Fibromyalgia
What is Fibromyalgia?
If you suffer from widespread pain coupled with fatigue and cognitive issues, you could be suffering from fibromyalgia.
But, what does that even mean?
The term fibromyalgia comes from the Latin word “fibro” meaning fibrous tissue, and the Greek words “myo” meaning muscle and “algos” meaning pain. The term literally means “muscle and connective tissue pain.” Core fibromyalgia symptoms include:
- Chronic pain
- Fatigue
- Mood disorders
- Sleep disturbances
- Cognitive dysfunction, or “fibro fog”
This condition also shares many symptoms with chronic fatigue syndrome and lupus. The origins of fibromyalgia pain are unknown.
Must Watch Video – What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia Causes
The cause of fibromyalgia has never been clearly delineated, although many researchers have examined factors for a link to the disorder. Currently, scientists feel fibromyalgia is a complex interplay between sociological, biological, and psychological agents.
Infections, trauma, and repetitive injury have been studied for their causality with respect to fibromyalgia. The disorder coexists in extraordinarily high prevalence with hepatitis C infections and other rheumatic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and osteoarthritis (OA). The common characteristic of all the disorders listed is systemic, chronic inflammation.
Fibromyalgia Treatments
There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia. Physicians should express candor about this fact when addressing patients diagnosed with the disorder. Subsequently, the focal points of treatment of fibromyalgia become areas such as patient education, and lifestyle adjustments, to help keep patients comfortable while coping with the malady. Successfully treatment of this condition requires a multi-pronged appro