Fibromyalgia is a very common condition and believe it or not more than 10 million US citizens are currently suffering from it. What’s even scarier is that there are even more people who have it but haven’t been diagnosed yet. The problem with fibromyalgia is that many doctors fail to recognize its symptoms and misdiagnose patients since its symptoms can often be linked to other conditions as well.
The most important thing, when it comes to this complicated syndrome, is to get diagnosed in time and start proper treatment, so that you can alleviate its unpleasant symptoms and get your much needed relief.
There’s still no known cure for fibromyalgia, patients can only manage the condition and relieve its symptoms but first they need to get properly diagnosed. In order to get the right diagnosis we must learn its most common symptoms and in this article we’re going to show you exactly that.
The first symptom we associate with fibromyalgia is probably muscle pain. And that’s right, fibromyalgia sufferers deal with muscle pain and tenderness all over the body, but there are also other issues these people deal with on a daily basis and face emotional, physical and mental problems.
Causes and Diagnosis
Just like there’s no known cure for this disease, there’s no known cause as well, meaning that you can’t prevent the condition. You can however get it under control and manage it but first you need to know that you have it. There are no special tests or check-ups that can help doctor diagnose fibromyalgia and tell them for sure if their patient suffers from it, so they usually discuss the most common symptoms with their patients and deduce from there if they have it or not. There are also some criteria that are indicative of the condition so if you suffer from it your doctor should be able to diagnose it with the help of thyroid tests, blood count tests, rheumatoid factor, X-rays, MRI and so on.
Before you head out to see your doctor here are some of the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia you should look out for and if you notice them you should see your physician.Bottom of Form
Muscle and Body
  • Severe pain all over
  • Morning stiffness
  • Lumpy or tender breasts
  • Muscle twitching
  • Swelling
Sleeping problems
  • Fatigue
  • Teeth grinding
  • Falling sensation while sleeping
  • Muscle twitching during sleeping
  • Feeling tired and lethargic every morning
Allergy and Sinus Problems
  • Shortness of breath
  • Thick mucus
  • Ringing ears
  • Earaches
  • Running nose
  • Allergies
Digestion problems
  • Bloating, nausea, abdominal cramps and pelvic pain
  • IBS
  • Frequent needs to urinate
Sensory Problems
  • Problems with night driving and seeing in low light conditions
  • Increased sensitivity to noise, smells, light, pressure, climate changes and temperature changes
Cognitive Problems
  • Poor coordination and balance
  • Difficulties concentrating and short-term memory issues
  • Burning and tingling in the upper extremities
  • Problems with recognizing known surroundings
  • Difficulties speaking familiar languages and words
Reproductive Problems
  • Impotence
  • PMS and similar menstrual issues
  • Loss of libido
Heart Problems
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Chest pain that resembles a heart attack
  • Valve problems
Nails, Skin and Hair Problems
  • Ridged, curved nails
  • Hair loss
  • Sensitive skin that bruises and scars easily
Mental Health Problems
  • Anxiety, depression and panic attacks
  • Mood swings and irritability without a cause
Other Symptoms
  • Carbs and chocolate cravings
  • Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
  • Family history of fibromyalgia
  • Sweats
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Vision problems
You should have in minds that these symptoms can indicate a different conditions as they are pretty vague, or be completely random and not related to any condition or disease. That’s why is you believe that you might suffer from fibromyalgia it’s best to consult with your doctor and conduct some tests that may reveal if it’s true or not.
Natural Remedies for Fibromyalgia
If you indeed are suffering from this condition here are a couple of advices on how to minimize its symptoms naturally:
  • take up tai chi or yoga
  • use acupuncture
  • Try some breathing techniques
  • Introduce turmeric, ginger and garlic to your diet, they have anti-inflammatory properties
  • Take vitamin D, B12 and magnesium supplements
  • Eat more whole, organic foods
  • Do massages
  • Take up some light exercise class
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