VERIFIED CONTENTAuthor: Klaudia Kierzkowska, graduate of chemistry at the University of Warsaw
Fibromyalgia is still a little known and somewhat mysterious disease. It is associated with an abnormal pain perception. It is classified as a functional pain disorder. Only relatively recently has it been recognized as a separate disease, although still not all doctors are of this opinion. What does fibromyalgia manifest and what are the treatments for it?
Chronic non-inflammatory rheumatic disease of soft tissues- this is the full and medical name offibromyalgia . The incidence of the disease is quite high, ranging from 2 to 10%. Although it can occur in people of all ages, those between the ages of 30 and 50 struggle with it most often. Women suffer from it several times more often than men.
Fibromyalgia symptoms
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are not specific, therefore doctors sometimes do not start treatment and treat the patient as a hysteric. Fibromyalgia is associated with abnormal pain perception, although each patient experiences different ailments.
Initially, the pain may be limited to only one area, then it begins to affect the joints, muscles, and finally it attacks the entire body. Most often, patients struggle with pain in the back, hips and knees.
Muscle weakness limits and discourages physical activity. Fatigue often appears, making it difficult to function and perform certain activities independently.
Another symptom is sleep disturbance, which does not allow you to regenerate. Patients complain of general exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, feeling anxious and even depression.
Patients struggle with severe headaches, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, feeling cold, hypersensitivity to weather changes and strong stimuli, e.g. noise.
You may experience dry eyes and mouth, visual disturbances, palpitations, stomach discomfort such as diarrhea and a tendency to urinate more often. Women struggle with painful periods and PMS.
Diagnosis of fibromyalgia
The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is extremely difficult, mainly because the disease does notunambiguous signals. Its most characteristic symptom is the tenderness of pain points, the sensitivity of which the doctor measures with a device - a dolorimeter.
A specialist diagnoses the disease on the basis of typical symptoms and excessive tenderness (at least 11 out of 18).
In order to make a final diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a detailed interview with the patient. The diagnosis and treatment of the disease is most often performed by rheumatologists, although patients often visit their GP.
Ways to treat fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a very diverse disease, and its treatment should be tailored to each patient. Although no drug can guarantee a cure, the best results are achieved by combining different therapies. The medications you are taking are designed to reduce pain, relieve symptoms, and improve your mood. They often improve sleep quality and concentration.
The most commonly taken medications include:
- Antidepressants - increase the levels of serotonin and neurotransmitters that are involved in the transmission of pain. Antidepressants improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue.
- Painkillers - reduce pain, improve daily functioning, but their effectiveness in fibromyalgia is low.
- Muscle relaxants - they only have the desired effect in some patients.
- Antiepileptic drugs - in many patients they reduce symptoms of the disease, such as pain, fatigue and sleep disorders.
Non-pharmacological treatment of fibromyalgia
Non-pharmacological treatment is a very important element in the fight against the disease. Fibromyalgia symptoms get worse over time, so it's important to take appropriate action as soon as possible.
One of the better medicines is moderate exercise. It is recommended to go for walks, swimming or gymnastics, which should always be started with a warm-up.
While doing the exercises may be difficult at first, the pain will gradually decrease over time. It is very important to reduce stress, calm down and relax. Proper sleep hygiene and a he althy lifestyle are also important.