Fibromyalgia and Women

Posted May 27, 2009 by peterstone / comments 0 comments / Print / Font Size Decrease font size Increase font size

"Practitioners must diagnose and treat co-morbidities of fibromyalgia,” said Shanda Shribbs, Executive Director of the National Fibromyalgia Research Association in Salem, Ore. “Untreated restless legs, sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome can have a dramatic impact on sleep and fatigue... "

Most people diagnosed with Fibromyalgia are women age approximately 20-60 years old. It’s a disease that’s hard to diagnose and often wrongly diagnosed by medical staff. A difficult disease to detect, Fibromyalgia mirrors other maladies and indicators are disregarded or considered part of mental issues. Women will complain and be send away for years with reassures before being cared for correctly, sometimes as long as 5-6 years. It is more frequent in females than in males, but the rationale for this variation is vague.

Blood and urine tests are not accessible to diagnose Fibromyalgia. The lack of lab test adds to the difficulty of identifying Fibromyalgia. Medical consultants depend on women’s set of symptoms and medical histories. Fibromyalgia has occurred in children and seniors, although the studies suggest the disease peaks in mid thirties. Women are at higher risk if they have a family member with Fibromyalgia and/or if the women have any rheumatic and lupus syndromes. An examination of the body and a precise physical pain point examination are done. A precise physical pain point examination means the woman complains of pain in 11-18 specific pain points when pressure is applied. The body is divided into four areas, and the pain must be present for at least 3 months or more.

Questions asked to assist the staff in making a determination: Are you pooped? Do you have generalized pain over your body, but don’t know why? Positive answers may mean the woman is afflicted with Fibromyalgia.

Origin of Fibromyalgia at this time is unidentified. Many examiners theorize that the warning signs result from a keen reaction in the brain to pain pointers. The effect is a lesser pain level. The brain's pain center memorizes pain. Occurrences with pain are more intense. Objective is to control symptoms and minimize discomfort.

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