Today, fibromyalgia is a challenge for both science and medicine, as the clinical profile and symptoms can be very different, including chronic musculoskeletal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, overactive bladder disorder, sleep disorders, bruxism, etc.
Hypersensitivity to pain and mood disturbances caused by this chronic condition are two typical symptoms that patients experience. It should also be mentioned about various restrictions in everyday life.
Suffering can be paralyzing, making it difficult to provide a fully functional treatment regimen for patients to restore their quality of life.
As always with chronic conditions, it’s important to have as much information as possible and to be part of a support group that will help you try different treatments until you get the best results.
Fibromyalgia: early symptoms
People with fibromyalgia are often misdiagnosed because of the variety of symptoms. As a rule, they turn to different doctors and specialists until they finally get the correct diagnosis. For example, they often hear about rheumatism or arthritis.
However, fibromyalgia is much more than that.
That’s why you need to watch these symptoms, and if they are constant or combined with other problems, it’s time to visit a good specialist.
Ossification
Ossification or feeling of loss of mobility in the joints is very painful:
- This feeling of weakness usually occurs in the morning and is one of the earliest symptoms of fibromyalgia.
- When you sit or lie down for periods, your body and joints do not respond properly.
- You may also notice this symptom during changes in temperature or relative humidity.
For example, if you are in a room with air conditioning. When you go outside and notice the temperature difference true, you feel a headache and stiffness in your neck or shoulder muscles.
Sleep disturbances
Several studies on this issue suggest that during the deep phase of sleep (delta stage) there may be disruptions in the brain waves that bring peace. This means that even though you are sleeping, you are not resting.
Mild cognitive impairments
People with fibromyalgia often report that among the first symptoms they noticed were some difficulty concentrating or a slowed ability to focus on certain tasks.
- These disorders are known as “fibrosis fog” and are characterized by minor memory lapses or difficulty perceiving several things at once.
- It’s important to note that these symptoms can also be related to stress, so if you’re trying to determine if it could be fibromyalgia, it’s worth considering other more specific symptoms (joint pain, fatigue, etc.).
Abdominal discomfort
Many people who have fibromyalgia experience a variety of digestive problems, which manifest themselves in the early stages in the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Difficulty digesting or swallowing food. Experts say that sometimes fibromyalgia can cause problems in the muscles of the esophagus.
Myofascial pain syndrome
Myofascial pain syndrome is a neuromuscular condition in which very painful spots (known as trigger points) form and spread around muscles or connective tissue.
- If you experience painful repetitive movements in the most unexpected places, this may be a sign of this disorder.
- Sometimes just a heavy bag on the shoulder can cause sharp pain in the neck, shoulders, and even elbows. This is worth keeping in mind.
Remember that fibromyalgia can affect each person differently, causing a wide range of symptoms.
However, there are some common symptoms and we recommend that you seek help if any of the ones we’ve described become persistent and affect your quality of life.
Picture Credit: VistaCreate