General symptoms of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a disease which manifests very much alike with flu. It gives muscular pains and tiredness, and can disturb the sleep. It can also be characterized by tender spots which are felt mostly in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips. The attachments of muscles to bones are also affected by this disease. Joints seem to be left unaffected by it. Besides muscles, pain in tendons and ligaments appear also.

Some of the patients can feel depressed and develop mood changes, other patients complain about anxiety and difficulty in concentration along with sensitivity to light and temperature.

Fibromyalgia can be easily mistaken with other diseases. The fatigue most people feel is quite alike with that encountered in the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Those who suffer of CFS can also have symptoms of fibromyalgia like the tender spots.

Diagnosing fibromyalgia is made after eliminating other diseases that can manifest alike and after inquiring about the tender spots and their location. There are known 18 tender spots that can be painful in fibromyalgia and most are situated around the neck, shoulders, shoulder blades, lower back, elbows and knees.

When talking about fibromyalgia, tender spots are usually situated in both sides of the body and at least 11 spots must be painful otherwise some doctors will not be sure that fibromyalgia is present.

These symptoms can last a few days or months and even years and the symptoms can sometimes get worse or sometimes disappear for a while.

If you have these symptoms is best to call your doctor and let him decide whether you have fibromyalgia or not. Also, if you are already diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome periodically go for check-ups because a new drug might have been discovered since your last medical visit. If you feel you can not control the pain with the regular treatment, ask you doctor for a new one, with more powerful painkillers.

A cure for fibromyalgia has not been discovered yet but at least treatment is available.

At home in order to relieve muscle pain, patients are advised to swim, practice aerobic and different sorts or exercises. Massage is also recommended.

The doctor will prescribe you some helpful drugs: painkillers and muscle relaxants, in order to reduce the pain in your muscles, antidepressant drugs if you feel you have mood changes and depressions lately, tender point injections with steroids which can relief you for a while. Also, acupuncture is recommended along with massage therapy because it helps relax and soothe painful muscles.