Fibromyalgia

Chronic Pain: Fibromyalgia Causes And Symptoms

Fibromyalgia is a serious syndrome that causes pain, muscle stiffness, and extreme fatigue. Fibromyalgia is one of the most common muscle diseases, and affects 5% of the population. In the United States alone, some six million people, predominately women, suffer from this chronic condition and they often suffer in silence.

Although common, the cause of this condition is unknown. The person affected doesn't show any signs of tissue inflammations or damage to the internal organs. However, people stricken by the widespread musculoskeletal pain caused by this condition may also experience a number of other symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Read on to find out the common symptoms of fibromyalgia, the possible causes of this disease, and whether you are at a high risk of developing fibromyalgia.

Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia's main symptom is intense musculoskeletal pain which affects the body's ligaments, tendons and muscles. Ligaments and tendons are fibrous connective tissues made up of collagen fibers. Ligaments hold bones together and tendons attach muscles to your bones. Both provide support and strength. Muscles are made up of contractile tissue function to allow you to stretch, flex, and move body parts.

People with fibromyalgia often report aching all over, muscle soreness, stiffness, and twitches. Sometimes fibromyalgia sufferers also report feeling like their muscles are burning. But interestingly enough, fibromyalgia, despite causing pain in patients, does not cause body damage or deformity such as tissue inflammation, which is seen in other rheumatic conditions like in arthritis.

Other Common Symptoms

Some other common symptoms experienced by people with fibromyalgia include:

• Restless Sleep
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Causes of Fibromyalgia

The underlying cause of this condition is relatively unknown. But the onset of this condition has been associated with psychological distress, trauma, and infection.

People suffering from fibromyalgia often feel pain as a result of stimuli that are not normally painful. Researchers have uncovered a couple reasons for this. Some findings include the presence of high levels of a nerve chemical signal known as substance P as well as nerve growth factor in the spinal fluid of people who suffer from fibromyalgia.

Researchers have also found that fibromyalgia sufferers have a low level of the neurotransmitter serotonin in their brain. Studies looking at pain in fibromyalgia suggest that the brain (and central nervous system) is supersensitive to stimuli.

In addition, the fatigue experienced by patients may be explained by the finding that fibromyalgia patients don't receive enough non-REM sleep.

Fibromyalgia Affects

The prevalence of fibromyalgia differs in among countries. In the United States, approximately 5% of the population suffers from fibromyalgia. Over 80 percent of fibromyalgia patients are women between 35 and 55 year old. Children, men, and the elderly can also get this condition but it's rare. Fibromyalgia can occur on its own, or with another condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus.

To find out what treatments are available for fibromyalgia, visit our article Stop the Pain and Fatigue of Fibromyalgia: Fibro Treatments.

Fibromyalgia Treatments

Stop The Pain And Fatigue Of Fibromyalgia: Fibro Treatments

Since fibromyalgia produces a wide range of symptoms among patients, treatment programs must be individualized to prove effective for fibromyalgia suffers. According to most experts, treatment plans that combine patient education with stress reduction, exercise and medication have been shown to work the most in alleviating the symptoms of fibromyalgia in patients.

Patient Education

Patient education is essential in helping patients understand and cope with the wide range of debilitating symptoms like constant muscle pain and fatigue caused by fibromyalgia. Since not all doctors intimately know about the ambiguity of symptoms caused by fibromyalgia, patients are advised to join support groups organized by local hospitals and the local chapters of the Arthritis Foundation.

Stress Reduction

Stress reduction in the treatment of fibromyalgia must also be individualized, because we all have a different threshold for stress. For example, spilling a glass of water for one person may cause a great deal of anxiety, whereas, missing a flight going home may cause little stress and anxiety to another person.

Fibromyalgia patients often experience a worsening of symptoms with environmental changes, such as noise and temperature. So, their treatment plan may include the following stress-reducing techniques:

• Biofeedback
• Relaxation tapes
• Psychological counseling

Exercise

Staying fit and regular exercise seems to enhance energy levels in fibromyalgia patients. Doctors believe exercise may help promote a deep level of sleep in patients.

The exercise that proves effective in most patients includes low-impact aerobic exercises that are performed every other morning. These low-impact aerobic exercises include:

• Swimming
• Cycling
• Walking
• Using stationary cross-country ski machines

In addition, fibromyalgia patients are advised to avoid the intake of alcohol or caffeine before sleeping to help promote deep sleep.

Medications

Traditional medications used to treat depression, such as tricyclic antidepressants, are one of the most effective treatments for fibromyalgia patients. Fibromyalgia patients take a reduced amount of tricyclic antidepressants before bedtime. Tricyclic antidepressants work by interfering with the neurotransmitter in the brain called serotonin. By doing this it helps combat fatigue, muscle pain and spasm, and promotes deep sleep (non-REM sleep) in fibromyalgia sufferers. Common types of tricyclic antidepressants used in the treatment of fibromyalgia include amitriptyline (Elavil) and doxepin (Sinequan).

Herbal Safety

Taking Herbs Safely

People have been taking herbs to cure ailments and improve their health for centuries, and only now are we beginning to truly understand them. But just because herbs have been around for a long time, it doesn't mean they are intrinsically safe to use. In fact, certain herbs can be just as potent and deadly as prescription drugs, and many prescription drugs are actually derived from herbal products. So make sure to do your research before you decide to take any herbal supplement.


Side Effects And Interactions

Natural does not mean safe. Just like Western medications, many medicinal herbs have side effects and can be harmful if taken in too great a quantity. For example, kava and hoodia have been linked to liver damage.

Herbs and drugs interact with each other. Just like you should be wary of taking certain combinations of prescription medications, you should also be wary of combining certain herbs with either each other or with certain prescription medications. Herbs may interact with each other or with other medications to create drug combinations that could cause harmful negative effects or even overdoses. In addition, the mechanisms of many herbal medications are not even know yet, therefore you must be careful when using them.

Pregnant women and women who are nursing should be especially cautious about taking herbal supplements since their effects on the baby may not be known.

For the reasons listed above, it is important to talk to your doctor about any herbal supplement you may want to take. If you are using herbal supplements, you should do so under the guidance of a professional trained and certified in herbal medicine.


Regulation and Labeling

In the United States, herbal supplements are regulated under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods rather than drugs. This means the herbs do not have to meet the same standards as prescription drugs and over the counter medications for safety, effectiveness, and good manufacturing processes. In other words, herbs are not as rigorously tested and monitored as prescription drugs and over the counter medications.

Analyses of the contents of some herbal supplements have also shown discrepancies in what's listed on the label and what's actually in the supplement in terms of amounts and contents. This means you may actually be taking more or less of what you think you are consuming, and there may be other ingredients in your pills, oils, extracts, or powers that you do not know about. Some herbal supplements have even been found to be contaminated with metals, unlabeled prescription drugs, microorganisms, or other substances.

Labels containing the words "standardized," certified," and verified" do not actually mean anything. There is no legal definition of these words for supplements in the United States. Any manufacturer could put these words on their labels no matter what the contents.

For these reasons, make sure you buy herbs from manufacturers you trust or manufacturers who have been recommended to you by your doctor or herbalist.

Since the advent of the internet, there have been a number of websites selling and promoting herbal supplements. Some of these sites may make false or misleading claims about their products. Make sure you evaluate statements thoroughly and buy wisely.