Some key things to remember about fibromyalgia:
1) Fibromyalgia is generally considered to be a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that all other causes of pain need to be ruled out. It can mimic several other conditions such as Lyme disease, which can be screened with bloodwork.
2) Fibromyalgia is non-articular, meaning it does not primarily cause joint pain. I say primarily because this condition can cause altered body mechanics which can eventually cause wear and tear on the joints leading to joint pain.
3) The physical findings of fibromyalgia are muscle tenderness, and the identification of 11 or more of 17 identified trigger points (painful points which can cause radiating pain somewhere else.) It is important when evaluating a patient to note that these points do not have to be identified simultaneously, but may wax & wane over a protracted period of time.
4) Fibromyalgia sufferers generally have high levels of fatigue, and often complain of poor sleep.
5) Patients with fibromyalgia frequently also suffer from depression, leading some clinicians to believe that it is largely a psychological diagnosis- this belief is furthered by the fact that many patients report an improvement in their pain with the use of some anti-depressant medications. I believe fibromyalgia is a physiological condition, and I will elaborate on my thoughts about this in parts 2 & 3.
6) Fibromyalgics often report a symptom known as ‘fibro-fog’ where they have difficulty concentrating or focusing on a task or process. This symptom seems to be exacerbated by the painful ‘flare ups’ in fibromyalgia’s pain symptoms.
If you are a fibromyalgia sufferer, please send me your thoughts- as well as your successes and failures dealing with this painful condition.
Thanks for joining me, and be well.
-A
