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Thursday, August 1, 2013

About Severe Fibromyalgia Pain

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects your muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and mood. It is characterized by trigger points that are sensitive to pressure and is commonly misdiagnosed. This article will help you understand the causes, symptoms, and possible treatments for severe fibromyalgia.

Symptoms

    Fibromyalgia is a painful chronic illness that affects the muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons. Fibromyalgia is also associated with trigger points, certain areas on the body where slight pressure causes intense pain. Other symptoms include sleep disorders, in conjunction with fatigue and anxiety. In addition, there may be depression, headaches, digestive, and urinary problems. Fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed, and if any of these symptoms persist, seek out a medical professional who specializes in fibromyalgia.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

    Doctors have not identified specific causes of fibromyalgia; however, there are several factors that can be attributed to the illness. Genetics is one school of thought, because the illness seems to run in families and shows signs of being hereditary. Infections seem to cause the onset of fibromyalgia as well. Post-traumatic stress from an illness or injury also seems to be a cause of fibromyalgia. Any and all of these factors working separately or in conjunction with one another seem to aid the onset of this illness.

Characteristics of Patients

    Fibromyalgia is more likely to occur in women than in men. Most cases start in early adulthood, although there are cases in children and older adults. Disruptive sleep patterns may be a cause or a result of fibromyalgia. Genetics and family history do show that members of certain families are more susceptible to the illness. Patients with arthritis or lupus are also more likely to contract fibromyalgia.

Diagnosis

    Diagnosing fibromyalgia is extremely difficult. In most cases, it takes years to accurately diagnose the illness, because it takes a long time to develop and many of the symptoms are common. In addition, there is no definitive test for fibromyalgia. Your doctor may need to run several tests, such as complete blood work and count, thyroid test, and kidney and liver tests just to rule out several other serious diseases before arriving at a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Testing for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation in the body using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate test should help identify fibromyalgia. Communicating directly to your doctor how you feel may help identify trigger points and other symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle and joint pain. There are 18 key trigger points on your body that need to be tested for pain that can accurately help with the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. X-rays provide no help with regard to diagnosing fibromyalgia.

Treatment and Care

    Several pill treatments can help alleviate inflammation and pain and offer relief from sleep disorders. In addition, certain medications can help with fatigue and depression. Physical therapy and exercise help with the muscle and joint pains and can help ease suffering from the trigger points. Acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care can also help patients cope with the illness.

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