In this week’s column, Jamar Tejada talks about fibromyalgia, a disease that affects approximately 2.5% of the world’s population, its cause, diagnosis and treatment
There are people who “complain”, always complaining about pain when, in reality, they just want attention. But there are also those who really suffer from body aches all the time. These are people with fibromyalgia.
It is impressive to know that this disease affects approximately 2.5% of the world’s population. Here in Brazil it affects 2% of our population, being seven times more common in women than in men, usually manifesting between the ages of 30 and 55, coincidentally the period when the stress of adult life is unavoidable.
Until recently, people with fibromyalgia looked for doctors in various specialties and underwent various tests, but found nothing, since there was no lesion or inflammation. Due to its complexity, many were – and still are – misdiagnosed and ended up being treated with prescription drugs, pain relievers, antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, as they believed the pain was imaginary.
After all, what is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia, also known as Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Joanina Dognini Syndrome and popularly called Fibro, is a chronic disease characterized by widespread pain, spread throughout the body, with hypersensitivity to touch and compression in some points of the body.
Muscle stiffness and weakness, fatigue, and trouble sleeping are common, and memory-related problems, anxiety, depression, headaches, dizziness, and intestinal upset may also occur. These symptoms may occur from time to time or persist for long periods. While there is no cure yet, with proper management, symptoms can be reduced and controlled.
What is the cause of fibromyalgia?
The cause has not yet been clarified, but the disease often begins to manifest itself after a serious infectious process or even after physical or psychological trauma.
Generalized pain is due to heightened pain sensitivity due to inadequate activation of brain regions, such as the primary sensory cortex, posterior insular cortex, and amygdala, that control response to pain stimuli.
Over time, studies have begun to point out that fibromyalgia is actually linked to the exaggerated way in which the brain receives pressure stimuli and processes pain, in which a simple hug or even a handshake triggers intense pain. .
Generally the picture begins with a localized pain that does not go away and increases until it reaches the whole body. Obviously, the picture gets worse when there is even more stress, excessive physical exertion, infections and exposure to cold, for example.
Fibromyalgia is a common condition, second only to arthritis when it comes to musculoskeletal disorders.
Nowadays there are already specific exams developed in neuroscience studies that manage to show images of the brain of people with and without fibromyalgia, demonstrating that the fibromyalgia patient has more pain neurotransmitters than a normal person, but what has not yet been discovered is because the disease affects more women than men (out of 10 patients, 7 to 9 are women). What is known is that there does not seem to be a relationship with hormones, as the disease can occur at any age, even in children.
How is the diagnosis made?
Fibromyalgia, until the 1990s, was diagnosed on the basis of a physical examination performed by 20 rheumatologists to test the sensitivity of patients. In this case, 18 body points were pressed. If the patient had pain in more than 11 points, they would be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Currently this type of test is still used, but the report of symptoms, mainly widespread pain, is what the diagnosis is based on, ruling out other possible causes. For this, several laboratory and imaging tests are usually required, as well as a detailed physical examination.
What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
A variety of symptoms can arise in people with fibromyalgia, but widespread pain throughout the body is the primary one.
It is a pain neither strong nor sharp, lasting at least 3 months, in which, generally, the patient does not remember when it started and if there was a specific localization or if the pain was in the whole body.
Fibromyalgia symptoms tend to get worse at the end of the day, due to stress during the day, but the situation is very specific from person to person, as there are those who suffer more stress early in the morning, due to anxiety start another day . As the pain usually appears gradually, the patient begins to get used to it and the pain is usually part of the routine.
Other symptoms that may appear in fibromyalgia are:
• Many touch sensitivity and muscle compression: many patients cannot tolerate being grabbed or hugged;
• Unrefreshing sleep: this condition affects 95% of patients and causes shallow or interrupted sleep. Without deep sleep, the body does not rest and the person wakes up already tired, even if he has slept for a long time, increasing fatigue, muscle contraction and pain;
• Sleep disorders: such as restless legs syndrome (great discomfort in the legs that makes the person want to stretch them and walk) or apnea (stopping breathing during sleep);
• Tiredness and constant fatigue: symptom that goes beyond the fatigue caused by unrefreshing sleep. Patients with fibromyalgia have low exercise tolerance and this can make treatment difficult.
• Cognitive changes: difficulty paying attention and concentrating, poor memory, slow thinking and speech problems. This happens because the brain needs to deal with constant pain, so it ends up hurting other tasks;
• Different sensitivity: Since fibromyalgia occurs due to the amplification of pain in the central nervous system, other stimuli also end up being amplified. For example: gastrointestinal discomfort (occurring in 60% of patients), headache, sensitive bladder, Raynaud’s syndrome (discoloration of the hands and feet in cold or stressful situations), and sensitivity to loud noises and strong odors ;
• Isolation AND lack of pleasure about the things I used to like: this is due to the constant pain, which occupies the whole mind of the fibromyalgia person.
• Swelling: Fibromyalgia itself does not cause swelling, but swelling can occur due to pain-related muscle contractions.
• Depression and Anxiety: Half of people with fibromyalgia suffer from depression and this condition worsens sleep, decreases willingness to exercise, increases fatigue and body sensitivity.
How does the treatment work?
A multidisciplinary approach is the best way and, if possible, it is important to combine treatment with the rheumatologist and with the psychiatrist, psychologist, physiotherapist and therapists.
Although it seems that physical activity can aggravate the symptoms, its regular practice is the best way to control the pain. Both aerobic and anaerobic activities, such as physiotherapy, pilates, walking, stretching, swimming, bodybuilding and even a light jog are more than welcome! This is because exercises release endorphins, improving blood flow and bringing relaxation to the body, improving mood, quality of life, depression, anxiety, sleep and fatigue.
Along with exercises, the use of warm compresses and massage can go a long way in reducing pain. Complementary and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback (a technique used for mindfulness and relaxation), and chiropractic interventions also help with symptom control. In addition, the practice of meditation or participation in a support group can help the person understand and deal with the disease, obtaining support and self-knowledge.
Does food influence?
It is clear that a healthy diet is essential and foods can help or aggravate fibromyalgia based on the active ingredients they contain, therefore a varied diet rich in antioxidants, away from inflammatory foods such as refined, processed and sugar-rich meats, preservatives. and sweeteners are also more than welcome.
A systematic review evaluating 17 different nutritional interventions concluded that adopting a low-FODMAP or vegan diet (diet with nutrients that can rapidly undergo a fermentation process by digestive tract microbiota bacteria) can reduce the intensity of pain reported by patients.
Some useful dietary tips for fibromyalgia:
• Foods rich in tryptophan: brown rice, honey, lean meats, low-fat yogurt, white cheese, legumes, nuts, apricots, açaÃ, and banana;
• Foods rich in melatonin: peanuts, oats, cherry and wine;
• Antioxidant foods: fruits such as açaÃ, goji berries, apples; vegetables, green tea, turmeric, cocoa and chia;
• Foods that work to reduce stress/cortisol/detox: chlorella avocados.
Can integration help?
Supplementation can also be an ally in managing fibromyalgia. Studies have already concluded that certain supplements, such as coenzyme Q10, acetyl-L-carnitine, and vitamin C and E combinations, have significantly improved the pain of people with fibromyalgia.
Herbal medicine in fibromyalgia
Nature provides different plants with various actions that can help with the symptoms of fibromyalgia, but by no means use these herbal medicines without seeking the help of a health professional, whether it be your doctor, pharmacist or specialized nutritionist.
Well oriented, some plants well used in fibromyalgia are:
• Plants with anti-inflammatory action: are those that will help control the pain and inflammation caused by the disease, such as: Cat’s Claw, Purple Ipe, Old Man’s Cinnamon, Whaling Grass, Arnica montana, Devil’s Claw, and Nigella sativa;
• Plants with adaptogenic action: which will make the patient more available, reducing fatigue such as Rhodiola rosea, Ashawaganda and Korean Ginseng;
• Calming Plants: they help to sleep well at night and thus relieve stress and anxiety. They are: Hypericum, Kawa Kawa, Mulungu, Chamomile, Melissa and Valerian;
Remember that you are not alone. It is possible to find healthy ways to deal with pain and maintain a good quality of life. Unity is strength!
A big surprise and count on me.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
