The condition typically develops between the ages of 25 and 55, but people of any age can get it, including children and older people. It's not clear exactly how many people are affected by fibromyalgia, although research has suggested it could be a relatively common condition.
Although fibromyalgia usually appears in patients in their 20s or 30s, the disease is found in all age groups and is most common among women.
Fibromyalgia is often triggered by an event that causes physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers include: a serious injury, such as after a car accident. an infection, such as Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme disease.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia may appear suddenly after an illness, physical trauma, or significant psychological stress. In some people, however, fibromyalgia symptoms appear gradually, and a specific event is not believed to trigger pain and fatigue.
The main symptoms of fibromyalgia are: Chronic, widespread pain throughout the body or at multiple sites. Pain is often felt in the arms, legs, head, chest, abdomen, back, and buttocks. People often describe it as aching, burning, or throbbing.
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. Most rheumatic diseases are treated with medication and physical therapy.
And you may have any of a long list of other symptoms as well including in the GI tract, urinary system, nervous system, and skin. There's no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are treatments to control your symptoms. Your doctor will probably start you on an exercise regimen and have you work with a physical therapist.
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.
Lady Gaga, Morgan Freeman, and Mary McDonough have all spoken out about the disorder. What is it like to suffer from a condition that some people don't think exists?
Currently, there are no specific laboratory or imaging tests for fibromyalgia. The main symptoms—pain and fatigue—are shared with many other conditions, so doctors typically try to rule out other causes for your symptoms. Doctors may do the following to diagnose fibromyalgia: Take your medical history.
A person can live a normal and active life with fibromyalgia if they have the support of a physician, as well as friends and family. Physicians provide a wide range of services and treatment options, including preventive medicine to reduce the pain inflicted by fibromyalgia.
The pain ranges from mild to severe, with "flare ups" and times of improvement. The discomfort from fibromyalgia may feel like burning, soreness, stiffness, aching, or gnawing pain, often times with sore spots in certain parts of your muscles. The pain may feel like arthritis. But it doesn't damage muscles or bones.
The most common symptom of fibromyalgia is pain all over the body. The pain typically lasts for at least three months. However, many other early signs may happen, including: Increased sweating.
People with fibromyalgia have a history of widespread pain with no evident cause that lasts three months or more. There may be multiple tender points on the patient's body that are identified by applying pressure to these spots. These can be a sign of fibromyalgia, but they are not needed for a diagnosis.
Pain is a given for nearly everyone with fibromyalgia. So are fatigue and brain fog. While those symptoms can be challenging, you don't have to put your life on hold because of them. Living with fibromyalgia means making adjustments, from work to parenting responsibilities to household chores to having fun.
Fibromyalgia can make you extremely sensitive to pain all over your body, and you may find that even the slightest touch is painful. If you hurt yourself, such as stubbing your toe, the pain may continue for much longer than it normally would.
Fibromyalgia causes pain all throughout your body. It can also make you feel fatigued and like your mind is clouded by a fog. There's no cure for fibromyalgia, but your healthcare provider will help you find a combination of treatments that relieve your symptoms.
Not only is fibromyalgia very real, but many people who live with this diagnosis are true survivors – survivors of the pain itself, but also often survivors of traumatic experiences or abuse.
Tests to check for some of these conditions include urine and blood tests, although you may also have X-rays and other scans. If you're found to have another condition, you could still have fibromyalgia as well.
The FM/a ® Test analyzes your immune system's white blood cells for their chemokine and cytokine protein patterns. Those who suffer from fibromyalgia will show an abnormal pattern of these protective proteins.
Unfortunately, fibromyalgia is still a somewhat controversial diagnosis, because it is not yet fully understood and its symptoms can overlap with many other conditions. Some people even say that it's a “garbage can” diagnosis that's only given when no other one can be made.
The symptoms can be similar, but people with fibromyalgia are more likely to experience depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and widespread, persistent pain. Symptoms more common with MS include weakness, vision problems, muscle spasms, and bowel or bladder issues.
Yes, fibromyalgia can cause hair loss. This is particularly common during periods of high stress, illness, or a flare-up of fibromyalgia. It is unclear why this occurs, but relaxation techniques such as yoga, breathing, and meditation can help to lower stress and hopefully stop or slow hair loss.