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Fibromyalgia (fye-bro-my-AL-gee-ah) is an arthritis-related condition that is characterized by generalized muscular pain and fatigue. The term "fibromyalgia" means pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. This condition is referred to as a "syndrome" because it's a set of signs and symptoms that occur together. Fibromyalgia is especially confusing and often misunderstood condition. Because its symptoms are quite common and laboratory tests are generally normal, people with fibromyalgia were once told that their condition was "all in their head." However, medical studies have proven that fibromyalgia does indeed exist, and it is estimated to affect about 2 percent of the U.S. population today.
While there is no specific diet for all fibromyalgia cases, different symptoms may suggest ways of improving your health through diet. As fibromyalgia sufferers often have one condition amplifying another (or several others), relieving even one can increase your quality of life, sometimes substantially. If your body overreacts to certain foods, it could worsen conditions ranging from digestive troubles (gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea) to fatigue, headache or migraine, joint pain, mood disorders, muscle aches, and skin problems. Beef, citrus, chicken, corn, dairy, eggs, gluten ( protein in wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and kamut ), soy, sugar, tomatoes, wheat, yeast, etc., are common problems for individuals with food intolerance.
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Fibromyalgia is described as inflammation of the fibrous or connective tissue of the body. Widespread
muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points characterize these conditions. Fibrositis, fibromyalgia, and
fibromyositis are names given to a set of symptoms believed to be caused by the same general problem.
Description
Fibromyalgia is more common than previously thought, with as many as 3–6% of the population affected
by the disorder. Fibromyalgia is more prevalent in adults than children, with more women affected than
men, particularly women of childbearing age.
Causes and symptoms
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known. Sometimes it occurs in several members of a family,
suggesting that it may be an inherited disorder. People with fibromyalgia are most likely to complain of
three primary symptoms: muscle and joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue. Pain is the major symptom with
aches, tenderness, and stiffness of multiple muscles, joints, and soft tissues. The pain also tends to move
from one part of the body to another. It is most common in the neck, shoulders, chest, arms, legs, hips, and
back. Although the pain is present most of the time and may last for years, the severity of the pain is
changeable and dependent on individual patient perception. Symptoms of fatigue may result from the
individual's chronic pain coupled with anxiety about the problem and how to find relief. The inflammatory
process also produces chemicals that are known to cause fatigue. Other common symptoms are tension
headaches, difficulty swallowing, recurrent abdominal pain, diarrhea, and numbness or tingling of the
extremities. Stress, anxiety, depression, or lack of sleep can increase symptoms. Intensity of symptoms is
variable ranging from gradual improvement to episodes of recurrent symptoms.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is difficult and frequently missed because symptoms of fibromyalgia are vague and generalized.
Coexisting nerve and muscle disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, spinal arthritis, or Lyme disease may
further complicate the diagnostic process. Presently, there are no tests available to specifically diagnose
fibromyalgia. The diagnosis is usually made after ruling out other medical conditions with similar
symptoms. Because of the emotional distress experienced by people with this condition and the influence
of stress on the symptoms themselves, fibromyalgia has often been labeled a psychological problem.
Recognition of the underlying inflammatory process involved in fibromyalgia has helped promote the
validity of this disease.
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