Fibromyalgia: Muscle Pain And Fatigue

In addition to muscle pain, people who suffer from fibromyalgia often also have mood swings and difficulty concentrating, as the disease damages the central nervous system.

Muscle pain and fatigue can be quite normal after a long day of strenuous activity. However, if these symptoms occur regularly and affect your quality of life, you could have  fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome whose cause is unknown. The main symptoms include pain in the tendons, muscles, joints, and abdominal area. These areas are described as very sensitive. In addition, they hurt even with light pressure.

Patients with this disease often have symptoms similar to those of people with joint problems. However, there is still a big difference to arthritis in that there is no inflammation.

Fibromyalgia falls under the collective term “soft tissue rheumatism”.

What are the reasons for fibromyalgia?

The causes of this health problem are not yet sufficiently understood. Although there have been various hypotheses, most of the time fibromyalgia is attributed to an  abnormality in the functioning of the central nervous system.

The neurological disorders lead to an increased sensation of pain. This is also known as hyperalgesia.

Other possible causes are:

• physical or mental stress
• arthritis
• Lupus
• Viral diseases
• Whiplash
• severe psychological trauma

What are the main symptoms?

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that increasingly affects women. Men are less common, but all the more affected.

pain

Muscle pain is the main symptom of this disease. In general, this gradually occurs increasingly in the following parts of the body:

• neck
• Shoulders
• move
• Hips

The intensity of the pain depends on the situation and the activity of the person. Furthermore, it can also depend on the climate or sleep pattern. Affected people describe the pain as follows:

• burning,
• throbbing,
• biting,
• rigid and
• sensitive.

Tiredness and exhaustion

90% of those affected also experience mild or severe episodes of fatigue. In addition, there is a high sensitivity to physical stress and exhaustion. This can then lead to the flu or trouble sleeping.

Sleep disorders such as difficulty falling asleep, light sleep or interruption of sleep at night are other common symptoms. Therefore, most of the sick tend to be listless and dejected.

Nervous system symptoms

Because this disease alters the nervous system, patients  experience frequent mood swings. Almost 25% of the sick suffer from depression. You feel sad and desperate.

Fibromyalgia is thought to be linked to some types of depression and anxiety. This needs further research, however, as these can also be triggered by other common diseases.

Some people have difficulty concentrating and also have difficulty coping with light, everyday tasks.  It is therefore important to be careful and to control the disease in good time.

Other possible symptoms

• Muscle pain, headache and migraines
• Abdominal pain and gas
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Cramps and irritable bladder

Can Fibromyalgia Be Controlled?

The first step in controlling this disease is to see a doctor and then get an appropriate diagnosis.

Various medications can help treat and relieve pain. In addition, it is important to get used to some good everyday habits:

• You should do at least 30 minutes of light physical activity each day. It’s best to do this with a trainer, as one wrong movement can make the problem worse.
• Stretch your muscles to relieve and relax stiff and sore muscles.
• Build relaxation techniques and stress management into your everyday life.
• Eat a healthy, low-fat, low-sugar diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight, as being overweight can make the problem worse.
• Find alternative techniques, such as natural remedies and complementary therapies.