Who Gets Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a pain syndrome of chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. It specifically means pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, generally all the softer, more fibrous tissues in the body. Muscles often feel as if they have been pulled or worked too hard and there are instances where muscles may twitch or feel like they’re burning. Cognitive abilities can also be affected with many patients reporting having ‘brain-fog’, where they find functions such as concentration and memory to be impaired.

Who is susceptible to fibromyalgia?

Unfortunately there is no complete understanding of what causes fibromyalgia and research is continually being carried out to determine this cause. Most studies have concluded that there are no links between fibromyalgia and genetics. It isn’t passed directly from parents to children, although studies have shown the disorder does appear to cluster within families.

Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although it affects around seven times as many women as men. Female hormones are believed to play a role in the higher incidence and severity of the disorder. In addition to this, men tend to report a lower pain intensity than women. Women experience more “all-over hurting” and longer durations of pain and studies have shown that pain is often stronger in women because oestrogen decreases pain tolerance.

Most people are diagnosed during middle-age and you are more likely to have fibromyalgia as you get older. The condition typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but can occur in people of any age, including children and the elderly.

What causes fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia can be caused – or exacerbated by – physical traumas, such as car accidents and falls, often due to no fault of the patient.

Certain factors may trigger a fibromyalgia flare-up, such as changes in:

·      diet

·      hormones

·      physical or psychological stress

·      schedule

·      sleep

·      temperature or weather

·      treatment 

Stressful events can also make fibromyalgia symptoms worse and many people currently living with fibromyalgia have suffered a traumatic event which wasn’t their fault yet they are left with the long-term after effects.

Fibromyalgia symptoms

Some estimates suggest nearly 1 in 20 people may be affected by fibromyalgia to some degree, however it is not clear how many people are affected because fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose. The following symptoms are however common for those with fibromyalgia: 

·      pain throughout the body, particularly in the back or neck

·      extreme sensitivity to pain, bright lights, smoke, and certain foods

·      stiffness when staying in the same position for long periods

·      muscles spasms

·      extreme tiredness

·      poor quality sleep

·      fatigue

·      fibro fog – trouble with remembering, learning, paying attention, and concentrating

·      slow or confused speech

·      frequent headaches or migraines

·      irritable bowel syndrome.