Fibromyalgia is unfortunately a common problem affecting 3.5 million people, or 1 in five people.
This syndrome is characterized by debilitating pain throughout the body. Nevertheless, chronic muscle pain does not necessarily mean that you suffer from fibromyalgia, as this condition also leads to other symptoms.
Yet if your muscles hurt all the time, you need to check the fibromyalgia symptom list and see if you need to find a proper treatment or you can rule out fibromyalgia as a possible cause.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms:
muscle and body tissue
Mild to severe pain in different parts of the body
morning stiffness
muscle twitches
swelling
Tender and lumpy breasts (breast cancer, as an overlapping condition)
stomach and digestion problems
Bloating, nausea, abdominal cramps and pelvic pain
IBS
Frequent urination
Allergy and sinus problems
shortness of breath
Itchy ears and earache
tinnitus
tough slime
Allergies, sensitivity to molds and yeasts
A runny nose and post nasal drip
heart problems
valve issues
Pain similar to that of a heart attack
Irregular heartbeat
Sensory problems and sensitivity
Difficulty driving at night and seeing in low light
Sensitive to odours, light, noise, temperature, climate and pressure changes.
sleep problems
Fatigue
One feels like falling while sleeping
To even during sleep
Disturbed sleep / broken sleep patterns, feeling tired and lethargic every morning
teeth grinding
cognitive difficulties
Speech development disorders and difficulty pronouncing familiar words
Directional difficulties and recognizing familiar surroundings
Poor coordination and balance
Zone out often, problems concentrating, inability to distinguish shades of color, and short-term memory.
Burning or tingling in upper limbs
hair, skin and nails
hair loss
Excessively ridged nails or curved nails
Skin, blue spots or scars appear light or speckled
mental health problems
Mood swings, irritability for no reason
Anxiety, depression, panic attacks
Reproductive Problems
loss of libido
PMS and other menstrual cramps
impotence
other symptoms
Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
headaches and migraines
changes in vision
family history
who sweats
Craving carbohydrates and chocolate
And yet, these symptoms are non-specific, meaning they stem from other health problems, so you shouldn’t jump to any conclusions just yet.
This condition is not easy to diagnose either as it can also be mistaken for other issues and there are no specific fibromyalgia tests that are 100% accurate.
A diagnosis of fibromyalgia requires one to meet the following criteria set by the American College of Rheumatology:
The widespread pain felt in all four body quadrants for at least 3 months
11 of 18 tender points, felt with pain on palpation
Negative results for other diseases on the diagnostic tests
To rule out other conditions and diagnose fibromyalgia, doctors use a variety of diagnostic tests, such as:
Complete blood count
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
Rheumafaktor
Erythrozytensedimentationsrate (ESR)
X-rays
MRI
thyroid tests
