The patient presents at the doctor’s office with symptoms of fibromyalgia consisting mainly of pain in a multitude of regions of the body such as the neck, the shoulders, between the shoulder blades, in the lower back, the sacroiliac joint regions and in the elbow and knee areas.
Sleeping problems and other symptoms
In addition, this is associated with complaints of sleeping problems. In like manner there are problems falling asleep, but also a shallow sleep, frequent awakening from the sleep and nightmares (“fibromyalgia sleep”). As a result patients feel more tired in the morning upon awakening than later in the day. By the same token patients may have other symptoms like abdominal cramps, frequent urination, depression and anxiety. Likewise patients might have numbness in the hands and feet. With this in mind, forgetfulness, concentration problems, frequent minor car accidents, irritability and weepiness can all be additional pointers that there might be underlying fibromyalgia.
At the same time Ref. 8 points out that other symptoms of chronic illness join the regular fibromyalgia symptoms such as irritable bowel, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), headaches, muscle twitches and physical fatigue.
As a matter of fact as described under “diagnostic tests” the presence of fibromyalgia pressure points help the physician to make the diagnosis as well.
References
1. G.Littlejohn Aust Fam Physician 2001 Apr;30(4):327-333.
2. LS Brecher et al. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2001 Apr;101(4 Suppl Pt 2):S12-17.
3. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 59.
4. ABC of rheumatology, second edition, edited by Michael L. Snaith , M.D., BMJ Books, 1999. Chapter 6. Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
5. B Mukerji et al. Angiology 1995 May;46(5):425-430.
6. Ferri: Ferri’s Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc.
7. Rakel: Conn’s Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier
8. Dr. Edward M. Lichten: Textbook of bio-identical hormones. © 2007 Foundation for Anti-Aging Research, Birmingham, Michigan, USA
