Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain and a sensation of pain at specific points called fibromyalgia pain points or sore spots. The pain what a person with fibromyalgia feels it resembles joint pain, but fibromyalgia is not a joint disease. The etymological meaning of the word fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles and in the ligaments and tendons, known as fibrous tissue.
The number of patients who have to living with fibromyalgia in the total population ranges from two to six per cent and affects women more often than men. It may occur alone or in association with other conditions. In the first case it is known as primary fibromyalgia and in the second one as concomitant fibromyalgia.
Main symptoms of fibromyalgia
The most characteristic symptoms of fibromyalgia are:
- Chronic pain in specific points of the body.
- Intense fatigue.
- Persistent headaches.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Lack of memory and impaired concentration.
- Particular sensitivity to cold and heat.
- Digestive problems.
- Numbness and tingling sensation in the hands and feet.
Other symptoms of fibromyalgia These may include poor tolerance to exertion, particularly severe pain during menstruation, irritable bowel syndrome, bladder disorder with bladder control difficulties and an urgent need to urinate or dry mouth and eyes.
If we ask ourselves what fibromyalgia pain is likeThe first thing to know is that fibromyalgia alters the perception of pain. Stimuli that are not usually painful are perceived as painful. In addition, it can lead to generalised stiffness and a feeling of swelling in the limbs. The patient perceives it as a general pain. Many people use the expression "it hurts all over". Other patients report an uncomfortable, unpleasant or burning sensation.
The The intensity of the pain changes depending on the time of day, activity, changes in the weather, or having had little rest or stress.
Fibromyalgia pain points
There are a number of points on the human body that are particularly sensitive to touch. They are called "trigger points" and are located in certain areas of the chest, back, buttocks, neck, knees, feet and arms. People with fibromyalgia are especially sensitive to touch at these pain points.
Some specialists point out that it is advisable to examine patients who transmit fibromyalgia symptoms by pressing on these points. If the pain is frequent, the patient is likely to have this condition.
The pain points of fibromyalgia include in the lower cervical, in the C5 and C7 intervertebral spaces, in the extreme upper quadrants of the buttocks, in the second rib, in the medial fat pad of the knees, in the upper extremity of the femur, at the insertion of the suboccipital muscles, at the midpoint of the upper edge of the trapezius, above the medial edge of the scapular spine and at the lateral epicondyle, in the humerus.
Fibromyalgia and depression
The fibromyalgia is closely related to some psychological and psychiatric disorders. The most common are anxiety and depression. Such pathologies inevitably contribute to the chronification and aggravation of the course of the disease.
Fibromyalgia and depression are two words that can be linked. Depression is a negative state of mind in which the patient loses the ability and courage to cope with any complex situation and also to cope with many moments of everyday life. This seriously worsens the symptoms of fibromyalgia..
The Depression that occurs with fibromyalgia can have affective, cognitive, somatic or behavioural symptoms. Its onset becomes chronic and worsens the course and evolution of the disease. There are studies that use antidepressant treatments to improve the patient's quality of life. In addition, there are psychological therapies that improve the patient's anxiety and thus the pain symptoms.
Living with fibromyalgia
Living with such a disease is complex and there is no solution to living with fibromyalgia. The following could serve as general rules acceptance of the change, with an adaptation to the new life and an awareness of the problem. The healthy diet is also a plus, the moderate exerciseThe "as far as everyone's possibilities allow" is a very good thing, finding a good night's sleep and a good mattress will help a lot with fibromyalgiaTherefore, it is necessary to find a method that helps to fall asleep, and finally, to find a method that helps to fall asleep, finding support of all kinds. Within the family, in the group of friends and in the doctor-patient relationship.
How do I know if I have fibromyalgia?
If you think you may have fibromyalgia, you need a professional diagnosis. If your symptoms resemble fibromyalgia and you want to know if you may have it, contact us so that we can help you with an effective diagnosis of your fibromyalgia. In addition, we advise you to take into account this information on the relationship between fibromyalgia and Lyme disease, something that may be interesting and needs to be discarded.
We are interested in offering the best information to patients so that they can find the quickest and most effective way to diagnose their ailment in order to start with an adequate treatment that improves their quality of life. It is important to know what a person with fibromyalgia feels because it is a very complex disease that is under constant research and that can seriously affect patients' lives. At Biosalud we are concerned that this disease is known, researched and disseminated in order to be able to help people suffering from it more quickly and effectively.
External sources:
Merayo Alonso L.A., Cano García F.J., Rodríguez Franco L., Ariza Ariza R., Navarro Sarabia F. A bibliometric approach to fibromyalgia research. Rheumatol Clin. 2007; 3:55-62.
Revuelta Evrard, E., Segura Escobar, E., & Paulino Tevar, J.. (2010). Depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia. Journal of the Spanish Pain Society, 17(7), 326-332. Retrieved January 08, 2023, from https://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1134-80462010000700006&lng=es&tlng=es.
