Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain combined with sleep, memory, and mood problems.
The etiology of the disease is unknown; however, factors such as genetic predisposition (heredity), certain infections, and stress are believed to contribute, possibly in combination too. It also appears to predominantly affect women, accounting for 80%-90% of cases.
Fibromyalgia can coexist with other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, painful bladder syndrome, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and migraines.
Symptoms sometimes begin after an injury, surgery, or infection, or they may gradually accumulate over time without any triggering event.
Common symptoms include:
In the past, diagnosis involved checking the 18 tender points on the body.
Current guidelines no longer require this exam, although pain in 11 of the 18 tender points can support the diagnosis. The most important criterion is reviewing the patient’s history and searching for pain lasting more than three months without another identifiable cause.
To exclude other conditions that may cause widespread musculoskeletal pain, laboratory tests are performed, including complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatologic tests (rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies), and thyroid function tests.
Although there is no definitive cure for fibromyalgia, appropriate medication combined with physical therapy, exercise, alternative treatments, and psychological support can benefit patients in many ways.
Specifically, recommended medications for treating the symptoms include anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and analgesics. Narcotic medications are not recommended, as they may even worsen pain over time.
Physiotherapy helps improve strength and endurance, while gentle aerobic exercise, especially swimming and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and ozone therapy, offer benefits.
Noteworthy, a 2019 study on a large patient sample found that ozone therapy led to significant improvement (>50% of symptoms) in 70% of patients, with almost no side effects.
Currently, ozone therapy appears to be a very good alternative for patients who don’t notice improvement with other treatments.
Chronic pain can also gradually affect mental health, generating feelings of fatigue, anger, or frustration, dramatically impacting quality of life. Psychological support from specialists may therefore sometimes be necessary to help patients manage negative emotions and gain a new perspective.
When it comes to fibromyalgia, certain practices outside of the clinic seem to be very helpful. Check to see if you can follow any of the following:
