Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues. Symptoms of fibromyalgia typically appear between the ages of 30 and 55. It appears that more women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia than men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and depression.
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it’s thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body. It does increase the sensitivity of your nerve endings, which means you could feel pain from a small amount of pressure or minor knocks.
There aren’t any specific blood tests, x-rays, or scans to confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Instead, diagnostic tests are performed to see if another condition could be causing the symptoms.
Treatment for fibromyalgia tries to ease some symptoms and improve quality of life, but there’s currently no cure. Treatments for fibromyalgia include both medication and self-care strategies. Prescriptions of drugs such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and painkillers along with other treatment options such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), individually tailored exercise programme, psychological support that can be used to help cope with the pain of fibromyalgia.