Fibromyalgia - What Is It?

Medterms.com gives the following definition:

Fibromyalgia: a syndrome characterized by stiffness and pain in muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. Fibromyalgia does not cause body damage or deformity. However, excessive fatigue affects the majority of fibromyalgia patients and are common in fibromyalgia.

It is estimated that more than 3% of the population of the United States suffer from fibromyalgia. The disease primarily affects women (80 percent) between the ages of 35 and 55.

This condition has been studied since the early 1800s and was called by a variety of former names, including muscular rheumatism and fibrositis. In 1976, "fibromyalgia" was coined to help describe the state. The term is derived from the Latin word fiber, meaning fiber, myo, meaning muscle, and the Greek word algos, meaning pain.

Usually, a person with fibromyalgia hurt everywhere, constantly tired, depressed, anxious, stiffness and pain in muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation and may even have irritable bowel syndrome. Only some of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia they are.

Fibromyalgia is considered an arthritis-related condition, but not arthritis, as arthritis is a joint disease and fibromyalgia may well be as debilitating as arthritis, which are not same.

Fortunately, fibromyalgia, although very painful, does not lead to joint deformity and damage to the internal organs or muscles as other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and polymyositis. Unfortunately, there is no known cause or cure.

Current research suggests that fibromyalgia can start with a disease or as a result of trauma, such as a car accident. The progression of fibromyalgia may have a slow start, with many patients with mild in childhood, such as growing pains symptoms. Changes in time or an unrelated disease have been known to worsen symptoms.

Fibromyalgia patients have indicated that the following factors may temporarily increase their suffering:

Cold, especially when wet

Malnutrition, hunger and starvation
Physical activity of any kind, including minor tasks such as
writing

Lack of sleep

Increased stress

Alcohol

Fibromyalgyis Diagnosis is difficult because it is closely related to other conditions such as endocrine disorders, arthritis and plymyalgia reheumatia. The American College of Rheumatology has established two criteria for diagnosis:

1 A history of widespread for more than three months of pain -. Prevalent in the four quadrants of the body, ie, both sides and above and below the waist.

. Sensitive 2 points - there are 18 designated points of call deals possible, but a person with the syndrome may feel pain in other areas as well.

No blood tests or x-rays to aid the physician in diagnosis and, therefore, said that the diagnosis is made on purely clinical grounds based on patient history and physical examination. Widespread on both sides of the body above and below the waist and tenderness in at least 11 of 18 tender points when you press two symptoms are pain that confirm the status of fibromyalgia.

Although no specific tests to determine the presence of fibromyalgia blood, no blood tests that can rule out other medical conditions that mimic fibromyalgia.

After confirming the diagnosis of fibromyalgia after all other possible conditions are excluded, treatment may consist of a variety of modalities. Not all patients respond to these, but here are some of the methods of treatment that have contributed to:

Exercise regularly to help with muscle aches and pains - low-impact exercises such as swimming, cycling, hiking and skiing stationary engines are excellent exercises as long as you start slowly. We found that exercise regimens performed in a morning are most beneficial. Stretching to help muscle stiffness and easy fatigability, and moderate aerobic exercise is also highly recommended.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine before you can help promote sleep more restful sleep.

Stress reduction. This may include biofeedback, relaxation tapes, psychological counseling and / or support groups. Some have even found that by changing environmental factors such as noise, temperature and weather helps.

Drugs such as used for depression, at low doses, have contributed to the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Acupuncture can also help. According to a study published in the June issue 2006 of the Proceedings of the Mayo Clinic and presented last year at the 11th World Congress of Pain, acupuncture relieves fatigue and anxiety in fibromyalgia patients for up to seven months after treatment.

Chiropractic care. This treatment is based on the theory that the limited movement of the spine may cause pain and reduced function. Because of the risks of handling be sure to look for trained and licensed professionals.

Massage therapy. One of the oldest methods of health care still in practice, massage can reduce heart rate, relax muscles, improve range of motion of joints and increase production of natural painkillers in your body and relieve stress and anxiety.

The future of therapy for fibromyalgia is, of course, to find the cause of the condition of researchers to develop a test that can help doctors diagnose fibromyalgia. Until then, patients with fibromyalgia can be helped by better education of fibromyalgia themselves, families and friends, exercise and medication.