Fibromyalgia Facts
Fibromyalgia's defining characteristic is widespread pain that can be in any part of the body and can move around. Researchers are coming to believe that fibromyalgia may be neurologically based, and that pain is the result of the brain amplifying signals from the nerves.
The pain of fibromyalgia can be dull, stabbing, throbbing or burning. It can be constant or can come and go, and the intensity can vary as well.
Other fibromyalgia symptoms include fatigue, mental fog (called fibro fog), anxiety, morning stiffness, sleep disorders and many more. The condition has more than 60 recognized symptoms, which can vary from person to person both in number and severity.
Things like injury, illness, stress (emotional or physical) and fatigue can make symptoms worse. Some people have specific triggers (things that increase symptoms), such as foods, chemicals or the menstrual cycle.
People with fibromyalgia also frequently have other coexisting conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
While fibromyalgia has only been clearly defined for a short time, people have reported the same "mysterious" clusters of symptoms throughout history.
People from every culture and socioeconomic level have fibromyalgia. It's most common in women over 30, but men and children can come down with it as well.
More than 6 million people in the U.S. have fibromyalgia. Many of them are too disabled to continue working.
The Social Security Administration does recognize fibromyalgia as a potentially disabling condition. However, having a disability claim approved is a long and difficult process that can be complicated by the ambiguous nature of fibromyalgia symptoms and the lack of diagnostic tests.
Diagnosing Fibromyalgia
So far, no lab test can accurately diagnose fibromyalgia. Doctors do need to rule out numerous conditions with similar symptoms before diagnosing fibromyalgia.
Diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia were established in 1990 by the American College of Rheumatology. Diagnosis requires widespread pain for 3 months or more and pain in at least 11 of 18 specific spots on the body, called tender points.
Treating Fibromyalgia
The FDA has approved 3 drugs for fibromyalgia - Lyrica (pregabalin), Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Savella (milnacipran) - but doctors prescribe many drugs to treat fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, common pain killers, such as anti-inflammatories (Motrin, Aleve) and narcotics (Vicodin, Percocet) are generally ineffective against the pain of fibromyalgia.
People with fibromyalgia frequently have a hard time finding a doctor knowledgable about fibromyalgia and how best to treat it.
Historically, fibromyalgia has most often been treated by rheumatologists. In recent years, however, neurologists, physiatrists and naturopaths have begun treating it more. People with fibromyalgia also sometimes see massage therapists, chiropractors, physical therapists and other complementary and alternative-medicine practitioners. They may also see a psychiatrist or psychologist to deal with the difficulties of a debilitating condition and possibly for depression.
Depression is common in people with fibromyalgia, as it is in debilitating pain conditions overall. Fibromyalgia, however, is not a psychiatric condition.
Fibromyalgia sometimes gets worse over time, but sometimes stays about the same or improves.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
We don't yet know what causes fibromyalgia. Many people develop it after being injured, while in others it may be triggered by chronic stress or as a secondary condition (in those with pre-existing chronic pain conditions.)
Fibromyalgia is officially classified as a syndrome, which means it's a collection of signs and symptoms that are known to occur together, but without a known pathology.
Fibromyalgia tends to run in families, leading researchers to believe that it has a genetic component.
Sources:
2004 Devin J. Starlanyl. All rights reserved. "Fibromyalgia (FMS) and Chronic Myofascial Pain (CMP) For Doctors and Other Health Care Providers."
2002-2007 Hearthstone Communications Ltd. All rights reserved. "Learning About Fibromyalgia"
1996-2007 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved.
"Fibromyalgia"
