Fibromyalgia is a painful muscle condition where muscles are dysfunctional and if it occurs after trauma post traumatic fibromyalgia treatment is important for a good recovery.
Muscles do not relax when they are supposed to relax and they do not contract when they are required to contract.
Instead the affected muscles show chronic muscle tension
with aches and pains that never allow the patient a good rest. This affects the sleep pattern and often is associated with chronic depression.
Posttraumatic Fibromyalgia
In about 20 % of all fibromyalgia cases this occurs after trauma and is then called “post traumatic fibromyalgia”. Following car accidents this condition is fairly common and often made worse because of litigation and the fact that negative emotions can make this condition worse. Treatment for fibromyalgia is outlined under this link and should be treated by a multidisciplinary team. A significant number of post traumatic fibromyalgia patients are found to have hypothyroidism. These will improve quickly with thyroid medication.
Both the physical and the emotional aspects of this multifaceted disease have to be addressed in order to provide relief.
References:
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2. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 52.
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