Do You Suffer From Frequent Muscle Pain And Fatigue? It Could Be Fibromyalgia
People with fibromyalgia, in addition to feeling generalized pain throughout the body, may have difficulty concentrating, since the disease affects the central nervous system.
Having muscle pain and fatigue can be very common after finishing a day full of physically demanding activities. However, when these symptoms appear more regularly and begin to affect the quality of life, it is not ruled out that the person is suffering from fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of unknown cause whose main symptom is severe pain located in muscular, tendon, joint and visceral areas. These areas are known as “tender” spots, and they tend to hurt more when light pressure is applied to them.
Although patients with this disease can present similar symptoms to those with joint problems, the big difference is that it does not cause inflammation, so it is not a form of arthritis.
What perhaps should be considered is that it is a form of soft tissue rheumatism.
What are the causes of fibromyalgia?
The cause of this health problem is not known for sure, but several hypotheses suggest that it could be due to abnormalities in the function of the central nervous system.
Neurological disorders of the sensitized pathways result in an increase in pain signals, giving rise to what is known as hyperalgesia (increased pain).
On the other hand, its possible causes have also included:
- Lupus.
- Arthritis.
- Viral diseases.
- Physical and psychological stress.
- Major psychological trauma.
What are its main symptoms?
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that affects women to a greater extent, but when it affects men it tends to present more severely.
Persistent general pain
Musculoskeletal pain is the main symptom of this condition. It usually appears gradually in parts of the body such as:
- The neck.
- Shoulders.
- The back.
- The hips.
The intensity of this can vary depending on the situation and activity of the person, as well as the weather or their sleep patterns. Those who suffer from it have described it as:
- Burning.
- Nibbling.
- Pulsing.
- Rigid.
- Sensitive.
Fatigue
90% of people affected by this condition also go through mild or severe episodes of fatigue, reduced resistance to physical exertion and exhaustion that can lead to flu or sleep problems. In general, this symptom is similar to that produced by other conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome.
It is also very common for the person to have different sleep disorders, such as difficulty sleeping, light dreams or interruption during the night. Because of this, those who suffer from it tend to be down, even after having slept a bit.
Nervous system symptoms
Being a disease that alters the nervous system, people who suffer from it experience frequent changes in their moods. Up to 25% of diagnosed individuals have clinical depression, feel sad and down.
It is believed that there could be a relationship between fibromyalgia and some types of chronic depression and anxiety. However, these two conditions should be further evaluated as they can be triggered by other common disorders.
Some people may also have a harder time concentrating and doing simple everyday tasks; For this reason, it is very important to pay attention to it and try to give it a timely control.
Other associated symptoms
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Abdominal pain and bloating.
- Spasms and irritability of the bladder.
- Muscle headaches and migraine.
Can fibromyalgia be controlled?
The first measure to treat this ailment is to consult the doctor to receive a proper diagnosis.
Some drugs can be useful in treating and reducing different types of pain. However, not all the relief revolves around its use. For this reason, it is important to adopt some good lifestyle habits.
- Perform low-impact exercise, at least 30 minutes a day and, if possible, with the help of a coach, since a bad movement can make the problem worse.
- Stretch daily to relieve stiff and sore muscles.
- Implement relaxation and stress management techniques.
- Adopt a healthy diet, low in fat and sugar.
- Have a balanced weight, since obesity can worsen this problem and make it more recurrent.
If you have doubts about what kind of habits should be adopted and maintained over time, the ideal is to consult with the treating doctor. It will always be able to offer the best guidance in this regard.
