Fibromyalgia Question
Hi all, I'm 17 and my mom has been researching online for awhile now to find out what is wrong with me. I've been to the doctor numerous times but we can never seem to find out what is wrong. I have really sore muscles in my back on both sides, trouble sleeping, anxiety and I always seem to be very stressed out. Tonight, my mom was trying to find something for my back pain and she stumbled upon a website explaining fibromyalgia.
My question is, can someone as young as 17 have this condition? And I don't totally understand it. It says it kind of ties in all of these different symptoms but is it a muscle condition or what? I'm just really confused. It talks about treatment with muscle relaxers and anti-depressants and therapy. Anybody have fibromyalgia and want to help explain it to me? Thanks so much!
I don't understand how therapy and anti-depressants can help my muscles?
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I have had symptoms of Fibromyalgia since I was 5. there are many teens/preteens diagnosed with it.
Fibromyalgia is believed to be a disorder of the Central Nervous System. Muscle pain is only a SYMPTOM. The actual SYNDROME is neurological in nature. There is a difference between nervous system based pain and musculoskeletal pain. That is why drugs such as antidepressants and anti seizure meds help. They help regulate the neurological system. Narcotic pain meds generally work on the muscles themselves.
The main symptoms are widespread pain, fatigue, stiffness, numbness, cognitive difficulties, sleep difficulties
Fibromyalgia is generally 'wide spread' it involves all 4 quadrants of your body-upper lower front back. technically back pain alone wouldn't qualify.
Anxiety and Depression can cause the pain/sleep problems you describe as there are physical componants to those conditions.
To be screened for Fibromyalgia-you need to go to a COMPETANT doctor-Most Rheumatologists will say they deal with Fibromaylgia-bu vey few are actually competant.
to find a doctor recommended by otehr patients in the US
email kindness@fibrobetsy.com
Over 10 years ago it was wrongly believed to be an actual Musculoskeletal syndrome-current research (and my own research and experience) is that it is a neurological condition. The only FDA drug specifically approved for Fibromyalgia is the Neuro drug Lyrica
If it was as simple as a Fungal Infection-it woudl be well known-it is a minimally accepted theory. It is possible to have Fibro like symptoms when you have a fungal infection-but it is not true Fibromyalgia
Muscle relaxants didn't help me-and had severe side effects-as tehy do not act on the neuro system
Therapy for stress management may help as Stress makes teh symptoms worse
Hallmarks of Fibromyalgia are lack of inflammtion/swelling
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