Fibromyalgia, causes, supplements, treatment and symptoms

Fibromyalgia
Supplements, treatments, causes, medications January 2009

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common and chronic disorder
characterized by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender
points. The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous
tissue (fibro) and the Greek ones for muscle (myo) and pain (algia).
Tender points are specific places on the body – on the neck,
shoulders, back, hips, and upper and lower extremities – where
people with fibromyalgia feel pain in response to slight pressure.

Although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritis-related
condition, it is not truly a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints)
because it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints,
muscles, or other tissues. Like arthritis, however, fibromyalgia can
cause significant pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person’s
ability to carry on daily activities. Also like arthritis, fibromyalgia is
considered a rheumatic condition.

You may wonder what exactly rheumatic means. Even physicians do
not always agree on whether a disease is considered rheumatic. If
you look up the word in the dictionary, you’ll find it comes from the
Greek word rheum, which means flux – not an explanation that gives
you a better understanding. In medicine, however, the term rheumatic
means a medical condition that impairs the joints and/or soft tissues
and causes chronic pain.

In addition to pain and fatigue, people who have fibromyalgia may
experience:

* sleep disturbances
* morning stiffness
* headaches
* irritable bowel syndrome
* painful menstrual periods
* numbness or tingling of the extremities
* restless legs syndrome
* temperature sensitivity
* cognitive and memory problems
* a variety of other symptoms.

Scientists estimate that fibromyalgia affects 5 million Americans age
18 or older. For unknown reasons, between 80 and 90 percent of
those diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women; however, men and
children also can be affected. Most people are diagnosed during
middle age, although the symptoms often become present earlier in
life.

People with certain rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis,
systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus), or ankylosing
spondylitis (spinal arthritis) may be more likely to have fibromyalgia,
too.

Several studies indicate that women who have a family member with
fibromyalgia are more likely to have fibromyalgia themselves

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, but there are probably a
number of factors involved. Many people associate the development
of fibromyalgia with a physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic
event, such as an automobile accident. Some connect it to repetitive
injuries. Others link it to an illness. People with rheumatoid arthritis
and other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, are particularly likely
to develop fibromyalgia. For others, fibromyalgia seems to occur
spontaneously.

Many researchers are examining other causes, including problems
with how the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord)
processes pain.

Some scientists speculate that a person’s genes may regulate the
way his or her body processes painful stimuli. According to this theory,
people with fibromyalgia may have a gene or genes that cause them
to react strongly to stimuli that most people would not perceive as
painful. However, those genes – if they, in fact, exist – have not been
identified.

How Is Fibromyalgia Treated?

Fibromyalgia can be difficult to treat.

Analgesics

Analgesics are painkillers. They range from over-the-counter
acetaminophen (Tylenol) to prescription medicines, such as tramadol
(Ultram), and even stronger narcotic preparations. For a subset of
people with fibromyalgia, narcotic medications are prescribed for
severe muscle pain. However, there is no solid evidence showing that
narcotics actually work to treat the chronic pain of fibromyalgia, and
most doctors hesitate to prescribe them for long-term use because of
the potential that the person taking them will become physically or
psychologically dependent on them.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

As their name implies, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including
aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen sodium (Anaprox,
Aleve), are used to treat inflammation. Although inflammation is not a
symptom of fibromyalgia, NSAIDs also relieve pain. The drugs work by
inhibiting substances in the body called prostaglandins, which play a
role in pain and inflammation. These medications, some of which are
available without a prescription, may help ease the muscle aches of
fibromyalgia. They may also relieve menstrual cramps and the
headaches often associated with fibromyalgia.

Antidepressants

Perhaps the most useful medications for fibromyalgia are several in
the antidepressant class. Antidepressants elevate the levels of
certain chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine
(which was formerly called adrenaline). Low levels of these chemicals
are associated not only with depression, but also with pain and
fatigue. Increasing the levels of these chemicals can reduce pain in
people who have fibromyalgia.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines help some people with fibromyalgia by relaxing
tense, painful muscles and stabilizing the erratic brain waves that can
interfere with deep sleep. Benzodiazepines also can relieve the
symptoms of restless legs syndrome, which is common among people
with fibromyalgia. Restless legs syndrome is characterized by
unpleasant sensations in the legs as well as twitching, particularly at
night. Because of the potential for addiction, doctors usually prescribe
benzodiazepines only for people who have not responded to other
therapies. Benzodiazepines include clonazepam (Klonopin) and
diazepam (Valium).

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Many people with fibromyalgia also report varying degrees of success
with complementary and alternative therapies, including massage,
movement therapies (such as Pilates and the Feldenkrais method),
chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, and various herbs and dietary
supplements for different fibromyalgia symptoms.

Check these links:
Chlorella
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
SAVELLA / Milnacipran (newsletter 0001)

SOURCE
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Fibromyalgia/default.asp

Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights
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