How to buy Fibromyalgia Biospecimens

A person may confuse fibromyalgia symptoms with those of arthritis, or joint inflammation.

The condition can commonly coexist with autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus, but it is not an autoimmune disorder.

Fibromyalgia does not cause joint or muscle inflammation and damage, but it can increase a person’s feelings of joint or muscle pain.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Following are some of the common fibromyalgia symptoms:

• Difficulties with memory and concentration, known as “fibro fog”
• Fatigue 
• Headaches
• Irregular sleep patterns
• Joint and muscle stiffness after sleeping
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
• Restless legs syndrome
• Sensitivity to cold or heat
• Widespread pain

In addition to the above symptoms, the following may also occur:

• Anxiety and depression
• Breathing problems
• Chest symptoms
• Cold or Flu like symptoms
• Dizziness
• Problems with vision
• Nausea
• Pelvic and urinary issues
• Rapid weight gain
• Skin problems
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD)

Symptoms can appear at any time during a person’s life, but they are most common between the ages of 25 and 55.

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unclear. However, current thinking in the field of rheumatology suggests that fibromyalgia results from an issue with pain processing in the central nervous system (CNS)

Several factors may increase a person’s risk of developing fibromyalgia, including:

• A stressful, traumatic physical or emotional event, such as a car accident
• CNS problems
• Repetitive injuries
• RA or other autoimmune conditions, such as lupus
• The way the genes regulate how a person processes painful stimuli

Fibromyalgia may also be hereditary. Females who have a close relative with fibromyalgia have a higher risk of the condition.

People with RA, lupus, or spinal arthritis, known as ankylosing spondylitis, have a higher likelihood of developing fibromyalgia, as do individuals with some other rheumatic conditions.

It can take some time to confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, because the symptoms resemble those of other conditions, such as:

• Autoimmune disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Lyme disease

A healthcare professional needs to rule out these conditions before diagnosing fibromyalgia.

There are no laboratory tests for the condition, and this, too, can lead to a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.

The American College of Rheumatology has established three criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia:

• Pain and symptoms over the previous week, as well as levels of fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, or cognitive problems
• Symptoms that have been present for at least 3 months
• No presence of another health condition that would explain the symptoms

Fibromyalgia can be difficult for a person to manage alone.

A rheumatologist or other specialist will design a treatment program to help manage the condition. This will typically involve a combination of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies.

As fibromyalgia is a syndrome, every person experiences a different set of symptoms, and an individual treatment plan is necessary.

Treatment may include some or all of the following:

• A low impact exercise program
• Acupuncture 
• Chiropractic 
• drugs, such as antidepressants, muscle-relaxers, and nerve pain medication
• Massage
• Physical therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Stress reduction techniques
• Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

A healthcare professional may recommend medications to treat certain symptoms. These may include over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.

However, in its updated 2016 guidelines, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) issued a recommendation against using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat fibromyalgia.

Healthcare professionals may also prescribe antidepressants, including duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella), and anti-seizure drugs, such as pregabalin (Lyrica).

A person should tell a healthcare professional about any other medications they are taking to avoid side effects and interactions with other drugs.