Fibromyalgia (also
known as fibromyalgiaa syndrome, FMS) is a pain disorder
that manifests itself in different parts of the body. Patients
typically have pain in their muscles and joints
(fibromyalgia literally means “fiber-muscle pain”). Also insomnia , fatigue and concentration problems can
be added. Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease. It is not dangerousand does not affect life
expectancy. However, the symptoms can be very stressful and severely limit
the quality of life. In addition, close relatives often do not understand
the disease fibromyalgia. It is not uncommon for patients to be accused of
just imagining their symptoms. This puts additional strain on those
affected.
Fibromyalgia: causes
Researchers can not yet fully explain how
fibromyalgia develops. Scientists used to think it was a rheumatic
disease, which causes the joints and muscles to become inflamed. But
doctors have now been able to rule this out.
Instead, researchers suspect that pain processing in the brain is impaired in patients
with fibromyalgia. All people have a certain threshold at which they feel
pain. Scientists believe that this threshold is lower in people with
fibromyalgia. Your brain interprets even a weak stimulus as pain.
Several factors are likely
to be responsible for this:
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Genetic factors
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Fibromyalgia is more common in some families. This indicates that
the disease is, to some extent, hereditary. Scientists have shown that
certain gene variants are more common in people with fibromyalgia. Among
other things, these genes are responsible for processing pain.
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Psychological factors
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Some fibromyalgia patients suffer from traumatic experiences. For
example, you were physically or sexually abused as a child. Others
report persistent stress at work or psychological stress in the social
environment. An above-average number of people with fibromyalgia
suffered from depression before they were diagnosed.
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Health
factors
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Doctors assume that an unhealthy lifestyle can also promote fibromyalgia. Those
affected are often smokers, do little physical exercise, are overweight or
have a vitamin D deficiency.
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Fibromyalgia: symptoms
Fibromyalgia can be recognized by one
symptom: chronic pain . Patients often describe it as deep
muscle pain. It is often accompanied by a burning sensation or tingling
sensation. The symptoms vary depending on the patient. They can
affect different parts of the body and vary in severity. For some people
it is mainly joint pain , for
others it is pain in the limbs, stomach,
back, or neck . In addition to muscular pain, headaches or migraines can
also occur. Some sufferers have symptoms throughout the day, while
others have it for a few hours.
In addition, fibromyalgia patients often have the
following symptoms:
- sleep disorders
- Tiredness and exhaustion
- Difficulty concentrating
- low efficiency
- Problems thinking clearly or remembering things
- Feeling of standing in the fog (so-called "fibro fog")
Some people have problems getting up, especially in
the morning. They complain of stiff joints and swollen fingers. The
area of skin under and over the eyes can also swell.
Often those affected also suffer from emotional
complaints such as inner restlessness, listlessness or dejection. Many
patients even develop a mental illness such
as depression or anxiety disorder over time . Concomitant
symptoms may include dizziness, gastrointestinal complaints (e.g.
nausea), palpitations and shortness of breath. Some
people wonder if muscle twitching or weakness are also signs of
fibromyalgia. However, these are not typical symptoms.
Fibromyalgia: test
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are non-specific and
can indicate various diseases. It is therefore not easy to diagnose the
disease. It often takes several months to years before the correct
diagnosis is made.
Doctors have several options when it comes to
diagnosis. First, the doctor asks what symptoms the patient has and how
long they have existed. He also asks whether the person concerned has
previous illnesses and whether he is taking medication. The doctor then
usually does a series of tests to rule out other illnesses such as rheumatism , bone and muscle disorders, or
inflammation. For example, he can take x-rays or
ultrasound images of the painful areas of the body. The blood values
also provide information about whether another disease is present. For
example, the doctor will check whether there are special antibodies in the
blood. These indicate rheumatism. Is the so-called C-reactive protein increased, it indicates inflammation - for
example rheumatoid arthritis .
If the doctor suspects that the patient suffers
from fibromyalgia, he will use the so-called fibromyalgia symptom
questionnaire . 19 different body areas are listed there,
including the back, stomach, shoulders, upper arms and forearms. If at
least seven of the 19 regions have hurt in the past three months, this
indicates fibromyalgia. If the patient has also been suffering from
accompanying symptoms such as insomnia, exhaustion and concentration problems
for at least three months, the doctor usually diagnoses fibromyalgia.
In the past, doctors used the so-called tender
points to make the diagnosis. These are defined pain points or trigger
points at which patients with fibromyalgia react sensitively to
pressure. The points are located on the neck, shoulders and knees, among
other places. However, the investigation is not as reliable as the
questionnaire. Doctors usually no longer use them.
Fibromyalgia: Therapy
There
is no cure for fibromyalgia. However, there are some therapeutic
approaches that patients can use to alleviate their symptoms. An important
part of treatment is exercise . Studies
have shown that moderate endurance sports such as cycling, aqua jogging or Nordic
walking can reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia patients. Doctors
recommend exercising for at least 30 minutes two to three times a
week. Water aerobics and weight training can also have a positive effect
on fibromyalgia. The attending physician can also prescribe functional
training. These are exercises tailored to the patient, designed to
maintain body functions and alleviate pain.
Many
of those affected keep appointments with a psychotherapist . Depending on the
patient and accompanying illnesses such as depression, different types of
therapy are available. Cognitive behavioral therapy ,
in which they learn to cope better with the pain in everyday life, helps
many patients .
Medicines can
also be used. The active ingredients amitriptyline, duloxetine,
milnacipran and pregabalin were originally developed against depression and
epilepsy. They can also significantly reduce the symptoms of some
fibromyalgia sufferers. However, doctors only use the medication as a
support and for a certain period of time. Conventional pain medication
such as paracetamol and ibuprofen should not be taken by those
affected. They usually cannot relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Some
patients find thermal baths, massages and saunas to relieve
pain. Also, methods
of coping with stress such as autogenic training,
progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness training can be helpful in
fibromyalgia.
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