Do you ache all over, feel like you have the flu most of the time. Well it's possible you could be suffering from Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS).
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue, which affects approximately 15 percent of the population, predominantly women. It is seen in all age groups, including children with Juvenile Fibromyalgia. The pain has been described as diffuse aching or burning throughout the entire body. This does not necessarily mean that the pain will always be in the same location and it may be worse at different times. People that suffer from FMS have varying degrees of pain most of the time. The pain is individual to all FMS sufferers. It often varies according to the time of day, activity level, weather, sleep patterns and stress.
The fatigue of FMS can be due to unrefreshed sleep. You may sleep for 7 or 8 hours, but get up feeling as though you had never slept and sometimes feel like you have been hit by a mac truck.
The term fibrositis was once used to describe this condition. The "itis" means inflammation. Investigators found that inflammation is not a significant part of this condition. The name fibromyalgia is more accurate because it means pain in the muscles and the fibrous connective tissues (the tendons and ligaments).
Causes of FMS
The cause of Fibromyalgia is not known. There is some
evidence that the predisposition is hereditary. It appears to
be triggered in susceptible individuals by a viral infection,
stress, abuse (emotional or physical), hormonal changes or
trauma, such as a car accident or fall, childbirth, or an
operation. Sometimes the condition begins without any obvious
trigger. It is important to know that this is not a
psychological disorder. Studies have demonstrated that this
chronic condition is no more likely to have psychological
problems than others with chronic pain or fatigue. So if you
have been told that all of the symptoms you are experiencing are
all in your head, you can be assured that these symptoms are
very real.
Diagnosis
FMS is as common an illness as Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is
not a new illness, but it has been difficult to diagnose, due to
the fact that there is no blood test or xray to determine FMS.
Although these chronic syndromes can be severe, and often disabling, they are often overlooked or given limited attention. Many people find themselves inappropriately referred for psychiatric evaluation. These syndromes are often misdiagnosed because their symptoms mimic those of other serious conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or other auto-immune diseases. Before a diagnosis of one of these syndromes can be made, other illnesses, such as those mentioned above, should be considered by your physician.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome is the only one of these syndromes without a diagnostic test at this time. A knowledgeable health care professional who is familiar with the symptoms can make an educated diagnosis. Your doctor can conduct a simple "tender point" exam. If 11 out of the 18 specific tender points on the body hurt when pressed, and aching or pain has persisted for more than three months, the diagnosis is confirmed.
To complete the diagnosis, a physician must rule out all other illnesses by conducting a thorough medical history, physical examination, mental status and a panel of routine diagnostic tests.
Although the general physical examination is usually normal, and individuals may look healthy, a careful examination of their muscles reveals tender areas at specific locations.
Treatment
There are many treatment options available through various
health care professionals to manage symptoms, thereby lessening
pain and fatigue.
They may include:
Medications
There is no magical pill that will get rid of all
fibromyalgia symptoms, but certain drugs can be effective in
reducing pain and improving sleep. The patient and doctor often
need to experiment with different medicines to find out what
works best for them.
Many drugs used for pain are called analgesics or over the counter pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen or anti- inflammatories. Prescription medicines may include narcotics for pain or tricyclic drugs for both sleep and pain as well as muscle relaxants.
Tender Point Injections
This treatment is a way of administering a local anesthetic
directly into the tender areas of the muscles. It may help to
alleviate pain in that area for hours, weeks or months,
depending on the individual.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
This treatment involves a wide variety of treatments such as heat,
cold, electric stimulation, ultrasound, whirlpool and water therapy
to do gentle exercises.
Remember if it hurts to do an activity,
then you have done too much. Stretching is the best way to begin
and end any form of exercise.
Relaxation Techniques
It is important to relax your muscles as much as possible.
This can be achieved by having warm baths, listening to soft
music, reading a book, or going for a drive. Massage therapy
has been beneficial to relieve pain by relaxing muscles,
improving circulation and oxygenation, helping to remove waste
products from the muscles making them more flexible.
Educational Programs
Learn proper body mechanics and how to avoid positions that
aggravate your fibromyalgia. These positions include reaching,
overhead use of the arms, bending forward, and being in one
position too long. A stretching program or gentle aerobic
programs are also important components of therapy.
Support Groups
Many FM sufferers have been told that they are malingering,
lazy, a hypochondriac, neurotic, it's "all in your head" and
some even schizophranic. This is humiliating, therefore, it
is important to know that you are not alone. By attending a
support group you will receive knowledge and understanding of
this horrible disorder.
Prognosis
Much research into fibromyalgia is being done, but there is
no definite cause of FMS and there is no magic cure.
Fibromyalgia is a permanent irreversible condition for which no
cure has as yet been discovered.