Fibromyalgia (FMS)
September 15, 2012 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Christian Welsch
I have been experiencing pain in various parts of my body for 5 years. It started in my back, then moved to my right leg down to the ankle, then the elbows, then the left shoulder, and for almost 2 years now also the right shoulder. I feel weak, can't sleep at night due to the pain, and wake up feeling stiff in my hands, legs, and lower back (lumbar area). I have seen many doctors who prescribed a lot of medication and physiotherapy, 2 sets of 6 treatments. I also saw a pain therapist, but after a year of treatment, she didn't know what else to do. I have tried other treatments such as shockwave therapy, trigger point therapy, osteopathy, Dorn method spinal treatment, etc., at my own expense, but nothing has brought relief from the pain. Orthopedic doctors told me after some time that it was muscle-related, and there was nothing they could do.
Now my question is, I have heard and read about a condition called fibromyalgia syndrome. What is it, and what kind of doctor should I see for that?
Dear inquirer,
This could well be fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia (fiber-muscle pain) is a severe chronic, incurable condition characterized by widespread pain with varying locations in the muscles, around the joints, and back pain, as well as tenderness to pressure and accompanying symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, concentration and motivation weaknesses, sensitivity to weather, swelling of hands, feet and face, and many other complaints. An important differential diagnosis is rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be quite difficult, as neither X-rays nor lab results provide a clear answer. A diagnosis may not always be definitively established. The diagnosis is based on the number of tender points; often patients have gone through a long medical odyssey and suffer from corresponding psychological side effects due to the pain and the often present feeling of "not being taken seriously". The cause and mechanism of fibromyalgia are, to my knowledge, largely unresolved.
You should see a rheumatologist, or ask your primary care physician to be referred to a rheumatology clinic at a university hospital.
Treatment typically involves multimodal pain therapy (medications and physical therapy).
Please also have your vitamin D levels tested in the diagnosis (this is often overlooked. A vitamin D deficiency alone can trigger such symptoms and can be easily corrected).
Do you have any questions? I wish you a speedy recovery.
