This is one face of fibro. There are millions more in the United States.
Fibromyalgia: Maligned, Misunderstood and (Finally) Treatable
Research suggests it's a disease of the central nervous system
Skepticism around fibromyalgia stemmed in part from an elusive organic explanation. Symptoms appeared to arise out of nowhere, which didn't make any sense to empirically minded physicians. But over the past two decades, research has brought clinicians closer to deciphering this mysterious pain state, once thought muscular in nature, now known to be neurologic. Based on this recent work a new article in the Journal of the American Medical Association by chronic pain expert Dr. Daniel Clauw brings us up to speed on the understanding, diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia circa 2014. And the outlook for patients is rosier than you might expect given the condition's perplexing reputation. Scientific American 2014
Overview
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals.Symptoms often begin after an event, such as physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction measures also may help.
Symptoms
The primary symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
- Widespread pain. The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.
- Fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even though they report sleeping for long periods of time. Sleep is often disrupted by pain, and many patients with fibromyalgia have other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
- Cognitive difficulties. A symptom commonly referred to as "fibro fog" impairs the ability to focus, pay attention and concentrate on mental tasks.
Is Fibromyalgia Real?
The short answer from a fibromyalgia expertFACEBOOKTWITTERLINKEDINPINTERESTEmail
Q: Is fibromyalgia real?
A: Fibromyalgia is one of the most common reasons for chronic pain, affecting about 4 million Americans. It's also one of the most misunderstood.
The most common myth is that fibromyalgia is "all in your head." People who suffer from fibromyalgia are afraid that people around them don't believe that it's a real disease and are afraid they will be labeled as lazy. Education goes a long way toward helping people with fibromyalgia and their loved ones understand and deal with this debilitating illness.
Often, family members and friends don't understand what a patient is going through or what the diagnosis means. It's easy for people to understand that recovering from surgery or a broken bone is painful. However, it's harder to grasp the generalized pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia. To help combat family members or friends who are in doubt, arm yourself with the facts about your condition and share it with them.
For most cases, fibromyalgia doesn't respond to purely medical care or purely psychiatric care. Fibromyalgia can create a vicious cycle of symptoms like anxiety, depression and disturbed sleep. The brain then becomes wired in stress mode and that triggers tenderness, pain, fatigue and cognitive difficulties that further increase stress and anxiety.
Editor: The truth about fibromyalgia is that it is very real and widely medically accepted.
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