Fibromyalgia is classified
as a musculoskeletal syndrome that is chronic in nature. It is most common
in women over the age of 50 and is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms
are vague and inconsistent.
Symptoms may include:
Fatigue
Joint and muscle stiffness and pain
Headaches
Irritable bowel syndrome (pain in the lower abdomen and diarrhea)
Difficulty sleeping
The cause of fibromyalgia
is unknown, but it has been theorized it may be linked to pain from internal
organs which is transferred to the muscles, repetitive stress to the muscles,
a virus, or a cycle of pain and spasms in the muscles.
Treatment is aimed at relieving
the symptoms and most often includes:
Rest
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID’s)
Anti-depressant medication has been found to be helpful in managing sleep difficulties, fatigue, and stress
Muscle relaxants
Stress reduction and relaxation techniques
Growth hormone medication is showing some success with many patients
