It’s a chronic disease, generally referred to as a women’s disease, because it affects more women than men, and the impact is nearly 5 million. There is also no known cure. Fibromyalgia. It causes pain and soreness throughout the body, accompanied by many other symptoms. It’s debilitating and while something like cymbalta is the prescribed medication of choice, Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that impacts day-to-day life.
Dealing with Fibromyalgia Day to Day
People with fibromyalgia are overly sensitive to pain, heat, noise, and odors. The causes of the disease are not known but are likely to be caused by many factors including physical or emotional stressful events, repeated injuries or other illnesses.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia typically include widespread pain and soreness, headaches, sore throat, stomach ache, memory problems, fatigue, sleep problems, morning stiffness, painful menstruation, numbness, burning or tingling in the arms and legs, sensitivity to temperature and sensitivity to lights or intense noises. Doctors and researchers believe a number of factors may work together to trigger the disorder. Risk factors include;
The disorder appears to run in families. People with a family history have a higher risk of developing it. Certain genetic mutations may be responsible for this; however, genes have not been identified. Certain illnesses may trigger or worsen the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can increase the risk.
Being exposed to emotional trauma can develop fibromyalgia. These may include car accidents and repetitive injuries. Stressful events can be associated with hormonal disturbances, which can contribute to the development of this chronic disease. Like trauma, stress can produce far-reaching effects on the body, which can linger for months or years. Fibromyalgia has been linked to PTSD stress disorder.
Statistics confirm that women are more susceptible to the disorder. Women make up nearly 90 percent of all cases, and the reasons behind it are not known. Researchers say fibromyalgia can be caused by the receptors and nerves in the body that become more sensitive to stimulus. This means they misinterpret or overreact to the pain signals, causing exaggerated or unnecessary pain.
Properly Diagnosing and Treating a Misunderstood Disease
Diagnosis for Fibromyalgia is not straightforward and many visits a number of doctors before they are properly diagnosed. The main symptoms, which include widespread pain and fatigue, aren’t distinctive and can be symptoms of many other medical conditions. Therefore, fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed, and while laboratory tests are useful to rule out the presence of other diseases, the condition cannot be detected by any lab tests.
Recognizing this pathology is not easy even for the most experienced doctors. Thus, experts say it is therefore useful to consult, in case of complex symptoms, a specialist in Rheumatology. Experts also point out there are pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies.
Prescribed medicines alter neurotransmitters and relax muscles, therefore significantly reducing pain, but doctors point out that physical activity and diet also help. While it is true that some patients feel excessive fatigue during physical activities immobility causes an increase in muscle stiffness. So the advice is to perform moderate exercise and embrace a low-fat diet.
