What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia , sometimes called fibrositis, is a common condition that is associated with widespread aching, stiffness and fatigue, and originates in muscles and soft tissues. People with fibromyalgia are found to have multiple tender points in specific muscle areas. Most individuals complain of aching and stiffness in areas around the neck, shoulders, upper back, lower back and hip areas. Many patients have no underlying disorders while others who develop fibromyalgia may have conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, spinal arthritis or Lyme disease. Some people have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches and numbness or tingling of the extremities.
Known Causes of Fibromyalgia
The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. There may be a link between fibromyalgia and a sleep disturbance, since most patients have disruptive sleep patterns. Other factors that may contribute to the development of fibromyalgia or sustain symptoms are psychological stress, immune or endrocrine abnormalities, or biochemical abnormalities in the central nervous system, such as altered serotonin levels.
Health Impact
Fibromyalgia is common, affecting approximately two percent of the U.S. population.
It occurs seven times more frequently in women than in men.
It occurs most frequently in women of childbearing age.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on the patient’s description of chronic widespread pain and the finding of tender points at specific locations by a physician. There are no blood or x-ray tests that are abnormal in fibromyalgia. Common conditions that may mimic fibromyalgia include hypothyroidism, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and infections. These can usually be excluded by examination and laboratory tests.
Conventional treatmentsfor Fibromyalgia
There is no known cure for fibromyalgia. Patients may be reassured that the condition, while painful, does not damage tissues and that it can be managed successfully in many cases.
Physical modalities are often beneficial, including heat treatments, occasionally cold application, massage, and regular stretching and range-of-motion exercises. Supervised aerobic conditioning exercises are valuable. Occupational therapy, such as adaptive activities, can improve functional performance.
Certain medications have an important role. Various medications to improve sleep and relax muscles, such as amitriptyline and cyclobenzaprine, are widely used. Hypnotic agents, anxiolytic drugs and anti-depressant medications may be appropriate. Local anesthetic or corticosteroid injections may be appropriate for painful local tender points.
Attention to mental health, including psychological consultation, is also important, since depression may precede or accompany fibromyalgia.
Who gets Fibromyalgia
Scientists estimate that fibromyalgia affects 5 million Americans age 18 or older. For unknown reasons, between 80 and 90 percent of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women; however, men and children also can be affected. Most people are diagnosed during middle age, although the symptoms often become present earlier in life.
People with certain rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus), or ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis) may be more likely to have fibromyalgia, too.
Several studies indicate that women who have a family member with fibromyalgia are more likely to have fibromyalgia themselves, but the exact reason for this—whether it be heredity, shared environmental factors, or both—is unknown. One current study supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is trying to determine whether variations in certain genes cause some people to be more sensitive to stimuli, which leads to pain syndromes. | 
