Fibromyalgia is defined as a disease that often causes emotional and mental distress as well as widespread pain, sleep problems and fatigue in all parts of the body. Symptoms often begin after a situation such as physical trauma, surgery, infection, or significant psychological stress. In fibromyalgia, which is more common in women than in men, symptoms can occur gradually over time without a single trigger. Memorial Antalya Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, Prof. Dr. Erdal Gilgil told what should be known about fibromyalgia and treatment methods.
Usually seen in young women
Fibromyalgia is a type of rheumatic disease. Generally, a single disease comes to mind when rheumatism is mentioned. However, there are nearly 200 rheumatic diseases examined in two main groups, inflammatory and non-inflammatory. Fibromyalgia is the most common rheumatic disease. Fibromyalgia is usually seen in young women of reproductive age. It is rare in childhood and is not a genetically transmitted disease.
The risk factors that cause fibromyalgia are listed as follows;
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Sleep problems
- Working in a stressful environment
- Working in jobs that cause extreme fatigue and require maximum use of capacity
It can be felt all over the body
The symptom of fibromyalgia is usually widespread body or joint pain. In fibromyalgia, which is usually seen in young women, patients may feel pain enough to fear that they may become disabled in the future. The severity of the pain suggests that the disease will progress further. In fact, it is a disease that does not progress, but there are pains felt all over the body. Fibromyalgia is a disease that develops not in the joints, but in the soft tissue (muscle).
The following symptoms are mainly seen in fibromyalgia;
- Pain in the whole body and joints
- Weakness
- Quick fatigue
- Don't wake up in the morning
- go to sleep
- Severe headache
- Abdominal pain
- Pain during menstrual periods
- Functional bowel diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome
It is very important to make the patient comfortable.
Fibromyalgia can often be confused with other diseases. There is no standardized test to detect fibromyalgia. It can be understood by a detailed examination performed by a rheumatologist. In order to diagnose fibromyalgia, some laboratory tests are performed to rule out other diseases.
After diagnosing fibromyalgia, the most important point is to provide relief to patients. Because, despite the prevalence of fibromyalgia, it should be explained that it is not a progressive disease and will not cause disability.
Physical activity plays a major role in treatment
Medication is used in fibromyalgia. Antidepressants with proven effectiveness play an important role. Sleep problems are very prominent in this disease. Ensuring the sleep pattern is important for the comfort of the patient. Antiepileptic drugs are used for treatment. These are drugs used for pain originating from the nerves, mostly called neuropathic pain, and are also effective in fibromyalgia. Medications alone are not enough in the treatment of fibromyalgia. It is strongly recommended that patients exercise. Activities such as walking, jogging, cycling, tennis and swimming should be done every day if possible.
The risk factors that cause fibromyalgia are listed as follows:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Sleep problems
- Working in a stressful environment
- Working in jobs that cause extreme fatigue and require maximum use of capacity
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