Understanding Fibromyalgia
Scientists estimate that over 5 million Americans over the age of 18 suffer from fibromyalgia. Eighty to 90 percent of those diagnosed with the disease are female. Fibromyalgia is a relatively new diagnosis to the medical community and was first recognized and defined in 1990. It can present itself in many different ways depending on the person, but is generally classified by one or more symptoms of pain, fatigue, memory and concentration deficits, sleep disorders, exercise difficulties, irritable bowel (IBS), chronic headache, jaw pain (TMJ), and sometimes miscellaneous symptoms such as edema, vertigo, bladder problems or chemical sensitivities. Symptoms are usually chronic, but may fluctuate throughout the day and are usually aggravated by factors such as weather changes, hormonal fluctuations, stress, depression, anxiety, over-exertion and lack of sleep.
What causes fibromyalgia?
There is no real known cause for fibromyalgia, but it is generally understood to be an abnormal reaction to stress in which the body’s central nervous system is on overdrive in response to pain. One theory is called “central sensitization,” which is when the body becomes overly sensitized to pain, and painful stimuli become extreme, and even non-painful stimuli such as ordinary touch may cause increased pain. The cause of this phenomenon is unknown, but may be related to periods of chronic stress or chronic injury in which the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response become out of balance causing disruption in cortisone levels as well as other natural produced pain-relieving hormones. It has been proven in numerous studies that people under high stress will have higher reported pain levels from the same noxious stimuli than people in a relaxed state. Stress makes pain hurt more, and pain causes stress. Lack of sleep also causes stress and higher pain levels, which can contribute to further lack of sleep. This is one reason why it is very difficult to treat fibromyalgia with the symptoms contributing to the cause.
Treating fibromyalgia
There are many different treatment options for fibromyalgia, with no one treatment being better than another. Usually treatment effectiveness is personal to the patient, and a combination of treatments may be the best option. Some common treatments include, but are not limited to:
Dietary changes - There is a Fibromyalgia diet which may vary from person to person, but generally involves the elimination of food that may trigger inflammation such as sugar, caffeine, alcohol, fried foods, red meat, highly processed food and in some cases, gluten.
Medication - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce inflammation, but may cause increased GI disturbances. Prescription pain medication, sleep aids, anti depression and anti anxiety medication can also provide patient with relief from symptoms.
Physical therapy - Exercises prescribed by a skilled therapist can provide relief for most fibromyalgia patients. Aquatic therapy has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment options for patients with the disease due to the muscle relaxation and anti inflammatory or edema reduction quality of being in water.
Acupuncture - If a patient can tolerate the needles, acupuncture has been shown as very effective for pain relief and stress relief, as well as aiding in natural healing.
Any other stress relieving technique - Meditation, yoga and other exercise, faith-based activities, or any other activity that helps an individual with relaxation and reduced anxiety and depression.
Fibromyalgia can be a very debilitating illness, and it is important to be patient and understanding with friends or family who may suffer from the disease. Recovery may be slow and difficult, but love and support can foster well-being which helps with the healing process.
