Understanding Fibromyalgia
It's difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat,
but those who suffer from fibromyalgia can find relief and even
recovery through correct diagnosis and intervention.
What is fibromyalgia? It is considered a rheumatoid
condition of the soft tissue, namely muscle, ligaments and tendons.
In fact the name fibromyalgia comes from "fibro" meaning fibrous
tissue, "myo" meaning muscles, and "algia" meaning pain. Sufferers
describe a diffuse aching or burning pain form head-to-toe.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Other symptoms may include:
- Pain at multiple sites
- Stiffness
- Fatigue
- Swollen feeling in the soft tissue
- Poor sleep
- Dysmenorrhea
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Depression
Although fibromyalgia is the third most frequently diagnosed
disease by rheumatologists, many doctors are unaware of its unique
diagnosis. The trained practitioner, however, can diagnose
fibromyalgia from taking a patient's comprehansive health history,
ruling out other diagnoses, and testing 18 key points on the body
for tenderness.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
Although nobody knows exactly what causes fibromyalgia, we do
know there are many factors that together can increase the risk of
the disease and exacerbate its symptoms:
- Occupational factors such as repetitive trauma, prolonged
sitting or standing, overwork, poor posture, poor diet and physical
de-conditioning;
- Environmental factors such as hot or cold temperatures,
chilling humidity, excess air-conditioning, muscle overload, noise,
and poor sleep (especially shift workers);
- Psychological factors that include stress, anxiety, depression,
poor coping skills, lack of support, excessive family demands, and
a lack of recreation.
Those with fibromyalgia desribe the pain as having flu-like
achiness all over that never goes away.
Because some doctors cannot find the cause, and because blood
tests and X-rays often come back normal, patients may have a lack
of support from their physicians and families. A spouse might
say, "The doctor said your tests are fine and there's nothing wrong
with you. Why are you complaining you hurt all the time?"
It's important for sufferers to find an empathetic physician who
undrstands fibromyalgia and can remain supportive through long-term
treatment.
Treatment Options
Treatment options include restoring sleep patterns, increasing
functional activity level through low-impact aerobic exercise,
nutritional education, supplements designed especially for those
who suffer from fibromyalgia, energy conservation and relaxation
techniques, chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, and sports
medicine techniques such as "stretch and spray" that uses cold
therapy along with soft tissue manipulation.
For more information on fibromyalgia, or to schedule an
appointment to discuss your condition with a chiropractic physician
trained to identify the symptomology of fibromyalgia syndrome,
please call the National University of Health Sciences Whole Health
Center at 630-629-9664.
