World day of fibromyalgia, an invisible disease that affects more than one million women in Spain

Fibromyalgia has such varied symptoms that patients who suffer from it feel misunderstood. It is a disease that is highly prevalent worldwide. According to the EPISER 2016 study carried out by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, it is estimated to affect 2.45% of the Spanish population, which is equivalent to approximately one million women. On World Fibromyalgia Day we have the collaboration of Dr. Muñoz Ortego, specialist in Rheumatology and Acupuncture at instituteMYM and ISADMU, units of the Teknon Medical Center in charge of addressing rheumatic pathologies.

Who is affected by fibromyalgia and are there groups that are more prone to it?

Fibromyalgia affects mainly women between 40 and 60 years of age. With respect to the groups, there are jobs that require a high level of dedication and physical or psychological wear and tear, such as, for example, teaching.

Why is fibromyalgia so unknown and how does it condition the patient’s life?

Fibromyalgia is very unknown, above all, because in our society there is a lack of understanding towards everything that cannot be measured or seen with the naked eye.

However, fibromyalgia crises can be very painful and disabling, considerably reducing the patient’s quality of life and also affecting their family and social environment.

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What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia mainly manifests with generalized pain, but it can be accompanied by fatigue, sleep disorders, stress, attention and concentration deficit, as well as a set of manifestations included in the Central Sensitization Syndromes (CSS).

How is fibromyalgia treated? Are there any innovative therapies?

In order to treat this SSC, it is necessary to understand the bio-psycho-social context of the patient, and thus design a good therapeutic work plan with a multidisciplinary approach. The therapies that are usually used include nutrition, psychological support, drugs, physiotherapy and acupuncture, among others.

Medical acupuncture is indicated as the first line of therapy, for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. Its mechanism of action as a powerful neuromodulator allows desensitizing the central nervous system and improving the symptomatology of fibromyalgia.