What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a type of rheumatism which affects muscles and ligaments but not joints.  Apart from aching, stiffness and tiredness in muscles and in tendons and ligaments around joints, fatigue may be the worst aspect of fibromyalgia since the overall tiredness, lack of energy, muscular fatigue, lack of endurance and inability to sustain activity can be severe enough to disrupt personal and family life. One part of the body or several different areas such as limbs, neck or back may be affected.  Less frequent but still troublesome symptoms include: tingling, numbness, poor circulation or swelling of the hands and feet, headache, irritability, feeling low or weepy, forgetfulness and poor concentration, needing to pass water or feeling an urgent need to pass water, irritable bowels, waking up feeling unrefreshed.

Of course symptoms like these can have other causes - your doctor can help decide whether any further tests or advice are required.   There is, unfortunately, no specific blood or x-ray test for FMS.

What causes Fibromyalgia?

There is no single specific cause of fibromyalgia but research has revealed that people with fibromyalgia lose deep sleep.  Lack of deep sleep may have several causes and more than one cause may affect any particular individual, e.g.-  the pain, stiffness and stress of an injury or of a disease like arthritis, emotional pain, anxiety or the sadness of bereavement all may reduce restorative sleep.  Once fibromyalgia sets in there is a vicious cycle producing more pain and more sleep disturbance. This can be enough to cause mild depression even if this was not present initially.

Treatment of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia cannot be cured quickly but it can be helped by medication such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).  A small dose (10–20 mg.at night) of a drug called Amitriptylene is often beneficial although it can take up to 2 months before the benefit is felt.  Sleeping tablets are best avoided because they are often habit-forming and eventually lose their effect.

How to live with fibromyalgia

i.                     Try the medication your doctor has to offer.

ii.                   Avoid drugs such as nasal decongestants.

iii.                  Don’t drink alcohol, tea, coffee or fizzy drinks late at night as these can disturb sleep.

iv.                 Identify the stresses and strains in your life so that you can learn to face them or cope with them.

v.                   Eat healthily and lose the flab. Exercise and strengthen your body.

Exercise, sound sleep and dealing with physical or mental stress are the keys to releasing the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia.