Fibromyalgia syndrome, which manifests itself with chronic and widespread musculoskeletal pain, numbness, tingling, fatigue and sleep disturbance, can be seen in all ages and genders, but predominantly affects women.
Stating that complaints increase with stress in 70 percent of patients, experts state that fibromyalgia syndrome is accompanied by various psychiatric disorders. Widespread pain that persists for more than three months may be a harbinger of fibromyalgia. Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Psychiatry Specialist Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya shared important information about fibromyalgia syndrome, which is more common in women.
It is more common in women
Prof. Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya stated that fibromyalgia syndrome is a common disease with chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain with a certain numbness, tingling, fatigue, sleep disturbance, painful tender points with symmetrical distribution and said, "Fibromyalgia syndrome is seen in all ages and genders regardless of race, but it often affects women. Women constitute 8 or 9 out of every 10 patients. The prevalence of fibromyalgia in the society is between 2-8 percent and these prevalence rates increase with age."
These factors cause fibromyalgia!
Stating that many studies have been conducted for more than 50 years to determine the factors that cause fibromyalgia syndrome, Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya said, "In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of these studies. However, unfortunately, its etiology has not yet been fully understood. Various previous infectious diseases, genetic family history, a source of stress such as physical or emotional trauma, a high level of expectation for oneself, work-oriented life, perfectionism, inability to relax and enjoy life, denial of affective and interpersonal conflicts, inability to cope with feelings of anger and hostility, childish needs such as dependency and need for care, physical or emotional trauma can lead to fibromyalgia and worsen the symptoms."
Widespread pain and tenderness are important criteria
Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya said that fibromyalgia often has areas of the body called trigger points or tender points and continued her words as follows:
"These points include 18 different areas that can cause pain even with light pressure. The pain caused by trigger points can be described as a consistent blunt pain that affects many parts of the body. If there is widespread pain and tenderness, the person is diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Trigger points are the back of the head, upper shoulders, upper chest, hips, knees and elbows. However, these trigger points are no longer the focus for diagnosis. Instead, fibromyalgia can be diagnosed if there is widespread pain that has persisted for more than 3 months and there is no diagnosable medical condition that can explain the pain. In fibromyalgia, other symptoms other than pain at trigger points can also be observed. These symptoms may include fatigue, sleep problems, not feeling rested despite prolonged sleep and difficulty getting out of bed, headache, depressive mood, anxiety, difficulty focusing and paying attention, pain in the lower abdomen, difficulty breathing, ringing in the ears, lack of resistance to exercise and fatigue."
Stress increases complaints
Stating that stress is effective in the emergence and worsening of fibromyalgia symptoms, Sarıkaya said, "Nearly 70 percent of fibromyalgia patients report that their complaints increase with stress. The coexistence of psychiatric disorders in patients is also found at rates up to 70 percent. Studies reveal that the frequency of depression accompanying fibromyalgia varies between 28.6 percent and 70 percent. Post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation disorder, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders and somatoform disorders are other psychiatric disorders that can be seen in fibromyalgia patients."
Treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach
Sarıkaya said that there is no specialized laboratory or imaging test that can detect fibromyalgia and concluded his words as follows:
"However, imaging methods and blood tests are used to exclude other causes of chronic pain. Its treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach. Fibromyalgia patients can consult a rheumatology, algology or physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist for diagnosis. However, in the presence of psychological factors such as stress factors, psychological trauma or psychiatric disorders such as sleep disorders, depression, anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychiatrist should also be involved in the process. It is known that some antidepressant medications, cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR technique, which we use in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, are effective in reducing stress and chronic pain complaints, as well as in the treatment of accompanying psychiatric diseases, and therefore have significant benefits on the quality of life of patients. Strengthening positive coping methods with pain and identifying and reducing negative coping methods, providing relaxation training to reduce physiological arousal, correcting environmental reactions to pain behavior, increasing the level of physical activity by reducing the use of pain medications are important behavioral approaches used in the treatment of chronic pain complaints seen in fibromyalgia."
