Fibromyalgia presents a constellation of heterogeneous symptoms with diffuse chronic pain as a common denominator. Its prevalence is about 3%, with a 20:1 ratio in favor of women.
The symptomatology is functional pain, asthenia and sleep disturbance. However, the clinical picture is very heterogeneous:
Functional pain: of continuous type even nocturnal, aggravated by exercise. Global and imprecise, involving limbs and trunk, especially large muscle masses. Pain and stiffness are greater in the morning and are aggravated by cold and physical or psychological tension. Musculoskeletal dysfunction is frequent, with contractures and transient episodes of loss of strength. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction often coexists.
Asthenia: present in up to 70% of cases, it can lead to exhaustion crises lasting 24-48 hours that slowly improve with rest. They report decreased physical and mental activity and endurance.
Sleep disturbance: this is the third main symptom and is characterized by difficulty in falling asleep, frequent awakenings and the sensation of not having restful sleep. Myoclonias and restless legs syndrome may be associated.
Complex manifestations (cognitive, neurovegetative and endocrine): the list of symptomatology is very extensive, but we will highlight chronic headaches (migraine and tension), vertiginous syndrome, dysmenorrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary incontinence, emotional lability and reactive depression.
Diagnosis and treatment
The description of symptoms made by the patient, as well as the data extracted by the rheumatologist specialist during the examination, are essential for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Usually, the specialist usually requests a complete blood test to rule out the existence of other rheumatisms.
The objective of the treatment is to achieve an improvement in the quality of life. To achieve this, the pain must be improved and the accompanying symptoms treated. The basic pillars of the explanation of the disease, gentle physical exercise and physiotherapy should be supplemented with acupuncture. Medical acupuncture in expert hands is a highly effective therapeutic procedure that is a very powerful tool in addressing the symptoms suffered by patients with fibromyalgia.