Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disease of the musculoskeletal system. The disease is characterized by a generalized pain that spreads throughout the body. Fibromyalgia, which can affect people of any age group, is most common in middle-aged women.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain throughout the body.
Fibromyalgia can cause many symptoms in patients. Although the symptoms seen in each patient are different, the most common fibromyalgia symptoms are as follows:
- Common Pain: It is the most typical symptom of fibromyalgia. Patients feel a general pain that spreads throughout the body. For pain to be considered widespread, it must affect both sides of the body and be felt both below and above the waist. In fibromyalgia, the pain may intensify, especially in areas such as the back and neck. Fibromyalgia pain can be a throbbing, aching pain that lasts for several months.
- Stiffness: After staying in the same position for a long time in fibromyalgia patients, conditions such as stiffness and stiffness may occur. Due to these conditions, limitation of movement may occur. For example, these patients may have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, and may have problems getting up from the table after eating. Patients may feel pain even in cases that are so mild that pain is not normally felt. Again, the duration of pain after minor trauma may be prolonged in patients.
- Muscle Cramps: Patients may feel pain and tenderness during muscle contraction.
- Fatigue: Fatigue is among the most common symptoms in fibromyalgia patients. The severity of fatigue may vary from patient to patient. Some patients may experience mild fatigue, while others may have a severe condition that prevents them from doing daily activities.
- Deterioration in Sleep Quality: Patients may experience a serious decrease in sleep quality. Even if patients spend enough time in sleep, they may wake up tired and not rested. The reason for this is the shortening of the restful 'deep sleep' period, which allows the body to regenerate during sleep, due to fibromyalgia. Patients with impaired sleep quality do not pay attention during the day. Heaviness, inability to focus, weakness, low energy may be encountered.
- Cognitive Problems: In fibromyalgia patients; Problems may occur in cognitive abilities such as thinking, learning, and memory formation. The mental structure of the patients may be in a state that can be called hazy. Cognitive disorders in patients; It can cause problems such as trouble remembering, slow speech.
- Feeling Extremely Hot or Cold: Fibromyalgia causes problems in regulating body temperature. Therefore, patients may perceive even a normal temperature as too cold or too hot.
- Chronic headache
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
- Painful Bladder Syndrome
- Dysmenorrhea (Painful Menstruation)
- Restless Foot Syndrome
Causes Fibromyalgia ?
Although the causes of fibromyalgia have not been fully elucidated yet, there are various mechanisms that are thought to play a role in the development of the disease. These are:
Changes in the Nervous System: Pain is transmitted to the brain from the region related to some specialized nerve cells in the body. This transmission takes place through various molecules. Changes in the type or concentration of molecules can cause fibromyalgia.
Changes in Hormone Levels: There are many different hormones involved in pain transmission and pain processing in the brain. Changes in the levels of these hormones may be important in terms of disease development. For example, it has been determined that the levels of hormones such as serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine are lower than normal in fibromyalgia patients. In addition to pain, these hormones are also effective on many events such as sleep, appetite, behavior and mood. Therefore, hormonal changes in patients cause different symptoms in addition to pain.
Genetics: It is thought that some people are predisposed to develop fibromyalgia. It is thought that the genetic background may play an important role in the development of the disease, as the disease shows clustering in some families. it stings.
Many factors may be effective in the development of fibromyalgia. There are factors that cause fibromyalgia attacks in patients. These triggering factors can be listed as:
- Trauma
- Infection
- Emotional stress, for example the loss of a loved one or separation
- Severing a severe surgical operation.
What Are Fibromyalgia Points?
In fibromyalgia, pain occurs when pressure is applied to various points on the patients' body. These points are called tender points. These points are 18 on the patient's body, 9 on the right and 9 on the left. These symmetrically located points are considered a disease-specific feature. Fibromyalgia points, where sensitive points are located:
- Nape (occiput)
- Trapezius (upper back region)
- Supraspinatus (the part of the scapula near the middle of the body with the trapezius point) )
- Gluteal (upper outer region of the hip)
- Greater trochanter (in the outer region where the upper leg meets the hip)
- Neck
- Second rib (just below the point where the collarbone meets the ribs)
- Elbow (inner and lateral part)
- Knee (inner part)
Although tender points were used more frequently in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia in the past, different methods have been developed for the diagnosis today. Today, for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, conditions that spread throughout the body, last longer than 3 months and no other underlying cause can be found are sufficient.
How to Treat Fibromyalgia?
There is no definitive treatment that will completely eliminate fibromyalgia. The main goal in the treatment of fibromyalgia is to alleviate the symptoms of the patient, to minimize the problems he encounters in his daily life and to increase the quality of life.
Aside from medications for the treatment of fibromyalgia, various therapies may also be beneficial. Therapies that can contribute positively to the life of fibromyalgia patients:
Physical Therapy: Physical therapy helps the patient regain his flexibility and strength. Flood treatments can be quite helpful. Alternatives such as water-based pool therapies can also be preferred for physical therapy.
Ergotherapy: Thanks to this therapy, which is carried out with a therapist, the person can learn to perform various tasks without causing excessive stress on the body.
Psychological Counseling: Psychological counseling is needed for the patient to cope with the difficulties caused by fibromyalgia. It would be helpful to apply.
Fibromyalgia patients can improve their quality of life with some applications they will do in daily life, in addition to drug treatment and therapies. Practices such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, using stress management mechanisms, and taking initiatives to increase sleep quality; It makes it easier for the patient to cope with fibromyalgia and ensures a healthier life.
Although fibromyalgia cannot be completely eliminated, it causes a serious improvement in the patient's life with appropriate treatment interventions. For this reason, it would be beneficial for people with suspected fibromyalgia to apply to a well-equipped health center.
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