Fibromyalgia how does it start

Because fibromyalgia varies from person to person, we suggest you try some of the following tips to find out what works for you:.

Find out more about exercising with arthritis and what types of exercises are beneficial for certain conditions. Versus Arthritis is funding a number of research studies into the causes, effects and treatment of fibromyalgia. Some examples include:. The aims of the centre are to improve our understanding of pain and ways to stop it, through existing and new treatments. The centre has experts in rheumatology, neuroimaging, psychology, neuropharmacology, neurosciences and orthopaedic surgery.

Lynn White was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in her early 40s. Now at 52, she wants people to know they can keep on top of their condition with treatment, self-care and the occasional treat. Tears were pouring down my face. When you can name it, you can start dealing with it. I try to pace myself. I exercise with a personal trainer too, that makes all the difference. Doing the wrong exercises can be as harmful as doing nothing.

Heat pads on my waist really help me walk. I always feel much better out in the fresh air. It helps to stay positive. It would be very easy to get down. Versus Arthritis About arthritis Conditions Fibromyalgia. Download fibromyalgia information booklet. Print this page. What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain and tenderness all over your body.

There can be many other symptoms that affect different parts of your body. Fibromyalgia can also cause: forgetfulness or poor concentration stress, worry or low mood tingling, numbness or swelling of your hands and feet headaches restless legs syndrome — a tingling, uncomfortable feeling in your legs, especially at night irritability, or feeling low or weepy feeling like you urgently need to wee, especially at night painful menstrual periods diarrhoea, constipation and stomach pain — sometimes separately diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome IBS increased sensitivity to things like cold, sound, knocks and bumps tender or overly sensitive joints and muscles.

Who gets fibromyalgia? Does it run in families? Pain, unhappiness, depression and stress can all make you sleep badly. Symptoms often start after an illness, accident, or a time of emotional stress and anxiety. Fibromyalgia can sometimes be difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms vary from person to person. There are some common symptoms your doctor will look for to help diagnose fibromyalgia, including: severe pain that has lasted three months or more fatigue regularly waking up feeling unrefreshed problems with your memory and understanding.

Your doctor may also suggest a referral to: a rheumatologist — a doctor who specialises in conditions affecting the bones, joints and muscles. They may confirm your diagnosis. What does the future hold for me? Gradually increasing how much exercise you do can also improve your symptoms. There are a number of ways your symptoms can be managed. Trying complementary or alternative therapies. Some women say their symptoms got better from trying complementary or alternative therapies, such as: Physical therapy Massage Myofascial release therapy Acupuncture Relaxation exercises Tai chi Yoga.

Will fibromyalgia get better with time? Taking steps to treat fibromyalgia can help relieve your symptoms. How does fibromyalgia affect pregnancy? What is the difference between fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome? Will I still be able to work with fibromyalgia? Did we answer your question about fibromyalgia? Phone Number: Sources Walitt, B. PLoS One; 10 9 : e Lawrence, R.

Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Arthritis Rheum. Wolfe, F. The American College of Rheumatology preliminary diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia and measurement of symptom severity.

Arthritis Care Res Hoboken ; 62 5 Bennett, R. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Rheum Dis Clin North Am ;35 2 Smith, H. Fibromyalgia: an afferent processing disorder leading to a complex pain generalized syndrome. Pain Physician ; 14 2 :EE Moldofsky, H. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. Hawkins, R. Fibromyalgia: A Clinical Update. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association; Yunus, M.

J Gend Specif Med; 5 2 : Alonso, C. Menstrual cycle influences on pain and emotion in women with fibromyalgia. Journal of Psychosomatic Research; 57 5 : Clauw, D. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases NIAMS , around 5 million adults aged 18 years or over in the United States experience fibromyalgia, and 80 to 90 percent of fibromyalgia patients are women.

Common symptoms include :. Medical attention is needed because fibromyalgia can be difficult to manage. As it is a syndrome, each patient will experience a different set of symptoms, and an individual treatment plan will be necessary. People with fibromyalgia need to work with their doctor to come up with a treatment plan that provides the best results. Drugs may be recommended to treat certain symptoms. These may include over-the-counter OTC pain relievers.

Antidepressants, such as duloxetine , or Cymbalta, and milnacipran, or Savella, may help reduce pain. Anti-seizure drugs, such as gabapentin also known as Neurontin, and pregabalin, or Lyrica, may be prescribed. 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. A combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training, or strength training, has been linked to a reduction in pain , 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.

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 of diagnosis. The researchers concluded that it may improve pain and stiffness.

In many cases, the condition appears to be triggered by a physically or emotionally stressful event, such as:. Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although it affects around 7 times as many women as men. The condition typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but can occur in people of any age, including children and the elderly.

It's not clear exactly how many people are affected by fibromyalgia, although research has suggested it could be a relatively common condition. Some estimates suggest nearly 1 in 20 people may be affected by fibromyalgia to some degree. One of the main reasons it's not clear how many people are affected is because fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose.