Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Definition

Fibromyalgia is made up from "fibro" for fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments. It is also known as fibrositis and it is a diffuse pain syndrome. It is one of the most common causes of chronic musculoskeletal pain. It's characterized by diffuse daily fatigue, widespread pain in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments and nonrestorative sleep, along with multiple tender points on examination. Approximately 80% to 90% of those affected are women. FMS may occur at any age, and it occurs most commonly in women of childbearing age and sometimes may occur in elderly persons and men.

Causes of Fibromyalgia syndrome

The development of FMS may be multifactorial and influenced by various factor such as:

• Stress
• Physical conditioning
• Nonrestorative sleep
• Neuroendocrine factors
• Psychiatric factors
• Hormonal factors

Other associated features that may occur with FMS include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Migraine or tension headaches
• Primary dysmenorrhea
• Temporomandibular joint pain
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Puffy hands
• Paresthesia

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia syndrome

The primary symptom of FMS such as:

• Diffuse
• Dull
• Aching pain that's typically concentrated across the neck and shoulders
• Lower back and proximal limbs

The pain can vary from day to day and be exacerbated by stress, lack of sleep, weather changes, and inactivity. Sleep disturbance in FMS is another suggested factor in the development of symptoms. Women with fibromyalgia typically have pelvic pain, painful menorrhea, and pain during sexual intercourse. Some people have urinary symptoms such as strong urge to urinate and bladder pain.

Treatment of Fibromyalgia syndrome

In which treatment of this disease, the most important aspect in FMS management is patient education. Patients must understand that although FMS pain can be severe and is commonly chronic, it's treatable and doesn't lead to deforming or life threatening complications.

• For the treatment of fibromyalgia usually requires a comprehensive approach, combining exercise, medication, physical therapy, and relaxation. A regular, low-impact aerobic exercise program, such as swimming, walking, or biking , has been shown to be effective in improving muscle conditioning, energy levels, and the patient's overall sense of well-being.
• You can also use medications, that are typically used to improve sleep and control pain. A bedtime dose of amitriptyline, nortriptyline, trazodone, or doxepin may be useful to improve sleep but they can be associated with ticholinergic adverse effects and daytime drowsiness. Benzodiazepines are usually avoided because they haven't shown any long-term benefits and have the potential for drug dependence.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids typically haven't been effective in relieving FMS pain, although NSAlDs may be used for coexisting tendinitis or arthritis. However, the combination of oral corticosteroids and an NSAlD can put a patient at increased risk for peptic ulcer disease.