FAQ's
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal pain disorder effecting 2% of the population. It is more common in woman then men. It is a devastating and unpredictable condition that is triggered by a traumatic event or it can develop gradually. Fibromyalgia impacts a sufferer’s life by interfering with the ability to do the simplest activities.
What does it feel like?
Sufferers may experience pain in your muscles like they have been overworked or pulled. Sometimes, sufferers say their muscles twitch, burn or they experience a deep stabbing like pain. It can vary from a dull ache over large parts if your body, or it can be a constant sharp pain. But it is constantly there, for months at a time. It makes you very tired and lethargic.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include:
Who is at risk?
Fibromyalgia can affect pretty much anyone, however, women are more likely to suffer from the illness than men.
What causes Fibromyalgia?
There has been some links between genetics and Fibromyalgia. This means that there could be genetic mutation that runs in your family that can make you more susceptible to the illness.
It can also be triggered by a stressful or traumatic event. Infections of any kind tend to aggravate the symptoms.
Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia?
While there is no “lab test” to diagnose Fibromyalgia, doctors can test for the illness in other ways. They used to use an “18 point test’, where if 18 specific places on the body are constantly in pain, you most likely have fibromyalgia. Nowadays a diagnosis can be made if the patients has suffered for 3 months or longer with constant widespread pain.
Blood tests cannot determine whether you have this disease or not, however your doctor may order them to rule out any other forms of illness.
Is there a cure?
Currently, there is no known cure for Fibromyalgia. Management of symptoms is the best way to alleviate problems associated with the disease.
What treatment is available?
The treatment that is currently available includes:
Floatation Therapy treatment
By using Floatation Therapy as a form of treatment, it can drastically improve the lives of those diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. This is done by:
Myotherapy treatment
Myotherapy is a type of muscle manipulation that can help alleviate pain associated with fibromyalgia.
Where to get help?
There are various support groups including Arthritis Victoria which has a lot of information on Fibromyalgia. Also local hospitals and GP's are a good source of information.
Ref: WebMD
Fibromyalgia Network
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal pain disorder effecting 2% of the population. It is more common in woman then men. It is a devastating and unpredictable condition that is triggered by a traumatic event or it can develop gradually. Fibromyalgia impacts a sufferer’s life by interfering with the ability to do the simplest activities.
What does it feel like?
Sufferers may experience pain in your muscles like they have been overworked or pulled. Sometimes, sufferers say their muscles twitch, burn or they experience a deep stabbing like pain. It can vary from a dull ache over large parts if your body, or it can be a constant sharp pain. But it is constantly there, for months at a time. It makes you very tired and lethargic.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include:
- Wide spread pain across the entire body. It can feel like a dull ache and last up to three months at a time.
- Fatigue. Most Fibromyalgia patients report that they wake up tired, even after sleeping for long periods of time. The pain associated with the illness can also lead to disrupted sleep, which can then cause more fatigue.
- It can affect brain functioning. Some patients find that they have trouble with simple tasks sometimes, or memory loss. This can be due to the overwhelming symptoms, like pain and fatigue.
- With the amount of distressing symptoms that come with Fibromyalgia, it is not uncommon for sufferers to have depression, anxiety or mental health issues related to the illness.
Who is at risk?
Fibromyalgia can affect pretty much anyone, however, women are more likely to suffer from the illness than men.
What causes Fibromyalgia?
There has been some links between genetics and Fibromyalgia. This means that there could be genetic mutation that runs in your family that can make you more susceptible to the illness.
It can also be triggered by a stressful or traumatic event. Infections of any kind tend to aggravate the symptoms.
Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia?
While there is no “lab test” to diagnose Fibromyalgia, doctors can test for the illness in other ways. They used to use an “18 point test’, where if 18 specific places on the body are constantly in pain, you most likely have fibromyalgia. Nowadays a diagnosis can be made if the patients has suffered for 3 months or longer with constant widespread pain.
Blood tests cannot determine whether you have this disease or not, however your doctor may order them to rule out any other forms of illness.
Is there a cure?
Currently, there is no known cure for Fibromyalgia. Management of symptoms is the best way to alleviate problems associated with the disease.
What treatment is available?
The treatment that is currently available includes:
- Medication
- Non drug and Alternate therapies
Floatation Therapy treatment
By using Floatation Therapy as a form of treatment, it can drastically improve the lives of those diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. This is done by:
- Decreasing pain
- Decreasing muscle tension
- Anxiety and
- Stress
Myotherapy treatment
Myotherapy is a type of muscle manipulation that can help alleviate pain associated with fibromyalgia.
Where to get help?
There are various support groups including Arthritis Victoria which has a lot of information on Fibromyalgia. Also local hospitals and GP's are a good source of information.
Ref: WebMD
Fibromyalgia Network