Do you think you might have fibromyalgia, or have you already been diagnosed with it? Here is some basic information on this “overall pain” disorder.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a health condition that involves broad musculoskeletal pain, low energy, sleep disorders, emotional disturbances, and cognitive difficulties. Experts on fibromyalgia think that pain becomes more prominent in the brain due to a neurological misperception of pain messages sent to the brain from elsewhere in the body.
People often first experience the discomfort, fatigue, and other fibromyalgia symptoms following an injury, operation, infection, or life-altering event. Sometimes, though, the symptoms arise slowly without an easily identifiable catalyst.
Women are significantly more susceptible to this disorder. It is often experienced by individuals who also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, depression, temporomandibular joint disorders (problems in the hinge of the jaw), and headaches.
There is no known cure, but various methods can help to reduce the pain, including simple DIY strategies such as exercise and deep breathing.
Various symptoms
When you have fibromyalgia, you will typically experience:
Overall pain – “The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months,” notes the Mayo Clinic. “To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.”
Fatigue – People who suffer from fibromyalgia often wake up exhausted even when they get plenty of sleep. That’s partially because the pain results in sleep disturbances, including sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome.
Concentration – Those diagnosed with this condition frequently experience distraction, making it difficult to focus in the intended direction.
Additional issues – Often fibromyalgia patients also suffer from abdominal cramps, anxiety, and tension headaches.
Possible causes
The specific cause of fibromyalgia has not yet been determined. However, a number of causal theories and contributing factors have been identified, including:
· Aberrant pain signals – Many researchers believe that fibromyalgia involves a central nervous system irregularity that alters the processing of pain messages.
· Neurochemical imbalances – People suffering from fibromyalgia usually don’t have healthy amounts of certain hormones. When people don’t have enough serotonin, noradrenaline, or dopamine, their body isn’t able to properly regulate functions such as sleep, hunger, and emotion.
· Sleep interruptions – Difficulty sleeping can be a symptom of fibromyalgia but also a contributing factor.
· Heredity – “[G]enetics may play a small part in the development of fibromyalgia, with some people perhaps more likely than others to develop the condition because of their genes,” notes the UK’s Nationa Health Service.
Getting help
Are you digagnosed with fibromyalgia, or do you think you might be suffering from this painful disorder? At Health Star Clinic, you’ll receive a comprehensive diagnosis and custom treatments that go beyond the band-aid approach of prescription medication and a follow-up visit. Get help now.