Fibromyalgia is one of the most rampant of diseases among those which cause pain in the muscles, joints and tendons. It is not a recognized disorder because standard medical procedures have not been able to detect it via blood tests, biopsies and X-rays. With cases that actually have been diagnosed, these show no signs shown when these methods were used. With the dawn of modern technology, thermographs – machines that show the heat in the body and where it lies.
The developments have led to the discovery that the tenderness sites have a less blood flow and also less temperature. The clear symptoms of the condition are stiff muscles, mood changes, low skin temperature, sore muscles, loss of sleep and fatigue. Cold weather can make these conditions worse that they can ever get. Other symptoms are headaches, irritable bowel syndromes and irritable bladder sysndromes. The difference between a rheumatic condition and fibromyalgia in terms of symptoms is that there is absolutely no deformity in the joints and internal organs remain very much intact.
Along with fibromyalgia, there are the related diseases, conditions and disorders that also come along. Some of them are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Endometriosis, Fibrocystic Breast Disease and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. There is no sure cause for the disorder but there is an extensive amount of information that is fuelling research to find that out.
Research is on to find out the difference between menopause and fibromyalgia. Menopause happens between 40 and 55 years of age which is the same time that fibromyalgia happens during. Suggested reason in this relation includes hormones – especially the lesser than usual amount estrogen – which is a dominating factor of such a body process which contributes to worry, loss of continuous sleep and depression. Results have shown that progesterone hormones and estrogen are not beneficial to people who suffer from the disease. The two, in addition to thyroid function and decreased hormones, are instrumental in a minor way in bringing about fatigue, heavy changes in the persons mood, pain in the muscles and increased anxiety which are all symptoms of fibromyalgia. But it has also been noticed that estrogen patches have had a few benefits as compared to the pills. One possible cause that caught the eyes of the researchers is the low amount of Cortisol, a hormone that comes from the adrenal gland.
There is no known way yet to completely cure on of this disease. Treatment so far is the pacification of it and lessening the symptoms of it. When it comes to treating this in women, the treatment depends on the exact symptoms of each case. Therapy and exercise is one of the ways of treatment. According to research, placing ice on the area of the body with Fibromyalgia helps further relax the muscles. Tricyclic anti depressants are the popular depression tablets given in such cases. Analgesics, an injection, is usually suggested to take away the stiffness and soreness in the areas that have been affected by Fibromyalgia.