I hurt all over, do I have fibromyalgia?
Diffuse and persistent body pain for months or years is something that many people are used to live with without really knowing why. Sometimes, chronic underlying diseases, demanding and repetitive physical work, or unrefreshing sleep, are perceived by the patient as the justification for these pains.
If you experience chronic pain for no apparent reason, fatigue, if you sleep poorly or have frequent headaches, perhaps it is time to see a medical professional because all of these symptoms may indicate that you have fibromyalgia.
What is fibromyalgia?
The word fibromyalgia comes from Latin, and means muscle pain and pain of fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments. Although it is a syndrome recognized by the WHO since 1992, people suffering from fibromyalgia have seen how their ailment and pain have been underestimated because of the generic nature of their symptoms, or because they have been considered as simple “complaints” by the sufferer.
The reality is that, to date, the precise origin of this disease is unknown, which hinders its diagnosis in the absence of a specific test, and its conception as a real problem that affects more than one million people in Spain, with women being the main ones affected (over 85% of the total).
Fibromyalgia is a central sensitization syndrome (CSS). In this type of syndromes, the neurons of the nervous system are more susceptible to react to stimuli, thus amplifying the transmission of pain impulses.
Anyone can experience physical pain or fatigue at one time or another due to various reasons, but when we talk about fibromyalgia we must be aware that these symptoms are experienced for no apparent reason and persist over time for months or years before a diagnosis is made.
In addition to the main symptom, diffuse or generalized pain, even to stimuli that would not cause pain, fibromyalgia may present other symptoms such as alterations in intestinal transit, lack of sleep or problems in falling asleep, incontinence, stress or anxiety.
Diagnosis of fibromyalgia
The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is a complex process due to the fact that its symptoms can fit in with many other ailments. Since its origin is unknown, there is no reliable test or marker that allows a quick and accurate diagnosis.
Neither blood tests nor X-rays will tell us if we suffer from fibromyalgia, but together with other tests (electrocardiograms, immunological analysis, etc.) they can help medical professionals to rule out other types of pathologies, which will gradually facilitate their diagnosis.
There are also a number of areas in our body where fibromyalgia-related pain usually occurs:
- Lumbar region
- Collar
- Chest
- Thighs
The criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, updated in 2011, establish the Generalized Pain Index (GPI), which consists of 19 pain points where pain may have appeared in the last two weeks, as well as the Symptom Severity Index (SSI), which refers to the degree of fatigue, sleep, cognitive and somatic symptoms.
Necessary criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia
1. Pain and symptoms present during the previous week, based on the total of: Number of painful areas of 19 body parts.
- Plus a level of severity of these symptoms:
a. fatigue;
b. wake up tired;
c. cognitive (memory or thinking) problems;
- Plus several other general physical symptoms.
2. Symptoms that remain for at least three months at a similar level.
3. There is no other health problem that could explain the pain and other symptoms.
If you want more information you can visit the Hospital del Mar website in Barcelona, which describes in detail the severity of the syndromes.
Treatment of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia has no cure, so its treatment is focused on improving the quality of life of people who suffer from it. This is achieved through a multidisciplinary approach focused on both the physical and psychological aspects.
There are different approaches depending on the severity of the symptoms or the acceptance of certain treatments. In less severe cases, physical activity, a correct diet and pharmacological treatment are often sufficient. But for those whose pain is very intense and even disabling at times, psychological treatment to learn to manage pain can be very important.
MIVI Instituto Aliaga has its own unit specially dedicated to fibromyalgia, focused on improving the quality of life of patients accompanying them throughout the process until they get better. Fibromyalgia does not have a universal treatment, so each case is different.
Thanks to its holistic and multidisciplinary approach, each person has a team of professionals working on a personalized basis to provide the best care and treatment.