What is fibromyalgia?:
What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. It is also characterized by restless sleep, awakening tired, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and disturbances in bowel function. The condition is non-life-threatening and does not cause body damage or deformity. It affects an estimated 3-6 million Americans.
prevalence:
prevalence Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain conditions. The disorder affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. and an estimated 3-6% of the world population. While it is most prevalent in women —75-90 percent of the people who have FM are women —it also occurs in men and children of all ethnic groups. The disorder is often seen in families, among siblings or mothers and their children. The diagnosis is usually made between the ages of 20 to 50 years, but the incidence rises with age so that by age 80, approximately 8% of adults meet the American College of Rheumatology classification of fibromyalgia.
What causes fibromyalgia?:
What causes fibromyalgia? Genetics. Because fibromyalgia tends to run in families, there may be certain genetic mutations that may make you more susceptible to developing the disorder. Infections. Some illnesses appear to trigger or aggravate fibromyalgia. Physical or emotional trauma. Post-traumatic stress disorder has been linked to fibromyalgia. Doctors don't know what causes fibromyalgia, but it most likely involves a variety of factors working together.
symptoms:
symptoms Chronic widespread body pain is the primary symptom of fibromyalgia. Most people with fibromyalgia also experience moderate to extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, sensitivity to touch, light, and sound, and cognitive difficulties. Many individuals also experience a number of other symptoms and overlapping conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, lupus and arthritis.
Is fibromyalgia a form of arthritis? :
Is fibromyalgia a form of arthritis? Fibromyalgia is considered a muscle condition. It is not a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) because it does not cause inflammation in the joints. But fibromyalgia can (like arthritis) cause significant pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person's ability to carry on daily activities.
diagnosis:
diagnosis Currently there are no laboratory tests available for diagnosing fibromyalgia. Doctors must rely on patient histories, self-reported symptoms, a physical examination and an accurate manual tender point examination. This exam is based on the standardized American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Proper implementation of the exam determines the presence of multiple tender points at characteristic locations. It is estimated that it takes an average of five years for an FM patient to get an accurate diagnosis. Many doctors are still not adequately informed or educated about FM. Laboratory tests often prove negative and many FM symptoms overlap with those of other conditions, thus leading to extensive investigative costs and frustration for both the doctor and patient. Another essential point that must be considered is that the presence of other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, does not rule out an FM diagnosis. Fibromyalgia is not a diagnosis of exclusion and must be diagnosed by its own characteristic features.