Fibromyalgia

Do you have fibromyalgia?

Not all musculoskeletal pain is due to fibromyalgia. Diseases frequently confused with fibromyalgia include polymyalgia rheumatica, hypothyroidism, osteoarthritis in the elderly, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, hemochromatosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, vitamin A toxicity and many others.

Symptoms

Although most patients with fibromyalgia have widespread pain, tenderness at certain points, fatigue, morning sickness, poor sleep and numerous other problems, some people do not have all these symptoms.

People with fibromyalgia can have other illnesses including migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, major depression and panic disorder.

Triggers and metabolism

There may be an inherited tendency to fibromyalgia. In such families, fibromyalgia can be triggered by infection, stress, sleep problems or injury.

The exact nature of the inherited tendency is unknown. We do know that people with fibromyalgia absorb tryptophan poorly and consequently have less serotonin in the central nervous system. They have other metabolic abnormalities as well.

Learning about fibromyalgia is critical to recovery.

Fibromyalgia can involve

• mitochondria, the energy transforming furnaces inside each cell
• the limbic system, which governs emotions in the brain and is linked to numerous self-regulatory physiologic mechanisms
• cortisol and other hormones
• the digestive system

Treatment

Mainstays in the treatment of fibromyalgia are

• treatment of sleep disorder. (Tylenol is one of the better agents to choose for pain at bedtime as it interferes with sleep less than aspirin or other pain relievers.)
• graded exercise to increase activity without increasing musculoskeletal pain. (A couch potato with fibromyalgia is going to suffer a great deal more than an athlete.)

More innovative and less conventional treatments for fibromyalgia include vitamin injections, s-adenosylmethionine, lithium, 5-hydroxytryptophan, dextromethorphan, magnesium, malic acid and others.

Patient support organizations

Fibromyalgia Alliance of America, Inc.
PO Box 21990
Columbus, OH 43221-0990
(614) 457-4222 Phone
(614) 457-2729 Fax

Fibromyalgia Network
PO Box 31750
Tucson, Az. 85751-1750
info line: (520) 290-5508
fax: (520) 290-5550

Oregon Fibromyalgia Foundation
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Information Exchange Forum

Publications

From Fatigued to Fantastic by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, Avery Press 1996.
Self-care book and tapes from www.healthroad.com

7/13/07 ms L