Fibromyalgia - Understanding The Illness Without Known Treatment

Fibromyalgia, also known as FM, non-articular rheumatism, arthritis and soft tissue fibrositis, is a chronic pain illness characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general fatigue and sleep disturbances.

Although fibromyalgia is a recent medical finding, it is a relatively common disease among Americans earning more than three percent of all people. Conclusions discover that this disease is more likely to develop in women than in men. The risk of fibromyalgia increases with age also.

Common symptoms of fibromyalgia

Although no two people would experience the same symptoms, which makes fibromyalgia a disease difficult to understand. People often experience similar symptoms.

Pain is a major and distinctive symptoms of the disease and usually involves the point of tendering body, especially in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips. The pain usually begins to develop in an area like the neck or lower back before spreading to other parts of the body. These localized pain, known as trigger points can cause terrible and immense pain when pressure is applied to them. People also experience pain and general discomfort, numbness, tingling and burning. The degree of pain is often worse in the morning and during the change of cold and wet weather.

The other main feature of fibromyalgia is chronic fatigue, possibly related to sleep disorders. Disorders of fatigue and sleep disorders affect about 90% of fibromyalgia sufferers. It is believed that the involvement with fibromyalgia fatigue is much more than just being tired. It is common for the victim wakes up as tired as when you went to sleep. Fatigue is also held during the day, and is understood to be physically and mentally exhausting. People who do not have the same ability to pursue their simple daily activities.

Less common reported symptoms include irritable bowel syndrome, mild to moderate depression, migraines, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

The diagnostic process

At present, the diagnostic process can take years for fibromyalgia is still a disease that continues to baffle doctors. Often confused with a misunderstood disease because the symptoms associated with the disease are so often in many other diseases and no laboratory criteria as clear cut tissue biopsy samples, blood tests or x-rays to give doctors an idea or whatever. No help in the diagnostic process, where people with fibromyalgia may also appear healthy and show no obvious signs of pain or fatigue at all.

The only method of diagnosis through the identification of the above symptoms, ie, the presence of pain and the pain and fatigue sensitive points. Lab tests may also be performed to rule out other diseases that share the same symptoms of fibromyalgia. Thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Lyme arthritis and polymyalgia certain conditions that can be excluded.

Medical science is still far from pinpointing the cause of fibromyalgia. It is a fact that there is this disease and, unfortunately, there is still no known cure for it. It is recommended for people who think they have fibromyalgia consult a physician experienced in this syndrome. A rheumatologist is usually the best option for the view.

Today, patients have few options to control their disease and can only relieve associated symptoms. Fibromyalgia is still an idiopathic condition without any known or suitable treatment proved to completely cure the cause of the disease. I hope we will see a breakthrough in the near future.