Symptoms in fibromyalgia can overlap with other neurological conditions. Learn to recognize how fibromyalgia is diagnosed and what treatments help.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic relapsing disorder of unknown cause or etiology. Patients frequently report symptom onset after a motor vehicle accident, surgery or other trauma involving the head and neck region. Women are more affected than men.
Characteristic symptoms include widespread body pain and tenderness, stiffness, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, cognitive problems, anxiety and/or depression that can interfere with your activities of daily living.
Neurological symptoms that fibromyalgia patients have reported include numbness/tingling, blurred vision, and weakness. Many of these symptoms are common to other disorders that need to be excluded.
What Causes Fibromyagia?
The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown but may include both environmental and genetic factors. However, it is hypothesized that there is a dysfunction or sensitivity in pain processing. This may be due to an imbalance of neurotransmitters or brain chemicals.
How Do I Know If I Have Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion. Other disorders with similar symptoms must be excluded before a diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be made. Diagnostic criteria follow the 2010 Academy of Rheumatology guidelines.
Fibromyalgia can coexist with other systemic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome and chronic hepatitis C infection. Hence, patients tend to be cared for by rheumatologists.
All patients require a thorough history, physical examination, and laboratory evaluation. Laboratory tests can include complete blood count, complete metabolic panel, urinalysis, thyroid-stimulating hormone, vitamin D level, Vitamin B12 level, iron studies, magnesium level, markers of inflammation.
Routine imaging studies can help exclude any problems with your spine or brain.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) can exclude seizures and slow brain wave activity. An electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) can help exclude nerve and muscle disease. These tests are all performed at Neurotest of New York by board-certified neurologist so you can trust the results.
Tips and Treatment for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that can come and go. There is no specific treatment or cure for the pain from fibromyalgia. However, there are medications and behavior therapy that can significantly improve your symptoms and allow you to carry on your daily activities.
- Stress management (e.g. relaxation training, activity pacing, visual imagery, distraction)
- Good sleep habits
- Aerobic and resistance exercise
- Trigger point injections
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic manipulation
- Myofascial release massage
- Non-narcotic medications such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and muscle relaxants
A single approach may not be sufficient and combination therapy may be needed. Speak to your rheumatologist to tailor a specific plan for you.
Make an appointment at Neurotest of New York for diagnostic testing that can help your doctors.
References
Watson, N.F., Buchwald, D., Goldberg, J., Noonan, C. and Ellenbogen, R.G. (2009), Neurologic signs and symptoms in fibromyalgia. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 60: 2839-2844. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.24772
Boomershine, CS. (2020, Apr 23). Fibromyalgia. eMedicine. Retrieved 6/6/2021 from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/329838-overview.