afflicts many FMS sufferers with constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, abdominal gas and nausea.
     5.Chronic headaches, such as recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches can pose major problems for about half of all FMS patients.
     6.Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome, sometimes referred to as TMJ, causes tremendous jaw-related face and head pain in about one quarter of FMS patients.
     7.Other symptoms may include: premenstrual syndrome and painful periods, chest pain, morning stiffness, cognitive or memory impairment, numbness and tingling sensations, muscle twitching, irritable bladder, the feeling of swollen extremities, skin sensitivities, dry eyes and mouth, dizziness and impaired coordination. In addition, some sufferers may be sensitive to odors, loud noises, bright lights and sometimes prescribed medications.
     8.Aggravating factors which can cause symptom flare-ups include changes in weather, cold or drafty environments, hormonal fluctuations, stress, depression, anxiety and over-exertion.

Causes
Although the cause is not known, various things are considered to act as possible triggers to bring on the onset of FMS. Such events could be a viral or bacterial infection, an automobile accident or the development of another disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or hypothyroidism.

Treatments
Improvement of sleep quality and reduction of pain are the main focus of treatments. Sleep disorders are usually treated first as they could be a strong contributing factor to the symptoms. In addition to medications, many patients will probably need trigger point injections, physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, relaxation/biofeedback techniques, osteopathic manipulation, chiropractic care, therapeutic massage or a mild exercise program.

Help Yourself
FMS is chronic, although symptoms wax and wane, and studies have shown that it can be just as disabling as rheumatoid arthritis. Modifications in lifestyle may help sufferers to conserve energy and lessen pain. This means learning what factors trigger aggravate the symptoms and try to avoid them. Patients should also read and research to be informed about the affliction and new developments in treatment.