Fibromyalgia - One Minute Medical School

Fibromyalgia comes from "fibro" meaning connective tissue plus "myo" meaning muscle plus "algia" meaning pain. It is widespread pain per three months with no other identifiable cause. Symptoms occur in three different domains. Painful symptoms consist of dull, constant muscle ache and allodynia, which is sensitivity to pressure. It can be above and below the diaphragm, front and back. Next come functional symptoms, STIR: Sleep apnea, TMJ syndrome, Irritable bowel and Restless legs. Psychiatric symptoms, MAD-IF: Memory loss, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia and Fatigue. It affects two percent of the population, female to male ratio nine to one, unknown why that is. Causal hypothesis is thought to be increased signal processing in the brain. There's increased substance P, a pain neurotransmitter, in spinal fluid, and there's increased glucose uptake in the insula, where pain is processed. Treatment is triple-A: analgesics, antidepressants, and anti-convulsants. Investigational treatments include naltrexone and cannabinoids. Practical tips: remember the body feels damaged, but it isn't. Activity is ok. Try swimming if you can't do anything else.