Fibromyalgia is a singularly frustrating and painful disease. A lot of the frustration comes because there are people, even medical professionals, who do not believe it is a real disorder and that the person who suffers from it is malingering. It’s possible that this attitude isn’t helped by the fact that fibromyalgia sufferers are nearly always women. Also, the patient does not look ill, and the symptoms of the disease can go into remission then return dramatically with no warning.
The pain associated with fibromyalgia is unusual because it is often concentrated in tender or trigger points that are found in pairs on both sides of the body. When the symptoms are at their worst, just touching these trigger points can cause debilitating pain. Besides the pain, there are many other symptoms of fibromyalgia. Many are non-specific or vague, which adds to the frustrations of both the patient and her doctor. They include muscle pain and stiffness, aching bones, numbness and tingling, constipation, headache, digestive troubles, depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue. Besides fatigue, patients complain that they have little energy and that they do not sleep well at night.
Types of Fibromyalgia
Though there does not seem to be different types of fibromyalgia, doctors do recognize different types of fibromyalgia pain. They include:
- Allodynia. This is pain that occurs when someone simply touches or presses on the skin of a person suffering from fibromyalgia. Even the pressure of a piece of clothing can cause pain.
- Painful paresthesia. This describes sensations such as tingling, burning and numbness. The patient can also feel like something is crawling under her skin, or there is an itching sensation that she can’t alleviate.
- Hyperalgesia. This is pain that is much more severe than it should be. In fibromyalgia, normal pain signals are amplified for some reason. In this, hyperalgesia is very suchlike allodynia.
- Other patients feel stabbing pains in the abdomen, chest or other areas, pain that wanders all over their body or burning pin-pricks all over their skin. If these spots are scratched, they can lead to allodynia.
Doctors have identified 19 trigger points associated with fibromyalgia. A patient has to have at least seven of these trigger points to be diagnosed with the disorder. They are located in the upper and lower legs, the back of the patient’s hips, the front of the arms, the lower part of the abdomen, the small of the back, the chest, collar bones, between the shoulder blades, the back of the neck and both sides of the lower mandible.
Fibromyalgia FAQ
Q: Do doctors know what causes fibromyalgia?
A: Doctors still do not know what causes fibromyalgia, but many believe it is a type of autoimmune disease. This is a condition where the person’s own immune system attacks their body. One reason doctors believe it is an autoimmune disease is because it affects mostly women, and women are more prone to autoimmune diseases.
Q: Are there any medications that can help with fibromyalgia?
A: There are a few medications that can help with fibromyalgia, even though they were not made specifically for the condition. These include anti-seizure drugs. Various inhibitors help with the depression and pain of fibromyalgia. Some doctors give their patients muscle relaxants to ease fatigue and pain.
Q: How does a person fight the insomnia and low energy of fibromyalgia?
Changes in lifestyle habits can help here. Fibromyalgia patients can take up exercise or yoga and practice gently after dinner. They should take naps that last no more than 20 minutes and avoid the mid-afternoon nap. Eating dinner at least three hours before they go to bed also helps with sleep. The foods should not be heavy or difficult to digest. On the other hand, the patient shouldn’t go to bed hungry.
Warm beverages that encourage sleep should be taken before bed. These include warm milk and herbal tea. The patient should not drink caffeinated beverages or alcohol just before bed.
A warm bath of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit encourages relaxation, including relaxation of tense, aching muscles. The patient should soak for about a half an hour. On the other hand, the bedroom should be cool with temperatures between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q: What else can be done to treat fibromyalgia?
A: The patient needs to find the right doctor. As mentioned, there are still doctors who don’t really believe fibromyalgia is a real condition. The best sort of doctor for the condition is a rheumatologist, and they should be board certified in the specialty. There are fibromyalgia associations on the internet that can guide a person who thinks she has fibromyalgia.
Another tip is to do most chores between 10 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. This is when most people with fibromyalgia feel best.
