The Psychotherapist's Essential Guide to the Brain by Dahlitz Matthew

Author:Dahlitz, Matthew [Dahlitz, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dahlitz Media
Published: 2017-09-16T00:00:00+00:00

FIBROMYALGIA

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic and widespread pain and pain response to pressure (Hawkins, 2013; Ngian, Guymer, & Littlejohn, 2011) as well as fatigue, cognitive dysfunctions such as poor concentration and memory (Clauw, 2014; Glass, 2006; Hawkins, 2013), paraesthesia (Hawkins, 2013), bowel disturbances (Wallace & Hallegua, 2002), muscle spasms, and sleep disturbances (Cherney & Holland, 2016). Other symptoms can include depression and anxiety. It is estimated that fibromyalgia may affect 2–8% of the population (Chakrabarty & Zoorob, 2007, Clauw, 2014)—many cases go undiagnosed (Clauw, Arnold & McCarberg, 2011), while a far greater number of females are affected than males (Hawkins, 2013).

The legitimacy of the condition has historically been the subject of controversy among medical professionals, because the core symptoms are largely subjective and therefore not readily measured. However, the stigma is slowly disappearing as the profession accepts that it simply doesn’t yet have the objective means to test some complex conditions. In the early 1800s it was classified as a rheumatoid disorder, until the discovery of tender points in the 1820s led doctors to believe that the pain was a result of systemic inflammation. In 1976, the condition was renamed fibromyalgia—a blending of the Latin “fibro” (fibrous tissue) with the Greek “myo” (muscle) and “algos” (pain) (Higuera, 2016).

The cause of fibromyalgia remains largely a mystery, although it is now believed to be a disorder not of the musculoskeletal system but of the perception of pain by the central nervous system. The idea of “central sensitization” (Hawkins, 2013) postulates that sufferers of fibromyalgia have a lower than normal threshold of pain due to nerves with a higher sensitivity to pain in the central nervous system (Ngian et al., 2011). Physical or psychological stressors can trigger abnormalities in stress and inflammatory pathways, resulting in a hypersensitivity that modulates mood (Maletic & Raison, 2009) and amplifies pain due to hyper-excitable pain processing and underactive pain-inhibiting pathways.

Although there is no single, simple approach to managing fibromyalgia (Okifuji & Hare, 2013), lifestyle plays an important part in treatment. Exercise and healthy sleep habits in particular can reduce pain and tiredness (Busch, Barber, Overend, Peloso, & Schachter, 2007; Gowans & deHueck 2004). Hydrotherapy, yoga, or tai chi can be a gentle introduction to exercise. Meditation, massage therapy, psychotherapy, biofeedback, and acupuncture have also proven helpful for some individuals. The right diet is critical to limit inflammation in the body, and a healthy whole-food diet is often recommended. Seeing an experienced naturopath can highlight areas of an individual’s biochemistry that need attention and dietary changes that need to be made. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also be helpful, as can antidepressants (Häuser, Bernardy, Uçeyler & Sommer, 2009). As usual, it is advisable to seek the advice of a medical doctor when using pharmaceuticals.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.