Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and often emotional and mental distress. It affects about 4 million US adults, especially women. While the cause is unknown, risk factors include autoimmune diseases, trauma, obesity, and family history. Symptoms include pain and stiffness all over the body, fatigue, sleep issues, depression, and cognitive impairments. The condition is believed to involve changes in the brain that alter pain processing. It is diagnosed after ruling out other conditions and treated through medications, exercise, stress management, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Complications can include more hospitalizations, depression, and lower quality of life.

1. FIBROMYALGIA

2. DEFINITION
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain all
over the body (also referred to as widespread
pain), sleep problems, fatigue, and often
emotional and mental distress.
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by
widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by
fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.
It is believed that fibromyalgia amplifies painful
sensations by affecting the way your brain
processes pain signals.

3. INCIDENCE
Fibromyalgia affects about 4 million US adults,
about 2% of the adult population.

4. ETIOLOGY
The cause of fibromyalgia is not known.
The risk factors are
•Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis
•Sex. Women are twice as likely to have fibromyalgia
•Stressful or traumatic events, such as car accidents,
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•Repetitive injuries.
•Illness (such as viral infections)
•Family history
•Obesity

5. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia are
•Pain and stiffness all over the body
•Fatigue and tiredness
•Depression and anxiety
•Sleep problems
•Problems with thinking, memory, and concentration
•Headaches, including migraines

6. Other symptoms may include:
•Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
•Pain in the face or jaw, including disorders of the jaw known
as temporomandibular joint syndrome (also known as TMJ)
•Digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, bloating,
constipation, and even irritable bowel syndrome (also known
as IBS)

7. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains change.
This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain
chemicals in the brain that signal pain (neurotransmitters).
Brain develop a sort of memory of the pain and become more
sensitive.

8. DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION
There's no test to diagnose fibromyalgia. Instead,
because the symptoms are so similar to other
conditions, so ruling out illnesses such as
an underactive thyroid, different types of arthritis,
and lupus helps in diagnosis.

9. MANAGEMENT
Fibromyalgia can be effectively treated and managed with medication
and self-management strategies.
•Medications, including prescription drugs and over-the-counter pain
relievers
•Aerobic exercise and muscle strengthening exercise
•Patient education classes, usually in primary care or community
settings
•Stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, and
massage
•Good sleep habits to improve the quality of sleep
•Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat underlying depression.

10. COMPLICATIONS
•More hospitalizations.
•Higher rates of major depression.
•Lower quality of life.