Fibromyalgia Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a medical condition marked y chronic widespread pain, heightened and painful response to pressure and fatigue.

It is thought that fibromyalgia tends to cause intense pain by altering the way the brain processes information about pain.

Although the exact cause is unknown, it is thought to arise from psychological, neurobiological and environmental factors.

Recognized as a disorder by the National institute of health and the American College of Rheumatology, fibromyalgia is thought to affect 2-8% of the population. The female to male incidence ratio is approximately 9:1.

Associated diseases of fibromyalgia include tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.

Although fibromyalgia cannot be cured, it can be managed via medications.

Causes Of Fibromyalgia:

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is yet unknown.

However, different theories have been proposed. It is thought that people with fibromyalgia have a lower threshold for pain because of increased reactivity of pain-sensitive nerve cells in the spinal cord or brain.

Moreover, a variety of factors may have combined to cause fibromyalgia:

Physical or emotional trauma.
Environmental factors
Psychological factors
Lifestyle
Sleep disturbances

Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia:

Possible symptoms may include:

Chronic muscle pain, muscle spasms, or tightness
Moderate or severe fatigue and decreased energy
Insomnia
Muscle spasms
Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position for too long
Difficulty remembering, concentrating, and performing simple mental tasks
Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and constipation alternating with diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome)
Tension or migraine headaches
Jaw and facial tenderness
Sensitivity to one or more of the following: odors, noise, bright lights, medications, certain foods, and cold
Feeling anxious or depressed
Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet
Increase in urinary urgency or frequency (irritable bladder)
Reduced tolerance for exercise and muscle pain after exercise
A feeling of swelling (without actual swelling) in the hands and feet