| Fibromyalgia remains difficult to diagnose | | | | changes seem to be such that the person |
| and treat because the cause of fibromyalgia | | | | perceives pain to a heightened level. The |
| apparition is unknown and there's no specific | | | | 'central sensitivity' theory is supported by |
| laboratory test to detect it. People with | | | | some research experiments. There seems that |
| fibromyalgia suffer from chronic pain in | | | | fibromyalgia is not a psychosomatic |
| multiple parts of the body and "tender | | | | condition, although many people think of it. |
| points" that hurt in response to even slight | | | | They have physical problems, and also have |
| pressure. | | | | some emotional and related issues. The major |
| | | | factors in this case are more and more |
| There are cases when patients might be | | | | suggestions that central sensitivity is |
| treated for years for chronic hip pain with | | | | altered sensitivity issues. |
| no relief and after that to find that they | | | | |
| have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is known as | | | | For fibromyalgia diagnosis has been |
| syndrome which involves medical problems, | | | | established two criteria from the American |
| symptoms and signs tending to occur together, | | | | College of Rheumatology (ACR) like: a patient |
| but not related to a single identifiable | | | | history of widespread pain lasting more than |
| cause like to a disease. The following | | | | 3 months and the presence of tender points. |
| symptoms are present to patients with | | | | Usually when the pain affects all quadrants |
| fibromyalgia like:pain and fatigue, and also | | | | of the body it's considered to be widespread. |
| may experience sleep disturbances, morning | | | | There are 18 sites on the body as possible |
| stiffness, numbness or tingling of the | | | | locations for tender points. When a person |
| extremities, headaches, restless leg | | | | has at least 11 tender points a fibromyalgia |
| syndrome, painful menstrual periods, memory | | | | can be diagnosed. Because of the severity of |
| and cognitive problems. They can have other | | | | the syndrome numerous treatment options are |
| symptoms too. | | | | important. There are many people with |
| | | | fibromyalgia which are perfectly functional |
| Generally in the U.S. from two to four | | | | and active in life. |
| percent of the population suffer from this | | | | |
| syndrome. Fibromyalgia is characterized by a | | | | A substantial amount of emotional stress may |
| chronic pain associated with multiple areas | | | | be associated with fibromyalgia. Patients |
| of the body, that is called 'tender points' | | | | often feel a lot of fatigue because the |
| distributed quite frequently in the neck, | | | | altered sleep pattern does not allow adequate |
| lower back, and a number of joints, situated | | | | recovery of the muscular and ligament |
| in muscle, ligament and tendon areas. People | | | | structures. Also the pain that is felt by |
| with fibromyalgia have problems with their | | | | patient is very bothersome and frustrating. |
| sleep pattern, have a lot of fatigue, and | | | | There are a number of other associations that |
| often uncertainty as to what is causing the | | | | have been found. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, |
| problem. | | | | AIDS, or chronic fatigue syndrome are some |
| | | | conditions associated with fibromyalgia. |
| An easily missed diagnosis is fibromyalgia | | | | |
| because many times people will develop | | | | Sometimes people who have had cervical |
| symptoms gradually, and often they present | | | | injuries, as in an automobile or other |
| with a localized area of pain. Generally | | | | accident, can develop features of |
| after an usual treatment the relief may fail. | | | | fibromyalgia over time. At these individuals |
| Patients with fibromyalgia have a number of | | | | the level of growth hormone secretion is |
| systemic type complaints and problems. Many | | | | reduced. Also neurochemical changes can be |
| of patients with fibromyalgia are women of | | | | present, like altered levels of noradrenalin |
| childbearing age, but this is also present at | | | | and serotonin. Fibromyalgia is an expensive |
| younger and older women, men, and children. | | | | condition because a lot of cost is involved |
| The researchers have been trying to tie the | | | | in the medical care by people looking |
| syndrome together include problems with how | | | | clarity, a clear diagnosis, and solutions. |
| the central nervous system processes pain, | | | | They also lose a lot of workdays and they |
| physical or emotional trauma, hereditary | | | | make a variety of tests without finding |
| factors, underlying diseases, and others | | | | nothing wrong. |
| after the causes of fibromyalgia have been | | | | |
| studied. | | | | The treatment is difficult due to complexity |
| | | | of fibromyalgia. Unfortunately patients with |
| For diagnose fibromyalgia is difficult | | | | fibromyalgia end in specialty clinics such as |
| because there's no single test that can be | | | | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, |
| made, there are a number of things that may | | | | rheumatology, and quite often in pain |
| be going on. In the brain or below the brain | | | | clinics. Fibromyalgia is a well-described |
| level something is going on, and these | | | | condition accepted in the medical world. |