This document provides an overview of fibromyalgia, including: - Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain, fatigue, and other types of discomfort throughout the body. While symptoms resemble arthritis, it affects soft tissues rather than joints. - Common symptoms include widespread pain, headaches, fatigue, sleep issues, and fibro-fog. The cause is unknown but may involve genetics and traumatic injuries. - Treatment options aim to relieve symptoms and improve sleep, including exercise, acupuncture, psychotherapy, and some medications. People need to work with their doctor to develop an individualized treatment plan.

1. Fibromyalgia
Karisma Amjad
PhD Fellow
Institute of Social Welfare and Research
University of Dhaka
Bangladesh
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2. Fibromyalgia
• Fibromyalgia is a common and chronic
syndrome that causes bodily pain and
mental distress.
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3. Fast facts on fibromyalgia:
Here are some key points about fibromyalgia. More detail is in the main
article.
• Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain, fatigue, and other types of
discomfort.
• Symptoms resemble those of arthritis, but fibromyalgia affects the
soft tissue, not the joints.
• The cause is unknown, but risk factors include traumatic
injury, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders, such
as lupus, and genetic factors.
• There is no cure, but medications, exercise, acupuncture, and
behavioral therapy can help relieve symptoms and improve sleep
quality.
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4. Symptoms
• Common symptoms include:
• widespread pain
• jaw pain and stiffness
• pain and tiredness in the face muscles and adjacent fibrous tissues
• stiff joints and muscles in the morning
• headaches
• irregular sleep patterns
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• painful menstrual periods
• tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
• restless leg syndrome (RLS)
• sensitivity to cold or heat
• difficulties with memory and concentration, known as “fibro-fog”
• fatigue
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5. Symptoms
The following are also possible:
• problems with vision
• nausea
• pelvic and urinary problems
• weight gain
• dizziness
• cold or flu-like symptoms
• skin problems
• chest symptoms
• depression and anxiety
• breathing problems
Symptoms can appear at any time during a person’s life, but they are most
commonly reported around the age of 45 years.
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6. Fibromyalgia
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7. Treatment
Treatment may include some or all of the following:
• an active exercise program
• acupuncture
• psychotherapy
• behavior modification therapy
• chiropractic care
• massage
• physical therapy
• low-dose anti-depressants, although these are not a first-line treatment
People with fibromyalgia need to work with their doctor to come up with a
treatment plan that provides the best results.
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8. Drugs
• Drugs may be recommended to treat certain symptoms.
• However, a review has suggested that patients often
stop using these drugs because they are not effective in
relieving pain or because of their adverse effects.
• Patients should tell the doctor about any other
medications they are taking to avoid side-effects and
interactions with other drugs.
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9. Exercise
• A combination of aerobic exercise and resistance
training, or strength training, has been linked to
a reduction in pain Trusted Source, tenderness, stiffness,
and sleep disturbance, in some patients.
• If exercise is helping with symptoms, it is important to
maintain consistency in order to see progress. Working
out with a partner or personal trainer may help to keep
the exercise program active.
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10. Acupuncture
• Some patients have experienced improvements in their
quality of life after starting acupuncture therapy for
fibromyalgia. The number of sessions required will
depend on the symptoms and their severity.
• One study found that 1 in 5 people with fibromyalgia use
acupuncture within 2 years Trusted Source of diagnosis.
The researchers concluded that it may improve pain and
stiffness. However, they call for more studies.
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11. Behavior modification therapy
• Behavior modification therapy is a form
of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
that aims to reduce negative, stress- or
pain-increasing behaviors and improve
positive, mindful behaviors. It includes
learning new coping skills and relaxation
exercises.
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12. Causes
There is a range of likely risk factors, including:
• a stressful, traumatic physical or emotional event, such as a car
accident
• repetitive injuries
• rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus
• central nervous system (CNS) problems
• the way our genes regulate how we process painful stimuli
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Fibromyalgia may also be hereditary. Females who have a close
relative with fibromyalgia have a higher risk of experiencing it
themselves.
People with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or spinal arthritis,
known ankylosing spondylitis, have a higher risk of developing
fibromyalgia, as do patients with some other rheumatic diseases.

13. Diagnosis
• It can take some time to confirm a diagnosis of
fibromyalgia because the symptoms resemble
those of other conditions, such
as hypothyroidism. These conditions must first
be ruled out before diagnosing fibromyalgia.
• There are no laboratory tests for the condition,
and this, too, can lead to delayed or missed
diagnosis.
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14. Continue…
The American College of Rheumatology has
established three criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia.
• pain and symptoms over the previous week, out of 19
identified body parts, plus levels of fatigue,
unsatisfactory sleep, or cognitive problems
• symptoms that have been ongoing for at least 3 months
• no presence of another health problem that would
explain the symptoms
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15. References
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/article
s/147083#diagnosis
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