Have you been feeling like your body is hurting all over lately and you don’t know why? Maybe it's
sending signals that something is wrong. Hey there viewers and welcome back to another bestie video!
Do you feel fatigued and sleepy all the time? It may be more than your hectic schedule.
You may be suffering from something called fibromyalgia. Characterised by full body pain
accompanied with memory problems, mood swings and muscle cramps, this chronic rheumatic
condition causes widespread body pain. It not only causes physical pain but also mental distress.
Often confused with arthritis, fibromyalgia is a mysterious disease that needs to be addressed.
Wondering what the symptoms are? Causes and treatment? Today we will be talking about
symptoms you shouldn’t ignore if you have pain all over your body and what you can do about it.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is the second most common condition affecting bones and muscles.
It is defined by widespread and chronic pain in the musculoskeletal system which means it affects
the tendons, ligaments and nerves along with bones and muscles. This condition amplifies the painful
sensation by impacting the way your brain and spinal cord process signals. Often misdiagnosed,
it mainly causes pain in soft tissue. There are no tests or medication to determine this disease.
Many people who have this syndrome also show symptoms like tension headaches,
irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.
What do you do in case of muscle pain? Do you take medication or
alternative therapy? Tell us in the comments!
Symptoms Widespread
chronic pain in different parts of the body is the defining feature of fibromyalgia.
Although the pain remains generally concentrated in the upper or lower body areas,
it can be localized as well. Hurting all over” is one of the most common complaints
among the patients of fibromyalgia which is often confused for developing the cold or flu.
The symptoms are complicated and difficult to spot. To make it somewhat easier the symptoms
can be divided into two categories, primary and secondary. We’ll start with primary symptoms:
Widespread pain - when it comes to fibromyalgia, it is often described as a constant dull ache
which lasts for at least 3 months. It occurs particularly on both sides of
the body including above and below the waist. Fatigue - who doesn’t like waking up feeling
refreshed? If you have been waking up feeling tired, even after sleeping for 8 hours or more
then this may be a symptom of fibromyalgia. Sleep is often disrupted by pain and many people
suffering from this disease have sleep disorders like restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea.
Cognitive difficulties - one of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia is fibro fog
which decreases the ability to pay attention and concentrate on mental tasks.
The secondary symptoms often co-occur with other conditions like:
Irritable bowel syndrome Chronic fatigue
Migraine or any other headache Painful bladder syndrome
Painful periods Anxiety and depression
Dry eyes and mouth Palpitations.
Causes
This is a tricky one since the cause for fibromyalgia is not known. It actually
differs from person to person. However, research shows that the causes mainly involve the central
nervous system. Although the exact cause remains unknown, a number of factors are involved.
Let’s check out some of the factors that are thought to contribute to this condition:
Abnormal pain Out of all the assumptions, one of the most widely
accepted theories is that people with fibromyalgia develop changes in the way their central nervous
system processes pain signals. This means that you will feel extreme and intense sensitivity to pain.
The reason for this is the result of changes in the chemicals constituting the nervous system.
Chemical imbalances Research shows that people with fibromyalgia have
abnormally low levels of mood enhancing chemicals in the brain like dopamine, serotonin and
adrenaline. These dipped levels of hormones are one the main causes of fibromyalgia since they are
responsible for regulating things like - appetite, mood, sleep, behavior and response to stressful
situations. These hormones also play the role of processing pain messages sent by the nerves.
Some research also suggests that imbalance in cortisol levels,
the hormone that's released in case of a stressful situation, may also contribute to fibromyalgia.
Genetics Genetics are
responsible for a lot of our attributes. From physical appearance to medical conditions,
genetics may also play a small role in the development of fibromyalgia. Some people have
a higher chance of developing this disease depending on their genes. In such a case,
this soft tissue pain may develop later on in life due to a trigger. Although it is not
passed directly from the parent to their child, it clusters within a family. This means that the odds
of developing fibromyalgia are higher in immediate families where someone already has this issue.
Sleep problems If you are already suffering from a
sleep disorder then your chances of developing fibromyalgia have increased. Disorders like
insomnia and restless leg syndrome are also linked to the disease. Distrubed sleep is often brushed
off but it is possible that a disturbed sleep pattern, which prevents you from getting a deep
sleep and leads to extreme tiredness and fatigue, can cause fibromyalgia. Did you
know that people who don’t get proper sleep at night can also have higher levels of pain?
A fast paced life has robbed many of us from a good night’s sleep.
Have you also been dealing with sleeping problems and feeling lethargic the next day?
Check out these life hacks for a good night sleep.
Now back to pain symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.
Possible triggers When it comes to triggers,
there is not one specific event that sets it off. It is mainly triggered as a result of
some physical or emotional stress. Here are some possible triggers for the condition:
A viral infection Head injury
Stress caused by the death of a loved one Being in an abusive relationship
Giving birth Any operation
Associated conditions Other than the possible causes we just told you,
there are several other conditions which are often associated with fibromyalgia. Normally these are
rheumatic conditions which means pain associated with joints, muscles and bones. These include:
Osteoarthritis - joint damage that causes stiffness and pain.
Lupus - the condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy cells and tissues.
Rheumatoid arthritis - kind of similar to lupus,
in this condition, the healthy cells mistakenly attack the joints which causes pain and swelling.
Spondylitis - pain and swelling in various parts of the spine.
Diagnosis The diagnosis for fibromyalgia takes
some time because its symptoms are very similar to other diseases like hypothyroidism and arthritis.
Since there are no tests available to determine fibromyalgia, there is an increased
chance for mis or delayed diagnosis. There are 3 main criteria for proper
diagnosis of fibromyalgia which include: One week of continuous pain and symptoms
in the 19 identified body parts. This is accompanied with high levels of fatigue,
disturbed sleep patterns and cognitive problems. These symptoms last for over 2 months.
No other health problems associated with the primary symptoms.
If these 3 categories are met, then you may be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Treatment The burden of living with this disease
is much higher than any other rheumatic disorders. To start off, there is no cure for fibromyalgia.
Making lifestyle changes and going for natural remedies will help in managing the symptoms.
There has been growing evidence of self management and coping skills training rather than solely
depending on medication. These include: Regular exercising - for someone
suffering from fibromyalgia, it is difficult for them to exercise,
in the beginning at least. However building up and embracing this habit will definitely help.
Speak to your doctor before starting any exercise to make sure it's safe. Activities like aerobics,
swimming, walking or cycling will lead to reduced fatigue, pain and joint stiffness.
Diet and supplements - after establishing a regular exercise routine,
the next thing is a balanced diet. Make sure to limit drinking alcohol and caffeine while also
steering clear of nicotine. Supplements for vitamin D, magnesium, soy and creatine should
also be included for better results. Again, only take these supplements as advised by your doctor.
Take time to relax - stress is one of the major symptoms for fibromyalgia. It makes sense to
practice deep breathing exercises and meditation for stress relief. Doing yoga will also help in
relieving both physical and mental stress which in turn, will help you sleep and manage the symptoms.
The fact that fibromyalgia remains undetected or misdiagnosed is something that needs to be
looked into more. As we told you before, its symptoms can be confusing, but if you have been
experiencing the primary symptoms for a long time, then maybe you should consult your doctor for
more assistance. Being mentally and physically active can ward off most diseases. Check out…
These foods that boost your brain function and memory.
Not into running? Check out these cardio exercises if you’re not into running.
These 2 videos will help you strike a mind body balance.
Did you know that foods can also relieve stress? What is your go to comfort food?
Share your ideas in the comments.