In addition to the central symptom of pain, FM patients frequently complain of non- specific symptoms which are potentially autonomically - mediated. Thus, palpitations, fatigue and inability to stand for long periods of time are all common complaints.
People with fibromyalgia may also have other associated symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headache, memory and concentration disorder, numbness and tingling sensation in the hands and feet, irregular heartbeat, and decreased ability to exercise.
Fibromyalgia and Heart Disease
Research does suggest that women with fibromyalgia are at a higher risk of heart disease than healthy women. 2 That was among the findings of the well-known al-Andalus project, and it was published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology in 2017.
Other researchers believe fibromyalgia is caused by a lack of deep sleep. It is during stage 4 sleep that muscles recover from the prior day's activity, and the body refreshes itself. Sleep studies show that as people with fibromyalgia enter stage 4 sleep, they become more aroused and stay in a lighter form of sleep.
During pain outbreaks, there is a release of adrenalin which elevates heart rate and blood pressure. This can lead to severe cardiac episodes, stroke or even death. In some chronic pain patients, long-term pain can produce chronic tachycardia—a pulse rate greater than 100 heart beats per minute.
Fibromyalgia was formerly classified as an inflammatory musculoskeletal disease but is now considered to be an illness that primarily affects the central nervous system.
Extreme sensitivity. Fibromyalgia can make you extremely sensitive to pain all over your body, and you may find that even the slightest touch is painful. If you hurt yourself, such as stubbing your toe, the pain may continue for much longer than it normally would.
There is an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation in fibromyalgia syndrome. 2. As the severity of fibromyalgia syndrome increases, the risk of developing AF increases.
“Even my skin hurts, so hugs can be painful and normal clothing feels like it's cutting me in half. If someone nudges me or taps me, it can feel like a sledgehammer. “My body can't deal with extreme temperatures—if it's cold I turn to ice, if it's hot I feel like I'm on fire.”
Rheumatologic disease
Several rheumatic diseases can mimic fibromyalgia. These include sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, polymyalgia rheumatica and lupus.
Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed based primarily on having pain all over the body, along with other symptoms. Currently, there are no specific laboratory or imaging tests for fibromyalgia.
Conclusions: Dyspnea is a common symptom in patients with FMS and is not explained by pulmonary causes, but may partly be due to chest wall discomfort and pain intensity. Understanding the cause of this symptom in FMS may help in the management of these patients who are suffering from dyspnea.
Unfortunately, fibromyalgia is still a somewhat controversial diagnosis, because it is not yet fully understood and its symptoms can overlap with many other conditions. Some people even say that it's a “garbage can” diagnosis that's only given when no other one can be made.
Fibromyalgia is often triggered by an event that causes physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers include: a serious injury, such as after a car accident. an infection, such as Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme disease.
Stress, exercise, medication or, rarely, a medical condition can trigger them. Although heart palpitations can be worrisome, they're usually harmless. Rarely, heart palpitations can be a symptom of a more serious heart condition, such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), that might require treatment.
Symptoms of palpitations are more likely to be related to an abnormal heart rhythm if you have: Heart disease. Significant risk factors for heart disease. An abnormal heart valve.
The drugs amitriptyline, duloxetine, milnacipran and pregabalin can relieve fibromyalgia pain in some people. They may cause side effects such as a dry mouth or nausea. Normal painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol) aren't recommended for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
The most helpful treatment approach for fibromyalgia is a combination of self-care, physical activity and cognitive-behavioral therapy. But medication may also be needed. Many drugs prescribed for fibromyalgia work to turn down “pain volume” in the central nervous system (CNS).
The pain may be worse in the morning and evening. Sometimes, the pain may last all day long. The pain may get worse with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety, and stress. This condition is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 50.