Fibromyalgia – Causes & Treatment

Fibromyalgia treatment in Hyderabad

Fibromyalgia treatment in Hyderabad | Dr. Praharsha Mulpur

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain associated with fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood problems. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia increases painful sensations by affecting how the brain and spinal cord process painful and non-painful signals. Symptoms often begin after events such as Physical trauma, surgery, infection, or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time without a single triggering event occurring.  Many people with fibromyalgia also experience tension headaches, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and depression. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but various drugs can control symptoms. Exercise, relaxation, and measures to reduce stress can also help.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

The main symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

Widespread pain

Pain associated with fibromyalgia is often described as constant, dull pain lasting at least three months. The pain must be on both sides of the body and above and below the hips to be considered widespread. Malaise.

People with fibromyalgia report sleeping late but often wake up tired. Sleep is often disturbed by pain, and many people with fibromyalgia suffer from other sleep disorders, such as restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea.

Cognitive difficulty. Commonly referred to as “fiber fog,” the condition affects concentration, attention, and ability to focus on mental tasks.

Fibromyalgia is often associated with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome chronic fatigue, migraines and other types of headaches, interstitial cystitis, or painful bladder syndrome.

Fibromyalgia causes

Many researchers believe that repeated nerve stimulation in fibromyalgia patients causes changes in the brain and spinal cord. This change involves an abnormal increase in certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain. In addition, pain receptors in the brain appear to somehow develop and become sensitive to pain memory. These changes can be attributed to many factors, including genetics. Because fibromyalgia runs in families, certain genetic mutations may predispose people to develop the condition. Some disorders appear to induce or exacerbate fibromyalgia.

A physical or emotional event: Fibromyalgia can be triggered by physical events such as car accidents. Persistent psychological stress can also trigger fibromyalgia.

Risk factors for fibromyalgia

your gender

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed more often in women than in men.

Family history- If you have a parent or sibling who also has fibromyalgia, you are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.

If you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus, you are more likely to develop fibromyalgia. 

Complications

The pain, fatigue, and poor-quality sleep associated with fibromyalgia can affect your ability to function at home and at work. It can also lead to pain-related anxiety.

Diagnosis

In the past, doctors would check 18 specific points on a person’s body to see how much those points hurt when pressed hard. New guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology do not require a tender point test. Instead, the main factor required for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is pain that has spread throughout the body for at least 3 months. To meet the criteria, there must be pain in at least 4 of these 5 areas: upper left region including shoulders, arms, or chin upper right region including shoulder, arm, or chin lower left region including hips, buttocks, or legs lower right region including hips, buttocks or legs. Axial regions including neck, back, chest, or abdomen test. Doctors may want to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.

Blood tests include complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, cyclic citrullinated peptide assay, and rheumatoid factor. Other tests include thyroid function tests, antinuclear antibody serology, and vitamin D test.

Fibromyalgia Treatment in Hyderabad

In general, fibromyalgia treatment includes both medication and self-care therapy. The focus is on minimizing symptoms and improving overall health. There is no cure for every symptom, but trying different treatment strategies can have cumulative effects. Medications can help relieve fibromyalgia pain and improve sleep.  The common choices include over-the-counter pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and other prescription medicines. In addition, physical therapy, exercise, and other lifestyle and dietary modification can also help improve the condition.