What is it?
A disease that is rarely diagnosed from the first time is fibromyalgia. It is manifested by an extensive chronic symptomatic complex based on pathological processes in the endocrine and CNS, caused by a deficiency of certain hormones and enzymatic deficiency of catecholamines - neurotransmitters involved in the regulation and control of mental functions.
This deficiency leads to the development of a low threshold of pain sensitivity in a person. And the usual physical, emotional, or temperature effects for a healthy person, in patients with fibromyalgia are accompanied by severe pain symptoms and a violent psychoemotional response( chronic fatigue, depression. ..).
There is also a version of the genetic inheritance pathology, manifested under the influence of certain triggers:
- emotional stress;
- physical injuries and surgeries;
- of viral infections;
- medications and vaccines;
- systemic diseases;
- failure in the endocrine system.
Fibromyalgia is manifested in adults and children, but women are more likely to develop the disease.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia are signs of
Difficulties in diagnosing and treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia are that its symptoms can vary in different degrees of severity, manifesting differently in different patients - mildly or severely, daily or periodically, resuming, after muchtime.
The most characteristic signs are manifestations:
1) Pain syndrome , which occurs as a single localization, or in several anatomical zones, manifested as pain in the musculoskeletal apparatus.
Classical painful points are the areas of the body of the occipital and cervical zone, especially painful touch and a slight pressure on the places of pain points located on the back, elbows, hips and knees.
The nature of pain in fibromyalgia may be aching, stinging, burning and pulsating, causing paresthesia( numbness) and unpleasant tingling sensations. There is a cyclical severity of the pain syndrome, depending on the change in weather conditions( cold, humidity. ..), physical exertion, transferred infections, emotional breakdowns( depression and anxiety).
2) Morning muscular stiffness.
3) Fatigue , expressed in varying degrees - easy constant, a sense of complete loss of strength, severe mental fatigue. This factor causes many patients difficulties in their daily lives.
4) Cognitive impairment of , in the form of difficulties to concentrate, remember, perceive, or process new information.
5) Insomnia , manifested by bursts of brain activity, interrupting even the deepest sleep. The patient wakes up with a feeling of fatigue, even after a seemingly long and restful night's sleep.
Other signs of fibromyalgia syndrome include:
- painful reaction to noise, odors, photosensitivity;
- functional bowel disorder( IBS);
- painful menstrual cycles;
- Neurological Movement Disorders( RLS).
Treatment of fibromyalgia, drugs and diagnostics
What is fibromyalgia, how to treat such a problem - know neurologists, rheumatologists and reflexologists. The treatment provides for an integrated approach based on differential diagnosis, excluding similar in the disease, since conventional diagnostics, including laboratory studies, can not give an unambiguous answer.
The diagnosis of "fibromyalgia" is confirmed on the basis of certain criteria for anamnesis:
- Manifestations of diffuse( common) pain for three or more months;
- Presence of a characteristic symptomatic complex;
- Calculation of pain zones marked by manifestation over the past seven days.
The effects of fibromyalgia are difficult to treat. Complex and long-term therapy, with consultation and involvement in the treatment process of many specialists. Use the appointment of individual courses of drug and non-pharmacological therapy.
The drug treatment of fibromyalgia drugs is aimed at eliminating pain symptoms and correcting sleep disorders.
- Non-steroidal drugs "Acetaminophen", "Ibuprofen" or their analogues are effective among painkillers and anti-inflammatories.
- Tricyclic and atypical antidepressants - "Surmontil", "Fluoxetine", "Tofranil" or "Duloxetine".Reducing pain, eliminating anxiety and depression, normalizing sleep.
- It is also planned that the treatment of fibromyalgia with anti-epileptic properties, which relieve the manifestation of neuropathic pains of different genesis - these are "Gabapentin" and "Pregabalin", these drugs have a faster action, in comparison with antidepressants.
As non-pharmacological techniques,
- techniques are applied:
- Reflexology techniques aimed at changing the circulation of blood flow and controlling the enzymatic level of neurotransmitters( catecholamines) responsible for the regulation of pain.
- Techniques of manual therapy that help reduce muscle pain, relax them and increase the volume of joint movements.
- Massage procedures, to relieve stressful conditions, reduce muscle tension and anxiety.
- Various exercises of physiotherapy exercises designed to improve mood and muscular condition, normalize the functional activity of the central nervous system.
- Practitioners of meditation, relaxing and facilitating the functions of deep breathing, helping to control the symptom of the disease.
What can be the forecast?
Such mysterious ailment as fibromyalgia does not pose a mortal danger to the patient, does not progress, and does not affect internal organs, vessels and joints.
But its chronic course, without proper qualified treatment, is able to spoil the whole further life, even the most persistent patient, manifested by activity limitation and psycho-emotional discomfort.
