Fibromyalgia FAQ's

Fibromyalgia FAQ's

There is nothing scarier than being told you have an illness that you've never heard of before. You're left wondering how it will effect you, what you will be able to expect, etc. The following frequently asked questions (FAQ's) are here to help you to understand Fibromyalgia (FM) better. If you have any questions you can always write to me!


What Is FM?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. FM does not cause deformity or death. However, FM is a disabling disease which can last a lifetime.


What Causes FM?

The cause of FM remains elusive, but there are many triggered events thought to precipitate its onset. FM can be triggered in pre-disposed individuals by a traumatic injury to the body or brain (i.e., a vehicular accident or fall), a severe illness or surgery, or acute emotional stress. These triggered events don't cause FM, but they may awaken the underlying physiological abnormalities that are already present in the body of an FM patient. Click here for more information about possible causes


Who Gets FM?

FM occurs more often, but not exclusively, in women, possibly due to immunological factors or hormonal changes. FM is most easily diagnosed when formerly active adults become ill, but it has been reported in persons of all ages, including young children and particularly teenagers.


How Is FM Diagnosed?

FM diagnosis requires a hands on evaluation by a skilled medical professional. This evaluation usually consists of:

1. Ruling out medical conditions whose symptoms mimic FM (i.e., thyroid disease, MS, lupus, etc.)


2. An extensive medical history which includes a discussion of the nature and duration of specific symptoms.


3. A physical examination which includes a tender point exam - The criteria used for diagnosis is widespread pain for a duration of more than three months. Also, pain in 11 of the 18 tender point locations when a pressure of 4 kgs is used in the tender point location.

Click here for more about FM Tender Points


What Are The Symptoms of FM?

FM is characterized by the presence of multiple symptoms. The severity of symptoms can change depending on stress levels, your activity level, the weather, and other illnesses. There's a link between FM flare-ups and the menstrual cycle. Many women who suffer from FM report an increase in headaches, body pain, memory problems and sleep difficulties, in the period leading up to, and during the first half of their menses.

In an article published in PubMed, researchers concluded, "The menstrual cycle and the onset of menopause affect pain and the severity of other FM-related symptoms in approximately one half of the subjects."

Ninety percent of FM sufferers also are afflicted with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In addition to pain and fatigue, common symptoms include malaise, headaches, numbness and tingling, dizziness, sleep disturbance, swollen feeling in tissues, stiffness, sensitivity to noise and stress, and cognitive impairment. Click here for more information about individual symptoms.


How is FM Treated?

Since there is no cure for FM, treatments are geared towards improving the quality of sleep and reducing pain. Treatments take on several different forms. There are medications, trigger-point injections, physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, relaxation techniques, biofeedback techniques and osteopathic manipulative medicine.

Deep level sleep (stage 4 sleep) is crucial for many body functions such as tissue repair, antibody production, and the regulation of various neurotransmitters, hormones, and immune system chemicals. Therefore, sleep disorders that occur in FM are treated first because they may be a strong contributing factor to the symptoms of FM. There are many different types of treatments for sleep disorders to be considered.
Click here for more information about individual treatments.


What Are Tender Points?

Tender points are areas that cause pain but do not display the typical signs of discomfort, such as heat, redness, or swelling.

The eighteen tender points consist of nine bilateral sites adding up to eighteen in total. The picture to your right shows the 18 tender point sites that have been identified by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). According to the ACR criteria, FM is present when a patient suffers widespread pain for at least three months and feels pain in 11 or more of the 18 pressure point sites.

Doctors measure these tender points in one of two ways:

* by simply pressing the site with a finger or
* by using a slightly higher-tech method called dolorimetry

In the dolorimetry method, the examiner presses a rubber end plate, attached to a spring-loaded force gauge, into the tender point site with increasing force. Patients are then asked to say when they stop feeling pressure and start feeling pain. Click here for more information about FM tender points.


Does Stress Make FM Worse?

Yes, stress worsens FM symptoms. If you have ongoing problems with depression or anxiety, consider seeking help for them from your family doctor or a psychiatrist.

Anxiety and depression may arise as symptoms of FM and in turn cause insomnia, leading to worsening of the underlying problem. Relaxation techniques or a chronic pain program can also help lower your stress level and are of proven benefit in treating FM.


Can FM Be Cured?

Although there is currently no cure for FM, symptoms can be substantially controlled by comprehensive treatment that includes education, medication, physical conditioning to improve aerobic capacity and flexibility, and psychological intervention aimed at stress management.



More FAQ's Here

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Source(s):

* Medline Plus: "All Herbs and Supplements."
* The Natural Standard: "Foods, Herbs, and Supplements."
* Fibromyalgia Network: "Treatment Studies."
* Arthritis Foundation: "Fibromyalgia: Treatment Options."
* McIlwain, H. and Bruce, D. The Fibromyalgia Handbook, Holt, 2007.