Fibromyalgia Joint Pain
Fibromyalgia is a controversial diagnosis originally formulated by rheumatologists to describe chronic muscle pain. It is derived from the Latin words "fibro," meaning "muscle," and "algia," meaning "pain." Many doctors believe that fibromyalgia is a catch-all diagnosis used to describe symptoms that cannot or are not proven to be caused by some other disease. It is described as chronic and/or progressive muscle pain, but sufferers of fibromyalgia often complain of joint pain.
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Symptoms
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Symptoms of fibromyalgia joint pain include morning joint pain and stiffness, hot and inflamed joints and decreased joint mobility. These symptoms are commonly most present during the hours of 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. according to a survey by the Fibromyalgia Information Foundation. Any joint pain that lasts for more than a few days and is not helped with rest and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be evaluated for other causes, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or fibromyalgia, among others.
Causes
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The cause of fibromyalgia joint pain is not known, but most people can relate the start of their joint pain to a specific injury, illness or repetitive work movement. There is evidence to suggest that fibromyalgia pain is caused as a result of improper sensory processing. It has also been noted that patients with a higher level of stress experience more pain than others who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia but have a lower stress level.
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Characteristics
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Fibromyalgia joint pain is more common in women. Its age of onset is anywhere from 18 to 70. The pain seems to get progressively worse the older the woman is. Patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia joint pain also commonly complain of restless leg syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and irritable bladder syndrome.
There is no indication that fibromyalgia joint pain is worse in patients with depressive disorders.
Treatment
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Treatment for fibromyalgia joint pain is focused on decreasing inflammation in the affected joints and control of pain. Use of NSAIDs is common, though little or no effectiveness is noted among about 80 percent of users. Steroids are often prescribed to help decrease inflammation in the joints and muscles, but their long term use can lead to other problems. Pain control is done through trial and error, starting with non-narcotic medications, such as Tramadol (Ultram), and progressing to stronger medications until relief is found.
Prognosis
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The outcome for fibromyalgia joint pain depends upon the individual and how they respond to the different types of therapies. Many of these individuals are able to remain in the workforce, but more and more persons with fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia joint pain are seeking disability, sighting that the pain interferes with their ability to perform a consistent daily pattern of work. It is estimated that of the 2.2 percent of individuals in the United States receiving Social Security disability, that 16 percent of these were receiving disability due to fibromyalgia-related symptoms.
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