"Patients report tingling, numbness, crawling sensations and a burning or sunburn type feeling," he reports. "The main skin symptoms you will see on examination are areas of dry, flaky skin, non-specific red rashes, blotchy or mottled skin and bruising."
Jaw and facial pain
It's possible for fibromyalgia to be linked to pain in the muscles of the jaw and face (temporomandibular joint disorder) or to myofascial (skeletal muscle) pain in one part of the body. Such occurrences could be considered forms of regional or localized or incomplete fibromyalgia.
The main symptoms people with fibromyalgia describe are pain, fatigue, and 'brain fog. ' However, many people we spoke to described experiencing additional symptoms and problems such as skin sensitivity, bruising, swellings, restless legs, gastric problems, headaches, irritability, hot sweats, dry eyes and chest pain.
Fibromyalgia can make you extremely sensitive to pain all over your body, and you may find that even the slightest touch is painful.
Fibromyalgia tender points tend to be symmetrical in the body. They are located both above and below the waist around the neck, chest, shoulders, hips, and knees. The tender point should cause pain in that exact area when the doctor presses on it with enough force to turn their fingernail white.
Skin pain or tenderness upon touch can have various causes such as sunburn, dermatitis, infection, nerve damage, or autoimmune disorders. It's best to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Fibromyalgia can be associated with ocular symptoms (foreign body sensation, irritation) and visual disturbances (blurred vision), coexisting with dry eye syndrome and reduced corneal sensitivity. Cases of scleritis, including the necrotizing form, accompanying fibromyalgia have been reported.
It can also lead to problems with memory or thinking clearly. These cognitive difficulties — called fibro fog — are common: Research suggests more than half of people with fibromyalgia show a decline in memory and clear thinking.
Fibromyalgia can cause widespread pain, fatigue, and stiffness. Symptoms tend to occur in periods of flares. Physical and emotional stress are the most common triggers of fibromyalgia flares. Other triggers include lack of sleep, weather changes, and hormone imbalances.
Classic red flags such as weight loss or frequent unexplained infections require specific evaluation. Referral for polysomnography to rule out obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is recommended when profound fatigue and cognitive dysfunction are present.
Several rheumatic diseases can mimic fibromyalgia. These include sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, polymyalgia rheumatica and lupus. They have symptoms of widespread pain along with joint involvement.
Itching may occur because fibromyalgia activates certain nerve fibers. Itching and pain share a common pathway that runs through the spinal cord. Pain and itchiness also activate the same sensory brain areas. A person who is sensitive to pain may also have a sensitivity to itchiness.
Fibromyalgia commonly affects orofacial health, presenting with a variety of oral manifestations, including temporomandibular disorder, xerostomia, glossodynia, and dysgeusia.
It can lead to jaw pain, especially in those of us with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, which are common in fibromyalgia.
What is allodynia? Allodynia is a type of neuropathic pain (nerve pain). People with allodynia are extremely sensitive to touch. Things that don't usually cause pain can be very painful.
Your skin feels like it's burning when it has undergone trauma due to the following – radiation, insect bite, strong sunlight, burns caused by heat or chemicals, strong injury or impact due to blunt force. The skin will feel red, hot and will be swollen due to inflammation.
Sensitive skin can look like the following: Red, swollen and itchy skin. Skin redness that presents with or without swelling. Skin that stings or burns.
The pain may be worse in the morning and evening. Sometimes, the pain may last all day long. The pain may get worse with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety, and stress. This condition is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 50.
The central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) transmits information all over your body through a network of specialised cells. Changes in the way this system works may explain why fibromyalgia results in constant feelings of, and extreme sensitivity to, pain.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) – These drugs are often used first in treating fibromyalgia. Examples include amitriptyline and nortriptyline. Cyclobenzaprine, a closely related medication, may help in treating fibromyalgia but is not effective for depression.