• Introduction
• Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
• Causes of Fibromyalgia
• Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
• Treatments
• Self-help measures include

Introduction:

Women who have fibromyalgia, a pain-all-over condition characterized by at least 11 tender points in muscles scattered all over their bodies, wake up to pain and fatigue every morning. They also wake up to a world in which many doctors tell them the disease is "all in their heads." Add to this employers who suspect they're malingering and families who wonder how it could hurt as much as Mom says it does.

Part of the problem with fibromyalgia is that there's no outward sign that anything is wrong--no bruises, no breaks, no swelling.

You hurt. In your shoulders, your arms, your hips. Even your feet feel as though someone slammed them with the mallet you use to tenderize meat. Not only that, you're exhausted--as though you haven't slept for a week. Every day it gets harder to drag yourself out of bed--and harder still not to climb back in after breakfast.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia:

The main symptoms of fibromyalgia are pains, tender areas, and tiredness. However, there are a large number of possible symptoms, and these can vary greatly from person to person, making diagnosis difficult. None of the common symptoms are outwardly visible and the person may look perfectly well, so it is sometimes referred to as ‘the invisible disability’ or the ‘irritable everything syndrome’. Symptoms sometimes get better or worse depending on factors such as the weather or stress levels, and what types of activities the person is carrying out.

Pain in fibromyalgia can vary in severity from day to day and change location, becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used most (such as neck, shoulders, and feet). In some people, the pain can be so intense that it interferes with carrying out simple tasks such as eating, while in others it may cause only moderate discomfort. Likewise, the fatigue of fibromyalgia also varies from person to person ranging from a mild, tired feeling to the exhaustion of a flu-like illness. The most common symptoms are:

• Fatigue, severe tiredness and lack of stamina;
• Headaches and facial pain often as a result of neck, shoulder and jaw muscle stiffness;
• Disturbed sleep, tiredness upon waking, often feeling more awake later in the day;
• General pain and stiffness especially trunk, abdomen, around joints, skin and bodily organs;
• Specific soreness and tenderness in several places (such as elbows, shoulders, knees);
• Itching or burning pain, sometimes accompanied by muscle spasm;
• Irritable bowels or bladder, increased need and urgency to pass urine, bloated feeling, difficulty swallowing;
• Anxiety and depression;
• Varying poor concentration, memory lapses, feeling of spaciness;
• Sensation of poor circulation and swollen hands and feet;
• Tingling, numbness, prickling or burning sensations in hands and feet (paresthesia);
• Restlessness in the legs, particularly at night.

Causes of Fibromyalgia:

There are a number of theories about what causes fibromyalgia such as change  in sleep patterns, serotonin deficiency (lack of the mood and sleep regulating hormone), viral infection, psychological disturbances or trauma, altered pain perception, lack of growth hormone, lack of exercise, and others.

There may be multiple factors involved in the onset of the condition and no one ‘trigger’ has been identified. However, research has shown that people with fibromyalgia tend to have disturbances in their deep sleep. There is also some evidence that certain brain chemicals are different in people with fibromyalgia.

Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia:

There are no specific tests for fibromyalgia and diagnosis can be difficult because of the variation in symptoms from person to person. Diagnosing fibromyalgia involves a physical examination (particularly of the characteristic sore areas) and a discussion about medical history and current symptoms, including mental health problems such as depression. The GP may suspect fibromyalgia from the

symptoms – sore areas of the body, great tiredness and sleep deprivation – if no swelling of the joints or damage to the structure of the body is present.

Routine laboratory and x-ray testing may be conducted along with a complete medical history and physical examination to rule out those conditions with symptoms similar to fibromyalgia. These include chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, under-active thyroid, multiple sclerosis, myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren's syndrome. Your GP may refer you to a specialist in connective tissue disorders (a rheumatologist) to rule out arthritis and get more information.

Treatments:

Treatment aims to ease the symptoms as much as possible, helping the patient to relax and sleep better, and improving their quality of life. The following medicines may be prescribed to help relieve symptoms:

Low dose tricyclic antidepressants such as amitryptiline, doxepin, or trazodone to deal with serotonin deficiency, help control pain, and promote better sleep. (Serotonin is a hormone that helps regulate mood.) Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Fluoxetine (eg Prozac), Sertraline, or Paroxetine. These are a different type of antidepressants and also help to relieve serotonin deficiency. Local anaesthetic injection mixed with corticosteroids, for pain relief in the particular areas that are painful. Simple painkillers such as paracetamol, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen, for reducing the level of pain. In severe cases, stronger narcotic painkillers such as codeine, methadone, or morphine. Mild tranquillizers like diazepam to treat anxiety and muscle spasms.

• Increasing exercise and improving general fitness. In the long term, aerobic exercise has been shown to significantly improve the patient’s ability to function and reduce the amount of pain they feel.
• Regular stretching or"Yoga and asana".
• Avoiding nasal decongestants, excess alcohol and caffeine.
• Controlling emotions, behaviour and thinking (eg by cognitive behavioural therapy).

A number of complementary therapies may be useful in the management of fibromyalgia, including acupuncture, relaxation therapy, postural training, chiropractic and osteopathy

Sourse: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk http://www.mothernature.com