Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disorder which was previously called fibrositis. It is a chronic pain syndrome which can occur at any age and more commonly affects women.
This condition involves widespread musculoskeletal pain which is often accompanied by fatigue and sleep disturbance. It is characterised by tender points on the body and a feeling of stiffness all over the body.

Many people describe the pain as deep muscular aching, throbbing, shooting, stabbing and burning. The pain and stiffness are often worse in the mornings and may hurt more in the muscles which are used repetitively. As already stated, people may feel devoid of energy (fatigue) although the severity of these symptoms may vary from person to person.

Sleep disturbance is common in fibromyalgia. Many sufferers can fall asleep easily and may appear to have a full nights sleep but they awake feeling un-refreshed and drained of energy. This occurs because the sleep is often interrupted by periods of ‘awake-like’ brain activity.

Some people with fibromyalgia have concomitant ailments which are listed below:

• Symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic headaches
• Painful menstrual periods
• Tingling in the extremities
• Problems with thinking or memory
• Jaw pain

Changes in the weather, infections, allergies, hormonal fluctuations, stress, depression, anxiety and over exertion may all contribute to a flare-up of fibromyalgic symptoms.

The impact of fibromyalgia upon a person’s ability to work and carry out normal daily functions differs from one individual to another.

There is help for patients with fibromyalgia including the use of a standard diagnosis criteria. The Pain Clinic offers a comprehensive individualised treatment plan to patients with fibromyalgia which incorporates a multidisciplinary team of which the most important member is the patient.

The cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown but is thought to be linked to stressful or traumatic experiences, such as a car crash, the death of a relative, repetitive injuries, previous illness or it can just occur on its own. As with most conditions that cause chronic pain there is an interaction between the mind and body.
The treatment for fibromyalgia depends upon the individual sufferer. Treatments range from medication, physiotherapy, complementary therapies and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

For treatment explanations and options offered by The Pain Clinic please click on the Treatment button. If you are concerned about your health and have not received a diagnosis; you should consult a doctor.