Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia symptoms typically occur following surgery, injury, severe mental trauma, or infectious episode, but in many cases it sets in with no obvious etiological accounting agent. It has been found that women are at higher risk for developing fibromyalgia than men are, with varying manifestations which include tension headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, severe anxiety, and temporomandibular joint issues. A common symptom is pain on exerting pressure over one or more trigger points, of which there are 9 pairs within the body.

Fibromyalgia has not been universally recognized as a medical condition as many health professionals suspect that it is a fallback diagnosis when no other condition has been able to be identified as a way to make a patient feel better because the symptoms have a name and possibly a cause and cure, these individuals have been found to suffer preexisting mental disorders, psychosomatic illnesses, or history of psychological trauma. Whatever the case may be, some medical professionals feel that this diagnosis should be followed with mental status evaluation.

Muscles of the body are covered and surrounded with a layer of connective fascia tissue that decides extent of muscle contraction and expansion, which is penetrated by sheathes of nerves and blood vessels that pass through to the muscle underneath. Fibromyalgia is associated with abnormal persistent increase in muscle tone resulting in chronic facial tension which presses upon the muscle, nerves, blood vessels, and strains tendons. This process is thought to be the onset of chronic muscle inflammation or fibromyalgia, which is followed by calcium deposition inside the tendon and muscle tissue, eventual outcome is secondary inflammation of the skeletal system. Together these induce neurotransmitter alterations and level fluctuations which are often observed to follow persistent pain onset.

Acetaminophen is commonly used to decrease stiffness and pain due to fibromyalgia with varying results. Other narcotic analgesics with/without over the counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often added as needed.

Certain antiepileptic drugs act on GABA-ergic neurons may help to decrease pain by interfering with pain signaling gateways in neuronal circuits helping to lower the intensity of symptoms.

Tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of pain and tiredness that is often associated, SSRIs may help to achieve better sleep.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, counselling, and other psychotherapies are thought to be helpful in controlling certain aspects of fibromyalgia. Effects may be mediated via psychological improvement if the patient has a history of mental distress, learning how to deal with the past and memories, as well as decreased sensitivity to pain can be benefits of such therapy in some.

Fascial tension is a main symptom of fibromyalgia, making physiotherapy a possible way to help significantly relax joints and muscles through physical therapy to improve mobility and decrease pain. Modalities include chiropractic joint mobilization, acupuncture, and sports massage. Therapists are typically very effective at motivating patients to manage their condition and continue therapeutic physical exercises at home to maintain and increase the degree of symptomatic improvement. Rehab My Patient is an easy to use software with more than 2500 different exercise videos to use of which many are evidence based that is used by many sports therapist, osteopaths, physiotherapists, and chiropractors for physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

Fibromyalgia may follow or be exacerbated by some diseases, rheumatism is a known risk factor, vitamin D deficiency is found to be a common factor, and individuals with other family members affected are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.