Fibromyalgia affects both men and women, but women are more susceptible to this condition. Research shows that the condition affects women seven times more than men. The elderly and children can also develop Fibromyalgia.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia or Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a rheumatic condition that causes myofascial or soft tissue pain. Most people may confuse joint inflammation or arthritis with Fibromyalgia, but these two conditions cause muscle inflammation and joint damage, something that doesn’t occur in patients with Fibromyalgia.
The condition affects the soft tissue, not the joints. Individuals with fibromyalgia experience fatigue, widespread pain, and discomfort.
What causes Fibromyalgia?
Although the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known, medical experts think it could be due to irregular levels of specific chemicals in the brain, something that changes how the nerves, spinal cord, and brain process pain messages.
Some people may get fibromyalgia if their parents also had a similar ailment. Research shows that the condition may also be due to certain events like giving birth, getting an injury, having an operation, or suffering grief from the death of a loved one. Prior medical conditions may worsen the symptoms or trigger fibromyalgia.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
People with fibromyalgia may experience symptoms like
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Sleeping disorders
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Difficulty focusing
• Numbness
• Temperature sensitivity
These symptoms may occur when the nerves and brain overreact or misinterpret standard pain signals.
Diagnosis of fibromyalgia
Most people experience fatigue and pain, which are symptoms of other conditions. Doctors need to rule out other causes before diagnosis. Experienced doctors who’ve previously handled fibromyalgia may diagnose the condition by using specific criteria.
The doctor will ask you about your pain history. The pain needs to be on the left and right sides of the body and must have lasted for more than three months. Moreover, the doctor could feel your tender points. You need to have 11 or more tender points for a fibromyalgia diagnosis. You may feel pain when the doctor puts pressure on these spots.
Your doctor may need to conduct other tests to rule out possible conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
For more information about fibromyalgia and its diagnosis in Wales and Cardiff, you need to get in touch with a team of qualified pain specialists. They will diagnose the condition and find ways to help you manage fibromyalgia.
