Fibromyalgia FAQ About Disease of Muscles, Tendon, Ligaments & Joints
Fibromyalgia FAQ
1. What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic medical condition that causes symptoms in the joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Fibromyalgia disease is a condition that is characterized by fatigue and joint stiffness and muscle pain that occurs in multiple areas of the body. The disorder is chronic, or ongoing, but the pain is intermittent, and it moves to various sites. Fibromyalgia disease is often unrecognized or is misdiagnosed and is often accompanied by anxiety and mood disorders which further complicate the condition.
2. Is Fibromyalgia a Common Disease?
Fibromyalgia does not occur as commonly as conditions like bronchitis or upper respiratory tract infections, but the percentage of people who have fibromyalgia have slowly increased over the past few years.
Females who are between the ages of 20 and 40 years old are most likely to have fibromyalgia. Studies in the United States and Europe suggest the prevalence of fibromyalgia in the general population of those countries ranges between 4% and 16%. 4% of the people in the United States have symptoms of fibromyalgia at least once over the course of their life.
3. What Are The Common Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Common symptoms of fibromyalgia include
- sleep disturbances
- muscle pain
- joint stiffness and pain is a common symptom of fibromyalgia
- cognitive symptoms such as anxiety, stress, and depression often accompany fibromyalgia
Other times, symptoms of fibromyalgia might possibly be happening due to another disease process that co-exists in the patient. Some of these conditions include:
- Functional bowel syndrome
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Dermatological conditions (diseases or disorders of the skin)
- Symptomatic hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Headaches are a common symptom of fibromyalgia
- Myoclonic twitches: very fast uncontrollable muscle jerks, especially near the eye
- Urinary symptoms
- Myofascial pain: trigger points in the body that are very painful, and when touched may produce pain in a different location (referred pain).
Even though for classification purposes, the presence of fibromyalgia is based on pain which is spread throughout the body, the pain may also be localized in specific areas, for example, in the neck and shoulders, the hips or lower back or other sites.
4. Why is Fibromyalgia Pain Intolerable?
5. What's the best way to manage Fibromyalgia?
If you've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, there are many different ways to manage the condition. Since there is no cure, treatment is focused on effectively managing the fatigue, pain, depression or other symptoms that are typical of fibromyalgia. The goal of medication for fibromyalgia is usually focused on breaking the cycle of an increase in pain sensitivity and a decrease in physical activity.
The medication for fibromyalgia plan you need or want to follow might depend on your answers to questions like these:
- How bad are your symptoms of fibromyalgia?
- Is your fibromyalgia disrupting or interrupting your daily routine?
- What kinds of changes are you willing or do you have the ability to make in your life?
6. Can Fibromyalgia be prevented?
Fibromyalgia is a disease that can't be prevented. It can also be a difficult condition to treat, but there are ways you can minimize the effects of fibromyalgia. As much as you can, try to do the following:
- Sleep: Get enough rest. Many people with fibromyalgia don't sleep well. Treating any sleeping problems you have can help with symptoms of fatigue and can help relieve your pain.
- Exercise: Try to be as physically active as you can. Fatigue and pain may slow you down and steal your motivation, but try to do some form of exercise every day, even if it's only some gentle stretches or a short walk. This may help your symptoms of fibromyalgia.
- Make needed changes on the job: Make adjustments in your work-space. Cut down on the over-time or consider working part-time. Check to see if you're eligible for disability benefits due to fibromyalgia.
- Eat well: A healthy diet will improve your energy level, help even out your moods, and it helps prevent other problems with your health, even those not related to fibromyalgia.
- Reduce stress: Be kind to yourself. Don't over-extend or over-exert. Set goals that are challenging, but reachable. Set aside time for yourself every day to relax.
Common symptoms of fibromyalgia include
- sleep disturbances
- muscle pain
- joint stiffness and pain is a common symptom of fibromyalgia
- cognitive symptoms such as anxiety, stress, and depression often accompany fibromyalgia
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