Fibromyalgia: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Fibromyalgia is a chronic neurological condition that causes widespread pain throughout the body and increased sensitivity to pain. Since the discomfort caused by the disease can persist for months or years, people who suffer from fibromyalgia are also more likely to experience excessive tiredness, sleep problems and psychological disorders.

This condition is more common in women and the first symptoms usually appear in adulthood, generally between the ages of 30 and 50.

Fibromyalgia has no cure, but treatment, guided by a rheumatologist, helps to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life, and changes in eating habits, use of medications and regular physical activity may be recommended.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of fibromyalgia are:

• Pain throughout the body;
• Greater sensitivity in some parts of the body;
• Excessive tiredness;
• Muscle rigidity;
• Recurrent headache;
• Difficulty sleeping;
• Memory and concentration problems.

In some cases, other less frequent symptoms may also appear, such as tingling in the hands and/or feet, pain in the jaw or digestive problems, especially irritable bowel syndrome. Know how to recognize the main symptoms of fibromyalgia.

It is also relatively common for the appearance of “mental fog”, in which the person experiences difficulty thinking, which ends up affecting their memory and ability to concentrate. For this reason, people with fibromyalgia also have a higher risk of developing depression or other psychological disorders.

Fibromyalgia trigger points

Fibromyalgia is known to cause increased sensitivity in some “trigger points” of the body:

• Upper part of the shoulders;
• Nape region;
• Hip sides;
• Knees;
• Elbows.

These points were widely used as a way to diagnose fibromyalgia, with the doctor applying pressure to the points to identify whether the person had more pain than normal. Currently, the use of these points has been less frequent as a way to reach a diagnosis. See how to identify the painful points of fibromyalgia.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia must be made by a general practitioner, neurologist or rheumatologist, but it can take time. For this reason, many people end up suffering from the condition for several months without knowing the true cause. This happens because there is no test capable of identifying fibromyalgia.

Therefore, the doctor needs to evaluate all symptoms and rule out other clinical conditions that could present similar symptoms, such as hypothyroidism or polymyalgia rheumatica. The tests that are most frequently ordered to help the doctor reach a diagnosis are X-rays and blood tests.

What causes fibromyalgia

The specific cause that leads to the appearance of fibromyalgia is not yet known, however, it is possible that the condition is caused by a change at the neuronal level that affects the way pain is perceived by the nervous system.

There are also some factors that seem to increase the risk of developing fibromyalgia, such as:

• Have a family history of fibromyalgia;
• Have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis;
• Experiencing very stressful situations;
• Suffering repeated blows to some part of the body;
• Having had a viral infection.

Furthermore, being a woman and being over 30 years old also seem to be important factors in the onset of fibromyalgia, although the condition can appear in people of all genders and at any age.

How the treatment is carried out

There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but with appropriate treatment, guided by a rheumatologist, it is possible to alleviate symptoms and control the disease, improving quality of life. The most commonly used treatments include:

1. Remedies for fibromyalgia

There are three main types of medicine that may be prescribed by a doctor to treat fibromyalgia:

• Antidepressantssuch as amitriptyline or fluoxetine: increase the concentration of some neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which helps control pain;
• Muscle relaxantssuch as cyclobenzaprine: relieve muscle stiffness, facilitating body relaxation and helping to relieve pain;
• Analgesicssuch as tramadol: act directly on pain.

When treatment with these medications does not have the desired effect, the doctor may also evaluate the use of other substances, such as antiparkinsonian medications, which act on the central nervous system and can help reduce the pain caused by fibromyalgia.

2. Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to help people with fibromyalgia identify emotions and everyday situations that seem to worsen fibromyalgia pain. This type of therapy is important to reduce stress levels, which, when high, can be a factor in worsening fibromyalgia symptoms.

3. Regular physical activity

Physical activity is also important to treat fibromyalgia, but you must follow the instructions of your doctor and physical educator, performing exercises that help relieve pain and strengthen and stretch your muscles, such as walking, swimming and water aerobics, 3 to 5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes.

4. Physiotherapy

To improve movements, the doctor may also recommend physiotherapy sessions for fibromyalgia, at least twice a week. These sessions can include therapeutic massages, stretching and relaxation exercises and help reduce symptoms by promoting local analgesia and improving blood circulation.

5. Anti-inflammatory diet

An anti-inflammatory diet can be a good option for those suffering from fibromyalgia, as it helps reduce possible inflammation in the nerves or muscles. Therefore, it is recommended to have a diet rich in magnesium, potassium and omega 3, to help alleviate symptoms:

• Magnesium, present in foods such as avocado, artichokes and seeds: they help relax muscles and improve circulation;
• Potassiumin foods such as bananas, apples, beets and peas: help prevent muscle weakness and cramps;
• Omega 3present in sardines, salmon and chi seeds: they have anti-inflammatory action and relieve pain symptoms.

Therefore, it is interesting that the person is regularly monitored by a nutritionist so that adjustments can be made to their diet to help alleviate symptoms and promote quality of life.

6. Acupuncture

Acupuncture consists of applying needles to specific points on the body to relieve pain. However, there is still no consensus on its usefulness and therapeutic action in fibromyalgia and, therefore, it may have worked in some patients and not in others.

Natural treatment for fibromyalgia

Natural treatment with medicinal plants is another therapy that may be recommended to complement the treatment recommended by your doctor. Some of the most used plants are St. John’s wort, which has an effect similar to that of some antidepressants, ginkgo biloba, which increases oxygenation and blood circulation, and turmeric, which has a strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic action.

Possible complications of fibromyalgia

The main complication of fibromyalgia is the “mental fog” that occurs when the pain is constant and ends up affecting the ability to reason, making the person with fibromyalgia have greater difficulty thinking, concentrating and even storing memories. Therefore, there is also a greater risk of developing psychological disorders, such as depression.

Additionally, people with fibromyalgia also have a higher rate of hospitalization for other health problems.