Fibromyalgia is STILL Bunk Based on Junk Science!

Overview
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that consists of a person having long-term, body-wide pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. The condition is associated with fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, depression, and anxiety.
Symptoms include pain in the tender points found in the soft tissue on the back of the neck, shoulders, chest, lower back, hips, shins, elbows, and knees. The pain may feel like a deep ache or a shooting, burning pain. Body aches or stiffness upon waking. Pain may worsen with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety and stress. Other symptoms include IBS, memory and concentration problems, numbness and tingling in hand and feet, palpitations, reduced ability to exercise, tension or migraine headaches.
 
 Causes
The cause of Fibromyalgia is unknown. Possible causes include: physical or emotional trauma, abnormal pain response, sleep disturbances, infections (such as a virus). Other possible causes include low levels of serotonin that results in lowered pain thresholds or increased sensitivity to pain and genetic mutations.
Fibromyalgia is most often seen in women between the ages of 20 and 50. A person may be more likely to develop the condition if a relative has it.
 
Signs and Tests
In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology established two criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia:

– widespread pain lasting at least three months and
at least 11 positive tender points out of a possible 18. Tender point locations include the back of the head, between the shoulder blades, top of shoulders, front sides of neck, upper chest, outer elbows, upper hips, sides of hips, inner knees, thighs, lower back, rib cage, and buttocks.
Since 1990, a new criteria has been added, possible to replace the tender points test. Specifically, there can be no other underlying condition that might be causing the pain.
To rule out other underlying conditions, physicians should run several tests, including a complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and a thyroid function test.
Common conditions that can be seen with fibromyalgia or mimic its symptoms are chronic neck or back pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, hypothyroidism, lyme disease, sleep disorders.
To be thorough in making a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a doctor should do six things:
1. Check for widespread pain
2. Evaluate trigger points
3. Ask about fatigue
4. Inquire about sleep disturbances
5. Evaluate the patient’s level of stress
6. Test for depression.
Treatment
Generally, treatments for fibromyalgia include both medication and self-care. Helpful medications include anelgesics (acetaminophen, NSAIDS, naproxen sodium and prescription pain medication), anti-depressants, and anti-seizure drugs. Therapy and counseling can be effective along with reducing stress, staying active, exercise, a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Other forms of treatment are physical therapy, an exercise and fitness program, and massage.
Of course, this is how I see it. If you have a different point of view, I would like to see it.
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