Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome which causes pain in the body and mental distress. As a condition, it is not very well understood yet, and symptoms can be varied with different levels of severity. Around 2% of the population suffer from Fibromyalgia and government statistics have revealed that around 14,000 people are diagnosed every year. Because it can affect people of all ages, and it can be difficult to diagnose, it is expected to be even more common than the statistics report.
We’re sharing everything you need to know about Fibromyalgia symptoms and treatments in this mini-guide.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
At the moment, it isn’t clear what the cause of Fibromyalgia is. There are theories to suggest the condition is caused because of irregular activity with the central nervous system. The pain experienced with Fibromyalgia isn’t a result of a physical problem with the body but by the brains management of the pain signals. Because of this, painkillers and other drugs often don’t have an effect on Fibromyalgia symptoms and treatments.
What Are Fibromyalgia Symptoms And Treatments?
Everyone with Fibromyalgia will experience it differently, and because of this, the symptoms are varied. Some of the key symptoms include;
- Pain which could feel like throbbing, burning, stabbing or shooting pain anywhere on the body.
- High sensitivity to pain.
- Sleep troubles such as non-restorative sleep.
- Balance problems including vertigo and dizziness.
- High sensitivity to heat and cold.
- Mood swings, depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
- Headaches and migraines
- Digestive problems.
Because of the broadness of the symptoms, diagnosis isn’t always simple and can take time. There are no tests for Fibromyalgia, and so it is often diagnosed by ruling out other conditions such as arthritis, MS and chronic fatigue syndrome. There is no cure for Fibromyalgia, but it can sometimes be managed and treated using drugs and therapeutic treatments. Some sufferers find that painkillers help ease symptoms, while others report no effects.
To find out more about Fibromyalgia symptoms and treatments, and how Dr Stephanie Barrett can help, get in touch today.
