What Is Fibromyalgia?
When you first hear those words, ‘you have fibromyalgia,’ there are likely many thoughts, feelings, and emotions
that are coursing through your mind.
You may wonder what that is, why you have it, will you ever get better, what your life will be like now. You may
worry about how this will affect your job, family, hobbies, your life.
You may even feel a little relief to finally have a name to put to all these frustrating symptoms. You may grieve
your former life, feeling like you will never be the same person again.
You will probably feel a hefty combination of a lot of emotions all at once, and for a good reason.
None of these feelings are wrong, none of these feelings are right either. There simply is no right or wrong. Each
of us has to deal with our diagnosis in our own way. Just as each of us has to then treat and learn to live with this
illness in our own way.
Who Gets Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is one of the most common types of chronic pain disorders. Estimations show that between 200
million to 400 million people worldwide have fibromyalgia.
It is known that more women are affected by fibromyalgia than men, and most are diagnosed at the age of 30 or
older. But it is important to remember there are men with fibromyalgia and there are kids and teens with
fibromyalgia. Do not dismiss your symptoms, or those of your loved one, because you or they do not fit into the
typical criteria for someone with this illness.
What Is Fibromyalgia Exactly?
According to The Mayo Clinic, “researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the
way your brain processes pain signals.”
It has also been found that “repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of people with fibromyalgia to change.
This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain
(neurotransmitters). In addition, the brain’s pain receptors seem to develop a sort of memory of the pain and
become more sensitive, meaning they can overreact to pain signals.”
What does this mean? Simply put, we feel more pain than the average healthy person. Our body interprets
pressure as pain; our body interprets slight pain as extreme pain. Our body even feels pain when there is no
reason for it at all.
All of that said, many other symptoms are not explained by this.
The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
There is a long list of over 100 possible symptoms, along with companion illnesses, which are frequently
associated with fibromyalgia.
Some of the more common symptoms are:
Persistent pain throughout the body
Fatigue
Cognitive fatigue, also known as brain fog
Joint stiffness
Muscle stiffness and spasms
Sleep disturbances
Anxiety, depression, or mood swings
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Jaw pain, or Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders
Headaches
Hormonal imbalances
Sensitivity to lights, sounds, cold, and heat
Skin sensitivities
Frequent or painful urination
The Process of Being Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia
The road to getting diagnosed with fibromyalgia can be different for each individual. But for many, this is a long,
bumpy path. I personally have had fibromyalgia since childhood, but I was not diagnosed until I was 22.
I spent years telling different doctors that I hurt, that I just felt unwell. They would find some small thing to blame it
on or ignore me altogether. I had convinced myself many of my symptoms were normal, or simply in my head.
But as I got older, the symptoms became worse and more persistent. I finally had to accept that there was
something wrong and I needed to find out what it was. I went to a new doctor. I explained to him all of my
symptoms and how long they had been going on. He was the first one to really hear me, the first one to recognize
something more serious than growing pains, a cold, or the flu.
After doing a number of tests at his office, and they all came back negative, he sent me to a rheumatologist. The
rheumatologist also listened to all of my many symptoms and ran a plethora of more blood tests. Once again, all
the blood tests came back negative. She then did the tender point test, and when I was sore in all of the 18
points, she gave me the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
The tender point test, also called the pressure point test, is no longer considered the definitive test for
fibromyalgia as it once was. The Mayo Clinic explains that the reason for this is because “fibromyalgia symptoms
can come and go so that a person might have 11 tender spots one day but only eight tender spots on another
day. And many family doctors were uncertain about how much pressure to apply during a tender point exam.
While specialists or researchers may still use tender points, an alternative set of guidelines has been developed
for doctors to use in general practice.”
Next page: More information on how fibromyalgia is diagnosed. What causes fibromyalgia? And how is
fibromyalgia treated?
How Is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?
There is a new diagnostic criterion that doctors consider, and this includes:
Widespread pain that lasts for at least three months
Accompanied with other symptoms such as fatigue, waking up tired, and mental fogginess
No other underlying condition that could explain the symptoms
Your doctor will want to ensure that your symptoms are not caused by another underlying problem or condition
that has similar symptoms. This is why your doctors will likely do a lot of blood tests, ask you many questions, and
even perform a physical exam.
They will look for rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and lupus, as these may
initially present with generalized aches and pain.
Mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, will frequently cause generalized aches and pain that
mimic the beginning stages of fibromyalgia.
They may also look for neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis. This is due to
the fact that fibromyalgia causes numbness and tingling for some, mimicking symptoms of these neurological
disorders.
It is important to make sure that these illnesses are not the cause of your current symptoms.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
While it is not fully understood what the exact cause of fibromyalgia is, there are a number of factors that may
contribute to the origin of this mysterious illness.
Genetics. There seems to be a genetic component to fibromyalgia, as it is frequently seen in family
groups, although it is generally not considered hereditary.
Certain infections. Some infections, such as hepatitis C; Epstein-Barr virus; Lyme disease; and
parvovirus, have been seen to trigger fibromyalgia.
Injury or physical trauma. In many cases, injuries, such as a car accident, can trigger the onset of
fibromyalgia.
Emotional trauma. In some cases, psychological trauma, severe emotional stress, or abuse, as well as
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) seem to be contributing factors for fibromyalgia.
Autoimmune Disorders. Fibromyalgia is frequently seen in people that already have an autoimmune
disorder, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis; lupus; osteoarthritis; and ankylosing spondylitis.
In many cases, people that develop fibromyalgia have more than one of the above factors.
How Is Fibromyalgia Treated?
There is a variety of ways to treat fibromyalgia. It is important to remember that each individual is different and
must find the right fibromyalgia treatment for them. In most instances, a mixture of things is needed to treat the
many symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Before trying a new medication or other forms of treatments, it is best to talk with your doctor and do research to
ensure that it will not interfere with other medications or any other conditions that you have.
Some of the most common methods that are used to treat fibromyalgia are:
Medication. A number of medications may help to address some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. There
are both prescription and over the counter pain medications. There are also some medications initially
developed for depression and seizure disorders that have been successful in lessening the pain of
fibromyalgia for some. Muscle relaxers may also be beneficial in reducing muscle stiffness and help you to
improve the amount and quality of sleep that you get.
Vitamins and Supplements. It is common for many with fibromyalgia to be deficient in some necessary
vitamins and minerals. A blood test can check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Many have found relief
from some of their symptoms when they take a supplement for Vitamin D, magnesium, or potassium.
Some have also benefited from taking 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and S-Adenosyl-L-methionine
(SAMe). These natural supplements have been helpful in some cases to decrease many of the symptoms
of fibromyalgia. A natural sleep aid may also be beneficial for some to get better rest, which will in turn
help relieve a number of symptoms, including pain, fatigue, brain fog, and promotes a better mood.
Exercise. Exercise and fibromyalgia do not seem to mix well at first glance. But it has been proven time
and again that some form of exercise is necessary to successfully treat fibromyalgia. Many have seen the
benefits of gentle stretching exercises, such as Pilates. Others have found resistance training to be helpful
in reducing pain, in addition to improving their overall wellbeing. Water aerobics has proven beneficial for
many as well. It is believed to be even more helpful than other exercises at improving pain levels, sleep,
overall mood, and increasing agility.
Heat and/or Cold. Using heating pads or blankets, hot water bottles, or ice packs have been helpful for
many. Different people are affected differently by heat and cold, so you have to find what will best work for
you.
Some recent studies published in Scientific Reports, details a study of something referred to as explosive
synchronization (ES) in human brain data, and this may give insight into the cause of chronic pain disorders, such
as fibromyalgia.
“For the first time, this research shows that the hypersensitivity experienced by chronic pain patients may result
from hypersensitive brain networks,” according to Richard Harris, Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology at
Michigan Medicine with the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center. “The subjects had conditions similar to
other networks that undergo explosive synchronization.”
In ES, a small stimulus can lead to a coordinated reaction within the network, similar to the reaction of a power
grid failure, which rapidly turns things off, or that of a seizure, which rapidly turns things on. This is thought to be a
promising lead to a better understanding of how a person develops fibromyalgia.
“As opposed to the normal process of gradually linking up different centers in the brain after a stimulus, chronic
pain patients have conditions that predispose them to linking up in an abrupt, explosive manner,” says UnCheol
Lee, Ph.D., a physicist and assistant professor of anesthesiology at Michigan Medicine.
Researchers recorded the electrical activity in the brains of 10 females with fibromyalgia. Results showed
hypersensitive and unstable brain networks. They also found a strong correlation between the degree of ES
conditions and the self-reported intensity of chronic pain that the patients reported during the EEG testings.
After using computer models of brain activity to compare the responses of fibromyalgia patients to the normal
condition, researchers discovered that the fibromyalgia model was more sensitive to electrical stimulation than the
model without ES characteristics.
What does all of this mean? It could potentially help guide future treatments for fibromyalgia!
Learning to Live With Fibromyalgia
Life with fibromyalgia is undoubtedly a challenge, and it would be dishonest to pretend otherwise. But there are
ways to reduce the hold that fibromyalgia has over your life.
I have found balance to be crucial in living with fibromyalgia. There needs to be balance between accepting this
illness and holding onto hope of finding relief. There needs to be balance between activity and rest. There needs
to be balance between being realistic and having a positive outlook. There needs to be balance in taking care of
your health and caring for your family and friends.
Life with fibromyalgia is like a whole new world for many people. It requires a new way of thinking and doing
things. This does not automatically have to be a bad thing though. A change in focus and perspective can be
positive.
Dwelling on the negative aspects of fibromyalgia, on the past, or on how much better it seems others have it, will
not help you any. That is not to say thinking positive thoughts will cure you, it won’t, but it can make coping with
your new circumstances easier. A joyful outlook can also improve your mood and reduce stress.
Receiving the diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be alarming. It will do you well to remember that there are ways to
cope and that you are never alone. There are millions of warriors around the world are successfully living their
lives with fibromyalgia and you can too!
