The Unique Pain Of Fibromyalgia Syndrome

The experience of pain appears to be a complex phenomenon with humans. The

reason for the occurrence of pain can be physical, psychological, or a combination
of both of these causes. And how one defines or describes the intensity of the pain
they experience varies as much as the types of pain that exist. Although the origin
may be the same from one person to another, the experience of pain is, in fact, a
subjective emotional response to the sensation and perception of the pain itself.

This is why the syndrome of Fibromyalgia is so difficult to define objectively and

treat for health care providers, who are usually primary care physicians.
Rheumatologists have said that Fibromyalgia Syndrome is the second most common
musculoskeletal diagnosis after osteoporosis.

Fibromyalgia is a very controversial syndrome. Some doubt it is as prevalent as

others believe (3 to 6 percent of the population, some have determined). About 80
percent of the sufferers that are diagnosed with fibromyalgiaare women.
Furthermore, fibromyalgia is not a disease- it is a syndrome. A syndrome is what
you call something that has multiple symptomsthat occur together. A disease,
however, is an actual dysfunction of one’s physiology in some manner.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is considered a muscle condition that involves varying

intensities of chronic pain for a prolonged period of time. As a result of this pain
which is rather brutal with many sufferers, their physical function becomes limited.
In addition, the location of the pain associated with fibromyalgia is determined by
the health care provider according to at least11 of 18 defined tender points at
various locations on the human body.

Regardless, fibromyalgia is misunderstood by the medical community overall. To

further complicate the subject of fibromyalgia syndrome, some have suggested that
the pharmaceutical companies that make the only two medications actually
approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia, which are the drug giants Pfizer with
their drug Lyrica, and Eli Lilly, the maker ofCymbalta, have conducted what is known
as disease mongering.

Disease mongering is when others expand the diagnostic criteria for a particular
medical issue though various ways of informing the public of the potential
undetected cases of such an issue through advertising, primarily.

Also, another method of disease mongering is though the funding of various related
associations and societies through educational grants to be the voice for those who
conduct disease mongering with deliberate intent to increase the profit of their
medications. There is evidence to support this claim- with more funds from these
companies dedicated to advertising much more than grants.
Yet it is clear that fibromyalgia syndrome exists, as there are so many diagnosed
with this medical issue that share the same symptoms, which include other
symptoms besides pain alone. And it often takes a great deal of time for a patient
that has fibromyalgia to receive the correct diagnosis due to the absence of any
objective diagnostic testing to assess this syndrome. The fibromyalgia patient often
goes through numerous other diagnostic testing, such as blood work and X-Rays, as
their doctor orders such tests to rule out other diseases and disorders that may be
present with the symptoms expressed with fibromyalgia syndrome.

Variables associated with those diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome include

those patients with a history mental illness. They also tend to be overweight and
live an inactive lifestyle, overall. Also, there seems to be an association with those
diagnosed with fibromyalgia and these patients being in a state of low
socioeconomic status.

Also in over 50 percent of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the patients are
experiencing mental stress, emotional distress, as well as some sort of family
conflicts as well. In fact, this stress amplifies the symptoms of fibromyalgia if these
emotions are expressing themselves in the fibromyalgia patient. Insomnia is
associated with fibromyalgia as well. It appears that mean age of onset of
Fibromyalgia is around 40 years old, yet fibromyalgia syndrome can occur at any
age.

Aside from systemic pain of varying degrees with the fibromyalgia patient, the
patient experiencesaffective disorders typically. Since the symptoms of
fibromyalgia also could indicate other disease states in 25 percent of the patients,
usually X-Rays and blood work are examined to rule out other possible causesfor the
symptoms.

The Journal of the American Medical Association gave these symptoms the name of
Fibromyalgia in the mid 1980s, as well as this association publically acknowledging
that it is a disabling illness

There is evidence the cause is neurological. Upon examining the spinal fluid of a
fibromyalgia patient, their serotonin levels are low, which is a neurotransmitter that
has multiple emotional functions, as well as elevations of the neuro-chemical
protein called substance P, which is the catalyst for pain. The patients also have
elevated levels of what is called nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a protein
molecule that, when elevated, is also associated with Alzeimer’s disease, and,
believe it or not, one falling in love.

Furthermore, some fibromyalgia patents have had their brains scanned for
abnormalities that may be present, and their brains in fact have shown varying
degrees of structural dysfunction with their brains due to fibromyalgia.
So some suspect not only the cause may be some sort of central nervous system
injury, but also there is evidence the syndrome is from some sort of viral infection, it
has been reported.

Treatment of the fibromyalgia patient includes not only the drugs mentioned earlier,
but also other medications for pain, anxiety, and insomnia in particular. Lifestyle
changes are recommended for the fibromyalgia patient, as well as many other
treatment methods in order to relieve their discomfort. Physical exercise is
appropriately recommended for the fibromyalgia patient as well.

What is perhaps not recommended enough is cognitive or behavioral therapy for the
fibromyalgia patient. There seems to be a strong association between fibromyalgia
syndrome and psychogenic or psychophysiological causes for their symptoms.

Or, perhaps the fibromyalgia patient is suffering from some sort of guilt for some
reason that is amplifies the unfortunate syndrome they are forced to tolerate.

Mea Culpa is Latin, meaning, ‘my fault’.

Pain is a Latin word as well. Its meaning: a fine or penalty.

Further research, however, is needed regarding this unfortunate syndrome

experienced by so many others for no solid reason defined yet.

ww.fmaware.org

Dan Abshear