Fibromyalgia Symptom Diagnostic Criteria
A complicated disorder to detect, it is characterized by pain which may be accompanied by the lack of sleep, fatigue and memory or mood issues. The pain is caused by the painful sensations that change the way the brain would method the pain signals.
It is difficult to say when these symptoms may begin but it is usually characterized and detected by a trauma, infection or psychological stress. These symptoms may not have a single event that may trigger the same and therefore accumulate over time, making it extremely hard to detect earlier. Women may identify fibromyalgia more often than men. Many people who have fibromyalgia may also have depression, anxiety, or several other disorders.
What causes someone to suffer from the disorder of fibromyalgia is unknown, but Genetics may cause fibromyalgia as such disorders tend to run in families or makes one more susceptible to developing the disorder. Some infection or some illnesses may appear to trigger the disorder of fibromyalgia or may cause the disease to aggravate. Trauma or Psychological stress can sometimes trigger fibromyalgia.
There are 18 points of check that can be helpful in detecting if one suffers from fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia can be identified if there is persistent pain that the person suffers from for more than three months, and there is no underlying condition that can be attributed to such pain. There are no blood tests that detect fibromyalgia, but the symptoms can be detected by several blood tests that may be recommended by the doctor.
There is no cure for fibromyalgia and medications are given to control the symptoms. Exercise, stress reduction and relaxation methods have been known to be helpful to the process.
When considering the symptoms, the following questions should be taken into consideration.
- What you have been feeling for the past one week;
- The current treatments you are taking; and
- Symptoms of other diseases or known illnesses should be excluded.
It is essential to detect the areas where the pain was felt, even if the minor pain was experienced in a specific area of the body. This helps in the determination of the range of spread of the strain and if it is widespread.
If you have fibromyalgia, you would feel tired when waking up and this may be reported even if sleep has been taken for extended periods. This is because the sleep is disrupted with pain and may also lead to sleeping disorders. The level of Fatigue being caused should be taken into consideration and should be tracked.
Even if you are waking up feeling unrefreshed, which is causing a disturbance in the flow of life, should be reported and checked or tracked.
Other symptoms of fibromyalgia are widespread and therefore extremely difficult to assess and determine if the same is being felt due to the disorder of fibromyalgia. The list of symptoms that may be felt is as follows, Muscle pain , Irritable bowel syndrome , Fatigue, tiredness , Thinking or remembering problem , Muscle Weakness, Headache, Pain or cramps in abdomen , Numbness/ or a tingling feeling, Dizziness , Insomnia , Depression , Constipation , Pain in upper abdomen , Nausea , Nervousness, Chest pain , Blurred vision, Fever, Diarrhea, Dry mouth, Itching, Wheezing, Raynaud’s, Hives or welts, Ringing in ears, Vomiting, Heartburn, Oral ulcers, Loss or a change in taste, Seizures, Dry eyes, Shortness of breath, Loss of appetite, Rash, Sun sensitivity, Hearing difficulties, Easy bruising, Hair loss, Frequent urination, Painful urination and or the feeling of Bladder spasms. This is not an exhaustive list, and the symptoms of what is experienced should be checked and tracked.
The repeated nerve stimulation during fibromyalgia may cause the brains of people to change. This may cause the abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain which signals pain. Also, the brain’s receptors develop a memory of the pain and therefore, become more sensitive, thereby overreacting to the pain signals. Fibromyalgia can often interfere with the normal functioning at home or a job and thus dealing with this disorder can cause depression or anxiety.
Fibromyalgia has many symptoms which vary. The primary symptom is a continuous widespread pain. A patient suffering from this disorder may have periods when the symptoms of Fibromyalgia may get worse, which depends on various factors such as stress levels. Your doctor may help you ease the symptoms that are felt and help you control the pain where you could feel an ache or a burning sensation. This pain may also feel sharp and may be widespread especially in the area of your back and neck.
There is no cure, but therapy, anti-depressants, anti-seizure drugs or alternative medicine may be prescribed to the patient. A healthy mindset and the determination to lead a healthy life are essential.