What Is Fibromyalgia?
What Is
Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal condition characterized by generalized pain or pain at tender points.
Fibromyalgia affects people of all ages with largely affecting middle-aged people and women.
It is a very common and highly research disorder. Yet, the actual reason for the disease is still unknown
Fibromyalgia (fi·bro·my·al·gi·a) is a condition that causes pain all over the body (also referred to as widespread pain), sleep problems, fatigue, and often emotional and mental distress. People with fibromyalgia may be more sensitive to pain than people without fibromyalgia. This is called abnormal pain perception processing.The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, but it can be effectively treated and managed.
Ever feel like this? You have achy pain all over your body, especially in your muscles. When you sleep — whether it’s five hours or 14 — you never feel refreshed and you’re always tired. Sometimes you forget where you just put your keys or your brain is in a fog. You might feel worse in the morning, when it’s cold or when the weather changes. If this sounds familiar, you may have fibromyalgia, a chronic illness with three main symptoms — widespread pain, chronic fatigue and cognitive trouble.
Fibromyalgia is a complicated illness that’s not well understood. In the past, it was mischaracterized as a mental health disorder. Even today, some doctors wave off fibro symptoms as being “all in your head.” This isn’t the case. Fibromyalgia involves alterations in the function of your nervous system and how your brain processes pain. It also causes a response in your hormone and immune systems that can lead to many different changes, including neuroinflammation or inflammation in the tissues in your nervous system.
It’s common to have fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions as well as mental illness, though fibromyalgia is not a mental health condition itself. These conditions could include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Migraine
- Irritable bladder syndrome
- Lyme disease
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
Risk factors for fibromyalgia
Risk factors for fibromyalgia include:
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed more often in women than in men.
2. Family history.
You may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia if a relative also has the condition.
3. Other disorders.
If you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, you may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
4. 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.
5. Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis.
If you have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
Causes
Doctors don't know what causes fibromyalgia, but it most likely involves a variety of factors working together. These may include:
1. Genetics.
Because fibromyalgia tends to run in families, there may be certain genetic mutations that may make you more susceptible to developing the disorder.
2. Infections.
Some illnesses appear to trigger or aggravate fibromyalgia.
3. Physical or emotional trauma.
Fibromyalgia can sometimes be triggered by a physical trauma, such as a car accident. Psychological stress may also trigger the condition.
Symptoms
1. Pain
Pain is a characteristic feature of fibromyalgia. The pain can be widespread all over the body or may be present at specific locations referred to as tender points. The pain is too deep in the muscles with burning and sharp sensation.
2. Disturbed Sleep
Fibromyalgia sufferers experience difficulty while sleeping and wake up many times due to severe pain and restlessness. The patients feel exhausted and tired.
3. Depression
The intense musculoskeletal pain drains out all energy from the patient’s body that makes him/her feel depressed.
4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
40-70% of fibromyalgia patients suffer from irritable bowel syndrome that includes diarrhea, constipation, and gas.
5. Sensitive Skin
Approximately 50% of the sufferer experience skin sensitivity to temperature fluctuation, noise, medications, etc.
6. Memory Problems
Many patients suffer from memory problems also called fibro fog.
Other symptoms such as dizziness, stiffness in legs, anxiety, etc are also seen in many fibromyalgia patients.
Women have yet other symptoms such as pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), pelvic pain, etc.
7. Fatigue.
People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even though they report sleeping for long periods of time. Sleep is often disrupted by pain, and many patients with fibromyalgia have other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
1. Boost your omega-3 intake
It is advised that patients with fibromyalgia who eat more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including fatty fish, walnuts, and flaxseed can help decrease inflammation and relieve pain in some people. If Hate fish? Fish oil supplements can help.
2. Spice up your menu
Many herbs and spices are potent sources of phytochemicals, which are chemical compounds produced by plants that are associated with anti-inflammatory effects.Top picks include turmeric, red pepper, cloves, ginger, cumin, anise, fennel, basil, rosemary, and garlic.
3. Limit sugar
A diet high in sugar and refined carbs (as well as saturated and trans fats) can fuel inflammation. But you can’t just avoid dessert and white bread and assume your diet is low in sugar. “Sugar can be there in unexpected foods, such as salad dressings and marinara sauce, so it’s important to always read the label when you shop.
4. Consider cutting out gluten
Could gluten trigger fibromyalgia pain? Because people with fibromyalgia often experience similar symptoms to those associated with gluten-related disorders, it’s suspected that some people with fibromyalgia could have an underlying gluten sensitivity. However, going gluten free isn’t something you should try on your own, you need to be on a carefully designed plan so you don’t end up with nutrient deficiencies.”
5. Keep a food diary to identify food sensitivities
People with fibromyalgia sometimes find that their fibro symptoms worsen when they eat certain foods or ingredients, such as dairy, MSG, caffeine, or artificial sweeteners. To identify your triggers, keep a food diary for a couple of weeks and note how you feel after each meal and snack. Keep in mind, however, that fibro symptoms from eating a certain food can take up to a day to appear.
6. Ask your doctor about supplements
Many individuals are low in vitamin D and magnesium, both of which are important for those with fibromyalgia.
If you aren’t getting enough magnesium, that can make your fatigue worse because magnesium plays an important role in energy production.
As for vitamin D, a study published in the journal found that people with fibromyalgia who took vitamin D reported less pain and morning fatigue.
7. Increase your magnesium intake
A lack of magnesium can exacerbate pain, plus it makes it harder for our muscles to relax. Try including magnesium-rich foods in your diet such as dark leafy greens, beans, grains and pulses to keep levels of this important nutrient topped up.
8. Reduce your caffeine intake
Cut out or reduce the amount of tea and coffee you drink, as caffeine increases nerve pain and lowers magnesium levels.
9. Exercise more
Gentle exercise, such as swimming, yoga and walking, has been found to have a number of important benefits for people with fibromyalgia, including helping to reduce pain.It is sensible to increase your exercise levels gradually but be careful not to overdo it.
11. Eat a more plant-based diet
Fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components that may ease fibromyalgia pain.While fibromyalgia isn’t considered an inflammation-based illness, studies suggest that neuroinflammation may play a role in the condition.
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