Your body aches all over? This is one of the symptoms of fibromyalgia that you need to be aware of and learn how to control!
Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder that causes fatigue, generalized muscle pain, joint pain and memory and mood problems. Although fibromyalgia is the most common rheumatic disease after osteoarthritis, the world of medicine still cannot understand it completely.
Women are much more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia than men, and there is still no permanent solution for the disorder. Furthermore, as fibromyalgia shows similar symptoms to osteoarthritis, it is important to understand the signs, symptoms, and risk factors that are associated with the disorder to make sure it is treated properly.
Risk factors of fibromyalgia
There are three risk factors that increase the chances of developing fibromyalgia:
- Gender – Women are more likely to develop the disease than men.
- Family history – If a family member has fibromyalgia, there is a greater risk of developing fibromyalgia.
- Rheumatic disease – If you have rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, you may have an increased risk of developing fibromyalgia.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia often causes pain and fatigue, and can cause certain parts of the body to be painful to the touch. The pain becomes unbearable, yet, you cannot explain why. The disorder can also affect sleep habits, usually limiting the amount of restful sleep that can be achieved, and causes depression. Moreover, other symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Chronic headache
- Dry mouth, nose and eyes
- Hypersensitivity to cold and / or heat
- Inability to concentrate
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes
Treatment of fibromyalgia
To determine if you have fibromyalgia, your doctor should rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, such as requesting a blood test to rule out other illnesses that cause pain and fatigue. Once your doctor has determined that you have fibromyalgia, treatment of the disease may include some of the following medications:
Analgesics: These can be of any type, from over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen to pain relievers under medical prescription. Analgesics are used to lessen discomfort and to help you sleep better at night.
Antidepressants: These medicines can help with the pain, depression and fatigue that appear with fibromyalgia.
Anticonvulsants: These types of medications have proven to be helpful in reducing the pain of those suffering from fibromyalgia.