Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that is often a lifelong condition. But fibromyalgia is not a progressive disease, meaning it will not get worse over time. It also does not cause damage to your joints, muscles, or organs. Taking steps to treat fibromyalgia can help relieve your symptoms.
Fibromyalgia isn't a progressive disease, so it doesn't get worse over time and may even improve. It's never fatal, and it won't harm the joints, muscles, or internal organs. Medications may help relieve some—but not all—symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Physical and emotional stress are the most common triggers of fibromyalgia flares. Other triggers include lack of sleep, weather changes, and hormone imbalances.
Known risk factors include: Age. Fibromyalgia can affect people of all ages, including children. However, most people are diagnosed during middle age and you are more likely to have fibromyalgia as you get older.
These symptoms have varying course of severity and come and go over time. There are periods of flare-ups followed by periods where symptoms are minimal. However, it is unlikely that they will ever permanently disappear altogether. However, fibromyalgia is not life-threatening and does not reduce life expectancy.
Fibromyalgia is a complicated condition. It has no specific causes and no known cure. Yet for those who have it -- as many as one in 50 Americans -- the chronic pain, fatigue, and psychological strain of fibromyalgia are all too clear. Fibromyalgia symptoms are treatable, however.
In general, fibromyalgia is life-long but not deadly, however, complications of fibromyalgia include higher death rates from suicide and injuries. A 2010 study found the risk of death from suicide was ten times higher in fibromyalgia patients than in the general population.
Fibromyalgia tends to run in families, so genetic factors are likely to contribute to the disorder, but little is known for sure about the specific genes involved. Researchers believe that environmental (nongenetic) factors also play a role in a person's risk of developing the disorder.
Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.
Fibromyalgia can be very distressing and affect many areas of life. Because of the pain and exhaustion, it can be very hard to do simple activities such as tidying up or going shopping. Even usually enjoyable activities with family and friends may become difficult.
Results: There were four parent stages of FM identified and labeled: 1) regional FM with classic symptoms; 2) generalized FM with increasing widespread pain and some additional symptoms; 3) FM with advanced and associated conditions, increasing widespread pain, increased sleep disturbances, and chemical sensitivity; ...
Exercise regularly.
But doing it gradually and regularly often decreases symptoms. Appropriate exercises may include walking, swimming, biking and water aerobics. A physical therapist can help you develop a home exercise program. Stretching, good posture and relaxation exercises also are helpful.
Fibromyalgia is not generally considered a progressive disorder, but in some cases, it does get worse over time. It's not, however, a condition with a predictable course. In most people, fibromyalgia symptoms go through flares (when symptoms are severe) and remissions (when symptoms are minimal or absent).
Fibromyalgia is a waxing and waning condition, meaning that it can be a roller coaster as far as how well you feel. There can be both short-term improvements and long-term improvements, with a significant long-term improvement usually defined as remission.
Fibromyalgia can cause tiredness. This can range from feeling mildly tired to the exhaustion often felt during a flu-like illness. Severe tiredness (fatigue) may come on suddenly and can drain you of all your energy.
Actress and comedian Janeane Garofalo deals with her fibromyalgia by laughing at it. In her stand-up, she's even talked about the time she was prescribed antidepressants for her fibromyalgia. "I had no idea I was chronically dissatisfied," she joked, proving to have quite a sense of humor about herself.
If you avoid treating fibromyalgia, you may descend into a spiral. The chronic pain and fatigue limits your physical activities and exercise. That, in turn, weakens your body. You may begin to feel isolated, fearful, suspicious, lonely, and afraid, which can strain relationships.
Weight loss also takes some of the pain out of fibromyalgia. Losing about three body mass index points (BMI) reduced fibromyalgia symptoms in a research study published in Clinical Rheumatology.
We know you have one burning question on your mind, though — is fibromyalgia curable? The short answer is no. But the long answer is pretty promising. Here's some information and some hope to help you manage your fibromyalgia symptoms.
People with fibromyalgia should generally avoid activities that involve fast, sudden movements and high impact activities, such as running and jumping, although some people may progress to this level of activity.
Research has uncovered evidence that FM is an autoimmune disease. Neuroinflammation and small-fiber neuropathy appear to be important elements of it.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition. This means that it affects you over a long period of time—possibly your entire life. There will be times when your fibromyalgia may “flare up” and your symptoms will be worse. Other times, you will feel much better.
[5] Although the etiology of FMS is still unknown, recent studies have shown that physical trauma and psychosocial stress factors may also play a role in the etiopathogenesis. Traumatic experiences such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are thought to be triggering factors in susceptible individuals for FMS.