| "body"> | | | | History and physical examination is the first step in |
| At one moment, a life of activity consumed with | | | | evaluation. Unfortunately, there are no specific |
| enjoyable activities like biking, golfing, going to the | | | | laboratory tests that confirm the diagnosis. However, |
| movies, out to dinner. Then one day, it's gone. | | | | the tests can be helpful in excluding other conditions |
| Replaced with constant pain and fatigue. Here's the | | | | that can mimic fibromyalgia such as hypothyroidism, |
| lowdown on fibromyalgia. | | | | lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. |
| Fibromyalgia is one of the most common forms of | | | | Treatment consists of a combination of four |
| arthritis seen in a rheumatology practice. It is actually a | | | | approaches. The first is patient education. Talking with |
| soft tissue form of rheumatism. Typically, a patient will | | | | the patient about the diagnosis and presenting what he |
| complain of feeling achy all over, being chronically tired, | | | | options are. The second is institute medications. These |
| and feeling like they're walking around in a constant | | | | may include one or more of the following:o Analgesics |
| fog. Often a patient will complain of short term | | | | which help to control pain. An example would be a |
| memory problems. | | | | drug such as tramadolo Antidepressants which are |
| The American College of Rheumatology has set | | | | used for their ability to elevate serotonin and |
| criteria by which fibromyalgia symptoms can be | | | | nor-epiephrine levels in the brain. Examples include |
| classified. These consist of a history of widespread | | | | amitryptiline, fluoxitene, and duloxitene.o Muscle |
| pain for three or more months and pain in 11 of 18 | | | | relaxants like cyclobenzaprineo Anti-seizure medicines |
| tender point sites when 4 kilograms (about 9 pounds) | | | | like gabapentino Anti-fatigue medicines (modafinil) |
| of pressure is applied. When accompanied by a history | | | | The third therapy is non-impact aerobic exercise which |
| of chronic fatigue and non-restorative sleep (waking up | | | | helps to increase endorphin production in the brain and |
| and feeling as if you haven't slept), there is a strong | | | | helps to recondition muscles. |
| suspicion that fibromyalgia is to blame. | | | | Finally, the fourth is cognitive behavioral therapy which |
| People affected by fibromyalgia experience two | | | | helps with goal-setting, coping and other measures |
| unique responses to stimuli. They perceive normal | | | | which reduce the sense of victimization that people |
| stimuli as being painful and they perceive painful stimuli | | | | with fibromyalgia often have. |
| as being more painful than it should be. | | | | Fibromyalgia can be treated effectively. It is important |
| These abnormal responses are thought to be due to | | | | that a patient seek out a qualified and empathetic |
| an abnormality involving pain-processing pathways | | | | rheumatologist to help them. |
| within the central nervous system. | | | | |