“Fibromyalgia is not a rheumatic disease, but it can present similar symptoms, sometimes coexisting with rheumatic diseases and complicating their diagnosis and management. Fibromyalgia patients face the daily challenge of living with invisible symptoms, often resulting in misunderstanding by the people around them. In addition, the social stigma of fibromyalgia affects working life, which can lead to lack of recognition and discrimination,” says Dr. Oscar Chigne, a rheumatologist at our clinic.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbances and affective state. It is linked to a disorder in pain processing and sensitization of the central nervous system. It affects people of any age and is predominantly female.

What are the symptoms?

Chronic generalized musculoskeletal pain, sleep, memory and mood disorders, tired awakening, daytime fatigue and headache. It is often associated with other functional conditions such as irritable bowel, painful bladder, restless legs, chronic fatigue, tension headache, temporomandibular disorder, anxiety and depression, among others.

What are the causes?

• The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it is associated with abnormal pain messages due to changes in the way the Central Nervous System processes these messages at the locomotor system level.
• Genetic predisposition plays an important role in its appearance, since many people develop fibromyalgia after being exposed to conditions of physical or emotional stress, such as traffic accidents, severe physical or emotional trauma, repetitive injuries due to overuse of one or more joints, infections, obesity, major surgeries and rheumatic diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondylitis, etc.

How is it diagnosed?

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is exclusively clinical, since there are no laboratory tests, biomarkers or images to support it. It is necessary to rule out other diseases that share similar symptoms. There are internationally standardized diagnostic criteria in the form of specific questionnaires and assessment tools, which must always be accompanied by a compatible clinical history and physical examination.

Remember:

Seek guidance in our rheumatology service to receive specialized care in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. We offer a comprehensive approach that includes medical, physical therapies and emotional support to ensure a better quality of life for our patients.

Dr. Oscar Chigne
Rheumatologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma