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There are diseases and syndromes that arrive without any explanation. They cause, besides worries, many pains. As is the case with fibromyalgia, that medicine still struggles to discover in detail its causes and how to fight it.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that causes pain throughout the body and for a long period, in addition to increasing sensitivity in joints, tendons, muscles and other soft tissues, accompanied by memory problems, depression, anxiety, fatigue, headaches and sleep disorders.
Fibromyalgia is more common than we think, however, its cause is still not fully defined. It is considered a syndrome precisely because it is a consequence of several associated factors. The genetic factor is also assessed, as several cases of fibromyalgia occur in several people within the same family.
Fibromyalgia also affects more women than men, and in the age group between 20 and 50 years of age. Although there are numerous treatments and even medications for fibromyalgia, it is not yet possible to say that it is a disease that can be cured.
Risk factors
Because of these findings, the risk factors for fibromyalgia are family history and women between 20 and 50 years old . Despite being a silent disease that can really impact the patient’s quality of life, it is worth paying attention to the symptoms to look for an appropriate treatment.
Main Causes of Fibromyalgia
Although fibromyalgia is a very recurrent syndrome, its causes are not yet fully defined. It is known that it is related to several factors, which are commonly related to this rheumatological disease.
The most evident and already verified is its relation with genetics , which may be a consequence of some mutation of genes that triggers the syndrome, however they have not yet been mapped exactly.
Other factors that are no less important are also directly related to fibromyalgia are: sleep disorders, physical inactivity, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorders and some infections.
In fact, the causes of fibromyalgia are still very vague, which makes it difficult to have any effective treatment to the point of achieving a cure. If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to a specialist so that you can be examined and have an accurate diagnosis.
Diagnosis
As many symptoms of fibromyalgia are very similar to that of several other diseases, it is possible that if you have any suspicion, go through some specialists until you have a definitive diagnosis. It is common to be a rheumatologist, the specialist who will confirm fibromyalgia.
As there are no specific tests capable of diagnosing fibromyalgia . The doctor will actually do a clinical evaluation and some tests that actually serve to rule out the existence of other diseases that can cause the same symptoms.
It is very relevant for the conclusive diagnosis of fibromyalgia if the patient has generalized pain for more than three months . This should be your main point of attention in case of any suspicion.
Main Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is characterized by causing pain throughout the body . These pains are indicated neither as acute nor as strong, called by doctors as “tired” and constant pain. These generalized pains usually persist for a long period, around 3 months.
These pains are considered widespread because they occur both below the waist and above and on both sides of the body. And they leave patients, in many cases, with a lot of discomfort, impairing their daily activities and quality of life.
People with fibromyalgia often complain of fatigue. They wake up in the morning feeling tired , even if they have slept all night and for many hours, which would be enough to rest and get up willing.
Signs of Fibromyalgia
This type of event is called “non-restorative sleep”. Other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome are also related to the symptoms presented by fibromyalgia patients.
Other symptoms are also recurrent among fibromyalgia patients such as problems with fixation memory, difficulties with reasoning , lack of concentration and even language problems such as remembering and pronouncing a common word. These memory gaps are referred to with the terms “Fibro Fog” or “Mist Fibro”.
In addition, fibromyalgia is also related to depression, abdominal pain and cramps and headaches. Remember that although there is no cure, there are several treatments that are very effective and capable of reducing each of these symptoms and reducing as much as possible the damage to the lives of patients suffering from fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia Treatment
As there is no specific treatment to cure fibromyalgia, the objective is to act on the symptoms to minimize their impacts and improve the patient’s general clinical condition, treating each symptom that is more latent and uncomfortable.
The treatment of fibromyalgia is most effective when it involves specific drugs and non-drug therapies . The goal is always to relieve symptoms and improve the patient’s general clinical condition. These applied therapies can be physiotherapy, light massages under stress, cognitive behavioral therapies and series of fitness exercises.
The treatment of fibromyalgia always seeks to relieve pain, emotional balance , improve the quality of sleep, fatigue and physical conditioning of the patient, as well as to treat any other imbalance associated with the syndrome.
Important: No one but your doctor can prescribe the right medication and dose, or the right type of therapy to treat fibromyalgia. NEVER SELF-MEDIATE
Understand the Disease
In order to cope well with fibromyalgia, the patient’s behavior and attitude are very important and essential for a good result of any treatment and in the evolution of the disease. First understand everything about the disease, know each symptom to know how to deal with it and minimize the negative impacts and your day-to-day activities.
Always clear up all your doubts with the doctor, follow all the recommendations that include a balanced diet and a good rest routine. Stay confident and take care, even without a cure for fibromyalgia, it is possible to overcome the symptoms and remain firm and healthy in a long life and without major damage.
See also: What is Cystic Fibrosis?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
