|
What is fibromyalgia
There are few other illnesses with similar spectrum of symptoms as CFS. These include fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis, neurasthenia, multiple chemical sensitivities, and chronic mononucleosis, being commonly associated with all of them.
Fibromyalgia, also referred as Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS), Fibromyositis, Fibrositis, or Myofascial pain syndrome, is a chronic disorder characterized by fatigue, tenderness in localized areas of the neck, shoulders, chest, rib cage, lower back, knees, arms, sometimes referred to as tender points or pressure points.
FIBROMYALGIA CAUSES
The certain cause of this pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons is still unknown. But some scientists believe that an injury or trauma that affects the central nervous system may sometimes cause the fibromyalgia syndrome. Others believe that an infection produced by a virus or other agent may develop FMS. Possible factors as psychological stress, hormonal changes, or other changes in body chemicals could also result into fibromyalgia.
FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS
The frequently met symptoms are:
- deep muscular aching, even intense burning, worse in the morning;
- fatigue, described as "brain fatigue", patients feeling totally drained of energy with difficulty in concentrating and the sensation of a brain fog;
- sleep disorder, called the alpha-EEG anomaly. Most FMS patients can fall asleep easily, but their sleep is constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome, characterized through constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, abdominal gas, and nausea, are symptoms found at FMS patients.
- chronic headaches.
Other common fibromyalgia symptoms reported by sufferers are: 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, impaired coordination. Sensitivity to odors, loud noises, bright lights, and sometimes even the medications that they are prescribed can occur. The weather changes, cold or drafty environments, infections, allergies, hormonal fluctuations (premenstrual and menopausal states), stress, depression or anxiety may aggravate FMS.
FIBROMYALGIA DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis of the fybromyalgia is difficult. Currently there is not available a medical test in order to diagnose the condition directly. The fibromyalgia symptom diagnosis is based at the present time on patient history and tender point sensitivity, requiring a history of widespread pain lasting at least three months, pain and tenderness in at least eleven of the eighteen tender-point sites.
Traditional treatments are concentrated on conserving energy, improving the quality of sleep and reducing pain, the sleep disorders that FMS patients suffer being treated first. |
