Insomnia
More than 40 million Americans have difficulty sleeping, but only an estimated 5 million people live with fibromyalgia—which means there are plenty of reasons why you may not be getting a good night’s sleep. Learn about some of the more common sleep disorders in Health.com’s comprehensive sleep resource center.
If you suffer from serious fatigue that limits your daily activities, accompanied by difficulties with concentration and memory, and chronic pain, you have the three most significant symptoms of fibromyalgia. “These three group together,” says Dr. Clauw. “If you have all three, it’s likely you have fibro.” Still, he cautions that the type of pain you have is the single most important predictor of whether you have fibromyalgia.
related
SleepWell
Buspar
Anexil
REM Again
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Chronic bladder pain may play in fibromyalgia
Bladder pain
Experts are increasingly recognizing the role that chronic bladder pain may play in fibromyalgia. “It’s a new focus [in pain research],” says Dr. Clauw. “It’s basically the irritable bowel syndrome of the bladder.” Symptoms include pain in the bladder or pelvic region accompanied by feeling the need to urinate frequently.
If these symptoms are short-lived, the most likely culprit is an easily treated bladder or urinary tract infection. Or, if the only symptom is the urge to urinate, the condition is called overactive bladder syndrome.
When combined with all-over chronic pain, bladder pain may be a component of fibromyalgia. Though currently called interstitial cystitis, Dr. Clauw says the name is rapidly changing to “painful bladder syndrome,” which more accurately describes it.
Experts are increasingly recognizing the role that chronic bladder pain may play in fibromyalgia. “It’s a new focus [in pain research],” says Dr. Clauw. “It’s basically the irritable bowel syndrome of the bladder.” Symptoms include pain in the bladder or pelvic region accompanied by feeling the need to urinate frequently.
If these symptoms are short-lived, the most likely culprit is an easily treated bladder or urinary tract infection. Or, if the only symptom is the urge to urinate, the condition is called overactive bladder syndrome.
When combined with all-over chronic pain, bladder pain may be a component of fibromyalgia. Though currently called interstitial cystitis, Dr. Clauw says the name is rapidly changing to “painful bladder syndrome,” which more accurately describes it.
Common symptom of fibromyalgia
Upset stomach
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which is characterized by stomach cramping, bloating, and diarrhea or constipation, is a common symptom of fibromyalgia. But many people have the condition on its own.
IBS can be triggered by stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, or even antibiotics, and it can be treated with diet and lifestyle changes and with medication. If you have chronic abdominal discomfort with diarrhea or constipation accompanied by the pain described in the previous slide, it’s worth asking your doctor if you might be suffering from fibromyalgia.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which is characterized by stomach cramping, bloating, and diarrhea or constipation, is a common symptom of fibromyalgia. But many people have the condition on its own.
IBS can be triggered by stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, or even antibiotics, and it can be treated with diet and lifestyle changes and with medication. If you have chronic abdominal discomfort with diarrhea or constipation accompanied by the pain described in the previous slide, it’s worth asking your doctor if you might be suffering from fibromyalgia.
One symptom of fibromyalgia
All-over pain
The number-one symptom of fibromyalgia is persistent pain all over your body in your muscles and joints for an extended period of time. "[If a patient says,] 'I hurt all over,'" says rheumatologist Daniel Clauw, MD, director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan, "that’s a big blinking neon light that it’s fibro." Rebecca, who has lived with fibromyalgia for more than three decades, says it feels like a bruise that covers your entire body.
Other conditions, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can initially cause a feeling of widespread pain. “If it’s just in the joints, that person really should see a rheumatologist or someone who specializes in rheumatic or musculoskeletal disorders to make sure they don’t have arthritis,” says Dr. Clauw. Chronic pain that is exclusively in the muscles, on the other hand, can sometimes be polymyalgia rheumatica. But any pain that persists for years in both the muscles and the joints, Clauw explains, is most likely fibro.
The number-one symptom of fibromyalgia is persistent pain all over your body in your muscles and joints for an extended period of time. "[If a patient says,] 'I hurt all over,'" says rheumatologist Daniel Clauw, MD, director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan, "that’s a big blinking neon light that it’s fibro." Rebecca, who has lived with fibromyalgia for more than three decades, says it feels like a bruise that covers your entire body.
Other conditions, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can initially cause a feeling of widespread pain. “If it’s just in the joints, that person really should see a rheumatologist or someone who specializes in rheumatic or musculoskeletal disorders to make sure they don’t have arthritis,” says Dr. Clauw. Chronic pain that is exclusively in the muscles, on the other hand, can sometimes be polymyalgia rheumatica. But any pain that persists for years in both the muscles and the joints, Clauw explains, is most likely fibro.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)