Fibromyalgia Overview Tweet

Fibromyalgia is considered a "common" condition characterized by long-term, body-wide pain and tender points in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Fibromyalgia can be linked to fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression, and anxiety. Diet and lifestyle play a crucial role in the extent and severity of fibromyalgia symptoms.

Fibromyalgia can develop on its own or along with other musculoskeletal conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, and digestives disorders.

Symptoms

The overwhelming characteristic of fibromyalgia is long-standing, body-wide pain with defined tender points. Tender points are distinct from trigger points seen in other pain syndromes. Unlike tender points, trigger points can occur in isolation and represent a source of radiating pain, even in the absence of direct pressure.

Fibromyalgia pain can mimic the pain that occurs with various types of arthritis. The significant swelling, destruction, and deformity of joints seen in diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, does not occur with fibromyalgia syndrome alone. In most cases those processes are happening simultaneously and can be linked if not through diet and lifestyle.

The soft-tissue pain of fibromyalgia is described as deep-aching, radiating, gnawing, shooting or burning, and ranges from mild to severe. Fibromyalgia sufferers tend to wake up with body aches and stiffness.

For some patients, pain improves during the day and increases again during the evening, though many patients with fibromyalgia have day-long, unrelenting pain. Pain can increase with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety, and stress.

Most common symptoms:

• Body aches

• Chronic facial muscle pain or aching

• Fatigue

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Memory difficulties and cognitive difficulties

• Multiple tender areas (muscle and joint pain) on the back of the neck, shoulders, sternum, lower back, hips, shins, elbows, knees

• Numbness and tingling

• Palpitations

• Reduced exercise tolerance

• Sleep disturbances

• Tension or migraine headaches

• Treatment

In mild cases, symptoms may go away when stress is decreased or lifestyle changes are implemented. A combination of treatments including chiropractic, nutrition, lifestyle changes and acupuncture go a long way when patients are education about their bodies.

Having a well-balanced diet and avoiding caffeine may help with problems sleeping, and may help reduce the severity of the symptoms. Focusing on lifestyle measures to improve the quality of sleep can be effective for fibromyalgia. Planning for change and following a good foods list, provided in consultation, will help clear up some questions you may have.

Some reports indicate that fish oil, magnesium/malic acid combinations, or vitamins are effective. Stress reduction and improving coping skills may also help reduce painful symptoms. Intake of natural foods and supplements is the best approach to a healthy you!

Improved fitness through exercise is recommended, be sure it's non-traumatic. Studies have shown that fibromyalgia symptoms can be relieved by aerobic and anaerobic exercise. The best way to begin a fitness program is to start with short sessions of just a few minutes of gentle, low-impact exercises such as walking and swimming. The length of each session can be increased slowly, as tolerated. Attempts at keeping to an exercise program often fail because they are begun too aggressively, with sessions that are too long or too intense. Starting out slowly and gently can help ease you into an effective program you can stick with.

Starting slowly helps stretch and mobilizes tight, sore muscles. High-impact aerobics and weight lifting could cause increased discomfort. Symptoms may be relieved by gentle stretching and light massage, as well as acupressure, acupuncture, and relaxation techniques.

Possible Causes

The catalyst for this disorder is unknown, but lifestyle is a major factor . Physical or emotional trauma may also play a role in development of the syndrome. Some evidence suggests that fibromyalgia patients have abnormal pain transmission responses.

It has been suggested that sleep disturbances, which are common in fibromyalgia patients, may actually cause the condition, they definitely contribute... Another theory suggests that the disorder may be associated with changes in skeletal muscle metabolism, possibly caused by decreased blood flow, which could cause chronic fatigue and weakness.

Others have suggested that an infectious microbe, such as a virus, triggers the illness. At this point, no such virus or microbe has been identified.

Pilot studies have shown a possible inherited tendency toward the disease, though evidence is very preliminary.

Men and women of all ages get fibromyalgia, but the disorder is most common among women aged 20 to 50.

In summary

A healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, chiropractic, acupuncture and education will go a long way in helping the fibromyalgia patient lead a more fulfilling and active life.

 
George Kosmides DC, CMUA 
4849 Van Nuys Blvd., #206 
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
 
(818) 386-0629 fax (818) 386-0891