You have been to the doctors and have had numerous tests, yet your doctor just could not find anything specifically wrong with you. All you know is that you are in a lot of pain, you never seem to have much energy and you are always tired. If this sounds familiar to you then you may have fibromyalgia.
Symptoms:
Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia can sometimes vary on the weather, stress and physical activity.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with widespread pain in your muscles, tendons and ligaments. You may also have multiple tender spots; these are areas where just the lightest of pressure can cause pain.
Fatigue and disturbed sleep: often wake up feeling tired and feel exhausted most of the time.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): is a common condition for people with fibromyalgia which causes constipation and diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating.
Headaches and facial pain: related to the stiffness and tenderness in the shoulders and neck areas.
Other symptoms that may occur are:
- Heightened sensitivity: to odours, noises, bright lights and touch.
- Depression
- Numbness and tingling sensation in the hands and feet
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood changes
- Chest pains
- Dry eyes, skin and mouth
- Painful menstrual periods
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
More women are likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia than men.
Diagnosis:
There is no one special diagnostic test such as blood tests, x-rays since fibromyalgia cannot be confirmed, these test more than likely will come back as normal; but they do rule out other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. A positive side fibromyalgia is not progressive or life threatening.
To help in the assessment and study of fibromyalgia The American College of Rheumatology established a general classification guide lines.
- Patient to experience widespread aching pain for at least three months.
- The patient to have eleven locations of the body that are abnormally tender under mild firm pressure.
Treatments:
Medications:
- Analgesics to ease pain.
- Antidepressants to help regulate two brain chemicals that may transmit pain.
- Muscle relaxants to help treat pain and spasms (short-term only)
- Anticonvulsants have been known to decrease pain, fatigue and improve sleep.
- Benzodiazepines may help relax muscles but be used sparingly since they can become habit forming.
- Cognitive behaviour therapy to teach methods for handling stress.
Alternative Medicines:
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic care
- Massage therapy
- Osteopathy
Self care:
- Self care can improve the symptoms and general health.
- Reduce Stress with techniques for stress management like meditation and breathing exercises. Set-up plans to limit emotional stress and over exertion.
- Get enough sleep, keep to regular sleep habits going to bed and getting up at the same time.
Exercise:
- Try walking, biking.
- Swimming and water aerobics.
- Stretch to improve posture.
- Relaxation exercises.
- A physical therapist can also help by developing a special program for you to do at home.
Pace yourself: Learn to listen to your body, keep activity on an even level. If you tend to over do it on days when you feel good it may lead to more days of pain.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eat foods that are healthy, limit caffeine, do something every day that you really enjoy and find fulfilling.
Some of the treatments and medications are similar to arthritis and are mentioned in my previous article on Living a full life with arthritis.
There is also an excellent course by Carol Wallace on Suite101. Carol goes more in depth and has an eight lesson course in participating and the understanding of fibromyalgia.
Other reference sites: www.arthritis.ca, www.fibromyalgiasupport.com, www.fmaware.org National Fibromyalgia Association.
