Do you know about fibromyalgia? This disease is a difficult thing for anyone to experience. Understanding the symptoms can help you better understand the experiences of those with fibromyalgia, and help you identify the symptoms in yourself. Let's take a look at fibromyalgia's symptoms, treatment, and prognosis.
Key Points
- Fibromyalgia is generally characterized by pain and hypersensitivity.
- Unfortunately, as of 2023 there is no cure for fibromyalgia.
- There are treatment options for those who suffer from this condition. Lifestyle changes can also help.
What is Fibromyalgia and What Are its Symptoms?
Fibromyalgia has only come to the forefront of medical study in the past few years. This is in part due to the mysterious nature of the disorder. Simply put, fibromyalgia means pain– and plenty of it. People afflicted experience general, random pain with no apparent cause over their entire body. Some report that the pain seems to centralize and radiate from back, shoulders, hips or neck. Others experience aching muscles or sustained muscle spasms. Hypersensitive skin is also a sign of fibromyalgia. For example, the light pressure of your sleeve brushing the skin does not cause pain in most people, but for sufferers of fibromyalgia this is often a very painful sensation.
In addition to pain, there are a score of other related ailments. Depression and other psychological problems often crop up. People may find they have trouble concentrating or remembering things. This is often called brain fog. It is a fun euphemistic term, but it can really be frustrating to live with 24/7. Sleep disorders are also common. They range from insomnia to malconstructed sleep, meaning the body sleeps, but the brain doesn’t ever really rest, or that the deep sleep brain waves are interrupted with bursts of energy. This leads to fatigue, depression, and ever thickening brain fog.
Is Fibromyalgia Contagious?
So much about fibromyalgia is yet to be clearly defined or understood. Unfortunately the root cause of fibromyalgia falls into this area. No one really knows what causes it. There seems to be a genetic element. Some people have symptoms from childhood. In others symptoms can lie dormant for years then burst onto the scene of your daily life after an accident (like a traffic accident), or major illness or surgery. Likewise traumatic physiological events can cause fibromyalgia to flare up. Some studies have linked fibromyalgia to Lyme disease.
What researchers do agree on is that it is not contagious, and it is not a degenerative disorder.
What Can Be Done About Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
First and foremost, like any disease, you should discuss treatment options over with your healthcare provider. With the recent attention to fibromyalgia, there has been a great improvement in the drugs available to treat the pain. Some are available over the counter, like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Others will require a prescription.
Reducing stress and increasing activity within reason also seem to help. Exercise decreases the perception of pain. Exercise does not need to be strenuous- just get the body moving. During flare ups, use of a heating pad can soothe the discomfort.
What's the Prognosis for Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a lifelong disease. As of 2023, there is no cure for this painful condition. Fortunately, there is no association between fibromyalgia and a raised risk for mortality. Of course, the painful symptoms associated with fibromyalgia can cause depression. Depression can lead to suicidal ideation; if you experience suicidal ideation, please seek help as soon as possible. Always talk to your doctor first if you think you may have fibromyalgia, and never try new treatments without speaking to a professional first.
Fibromyalgia is a tough disease, but there are things that can be done to improve the quality of life of someone affected. Raising awareness about fibromyalgia is an important step towards a cure.
Do not take the content of this article as professional medical advice. It's important to exercise due diligence when obtaining relevant information in matters pertaining to your health. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.