Last Updated on October 29, 2023
Fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia syndrome is a disorder that is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, memory problems, allodynia, and mood alterations. Difficulty in swallowing. bowel and bladder abnormalities, paresthesia and cognitive dysfunction have also been reported to occur in some patients
Symptoms may begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In many cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.
Fibromyalgia is more common in females and typically occurs in young or middle-aged women.
Fibromyalgia is often associated with depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder.
Not all people with fibromyalgia experience all symptoms.
Earlier being labeled as subjective pain sensation, fibromyalgia is said now to be a central sensitivity syndromes and its clinical picture overlaps and can occur with disorders like chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic pain syndrome or primary dysmenorrhea, temporomandibular joint pain, tension-type headaches/migraine, posttraumatic stress disorder, multiple chemical sensitivity, periodic limb movement disorder/restless legs syndrome and interstitial cystitis.
Regional pain syndrome, mood and anxiety disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and chronic hepatitis C infection, can also have overlap with fibromyalgia.
Cause of Fibromyalgia
The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Central sensitization hypothesis says that there is a lower threshold for pain in fibromyalgia patients because of increased reactivity of nerve cells in the brain or spine.
The pain in fibromyalgia results primarily from pain processing pathways functioning abnormally. The exact cause is unknown but psychological, genetic, neurobiological and environmental factors contribute.
Genetic Factors
Fibromyalgia runs in some families and probably has a polygenic inheritance. Polymorphisms of genes in the serotoninergic, dopaminergic and catecholaminergic systems have been associated with fibromyalgia. These genes are also associated with other disorders like chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression.
Stress
Stress could be an important factor in the development of fibromyalgia. Stress-related disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression are associated with fibromyalgia.
Abuse – sexual or physical, smoking, obesity, and lack of physical activity are thought to increase the risk of fibromyalgia.
It is postulated that exposure to stressful conditions can alter the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which affects the development of fibromyalgia.
Sleep Problems
Researchers were able to produce fibromyalgia-like pain symptoms by disrupting stage IV NREM [nonrapid eye movement] sleep consistently in young, healthy subjects which resolved on the resumption of normal sleep pattern.
Other factors
Psychological beliefs, depression, anxiety, increased pain perception, and family support are few other factors considered important in the development of fibromyalgia.
Pathophysiology of Fibromyalgia
Central sensitization causes a lower threshold for pain in fibromyalgia patients because of increased reactivity nerve cells in the brain or spine and fibromyalgia results from abnormal function of pain processing pathways.
Some neurochemical abnormalities that occur in fibromyalgia also regulate mood, sleep, and energy, thus explaining the occurrence of these disturbances in fibromyalgia.
The pathogenesis of fibromyalgia is not clear yet but biochemical, metabolic, and immunoregulatory abnormalities have been found which lead to central sensitization or abnormal central processing of nociceptive pain input.
In fibromyalgia, there is a generalized decrease in the pain perception threshold and there is decreased discrimination of painful sensations from nonpainful sensations like touch, warmth, cold. There is a decrease in threshold for pain tolerance as well.
There is suppression of the normal activity of dopamine-release and fibromyalgia may represent a dysregulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission.
Low serotonin levels have been observed in patients with fibromyalgia. It is a neurotransmitter linked to sleep, pain perception, headaches, and mood disorders.
Elevated levels of substance P increase the sensitivity of nerves to pain or heighten pain awareness [Substance P is a neurotransmitter that is released when axons are stimulated]
Low levels of adenosine triphosphate are found in red blood cells of patients with fibromyalgia. And this may be a cause of low platelet serotonin levels.
Nerve growth factor was found to be 4 times higher in the CSF of patients with fibromyalgia. Nerve growth factor increases the production of substance P in afferent neurons, increasing an individual’s sensitivity to or awareness of pain. Spread or redistribution of pain signals may be caused by nerve growth factor.
Dysfunction of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis
Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis is critical for a stress-adaptation response.
On stress, the hypothalamus secretes the corticotropin-releasing hormone which stimulates the anterior pituitary to release an adrenocorticotropic hormone which in turn stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce glucocorticoids like cortisol which helps the body to deal with stress.
Regulation and the stress-induced stimulation of the axis are, in part, regulated by serotonin and altered serotonin levels may explain the abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in fibromyalgia.
Growth hormone is produced during the sleep esp. stage IV of NREM sleep. Disrupted stage IV sleep can cause low levels of growth hormone which in turn decrease insulin-like growth factor I in the liver and tissue repair.
Cognitive Impairment
Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters as substance P, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine may cause cognitive dysfunction. Yeast overload, water retention, and glial cell abnormalities have been suggested as causes of cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia.
Sleep Disruption
There is a link between poor sleep and increased pain, along with feeling fatigued and distressed.
The disordered sleep physiology in fibromyalgia has been identified as a sleep anomaly of alpha-wave intrusion during NREM stage 4 sleep which causes the patient to awaken or to be aroused to a lighter level of sleep.
Sleep problems occur in fibromyalgia due to metabolic imbalances which cause impairment of tissue repair and disturbance of the immunoregulatory role of sleep.
Presentation – Symptoms and Signs of Fibromyalgia
There is a history of long-standing pain [>3 months] and tenderness. The pain and tenderness are widespread meaning that these are present on both sides of the body, above and below the waist, including the axial spine.
Fibromyalgia patients have significant symptoms of fatigue, unrefreshed sleep, and difficulties with thinking and remembering.
Approximately one-third of patients identify a specific event like illness, stress or injury that precipitated the development of fibromyalgia.
Except for painful tender points, physical examination findings are typically normal in fibromyalgia patients.
Painful tender points are examined in the following 9 pairs of location and three control sites.
Control sites are forehead, a distal middle third of the right forearm and nail of the left thumb.
Other nine pairs [4 anterior and 5 posteriors] sites are as follows:
- Occiput at the nuchal ridge
- Trapezius
- Supraspinatus
- Gluteal
- Low cervical
- Second rib
- Lateral epicondyle
- Greater trochanter
- Medial knee
On palpation of tender points, the patient is asked to rate the intensity of 0-10 [Pain severity score of at least 2 required to count a tender point as positive]
For examination, enough pressure should be applied by thumb so as to blanch the nail.
Average of pain scores from tender-point sites provides fibromyalgia Intensity Score which can be monitored to evaluate response to therapy over the time.
Pressure algometer is a device to assess pain thresh at 4 tender points associated with fibromyalgia (ie, both lateral epicondyles, midpoints of the trapezius). Normal values are 4 kg/cm2 or greater.
After tender-point examination, the complete musculoskeletal examination for joint stiffness, deformities and neurological examination should be done.
Lab Studies
In addition to complete blood cell count and differential count, basic metabolic panel, and urinalysis, thyroid-stimulating hormone, 25-Hydroxyvitamin D level, vitamin B-12 level, iron studies, and magnesium levels should be done. Deficiency of first two can cause vague pains, next two fatigue and magnesium deficiency can cause spasms.
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a nonspecific measure of inflammation and mild elevations may not be meaningful.
Formal sleep studies may be useful in patients whose sleep does not improve with the usual conservative measures.
Antipolymer antibodies in the blood are present in approximately 50% of patients with fibromyalgia and it can be taken as a biologic marker a subgroup of people with fibromyalgia.
The psychometric analysis is useful for a more comprehensive assessment.
Differential Diagnoses
Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion and patients must be thoroughly evaluated for the presence of other disorders that could be the cause of symptoms. Following conditions should be considered in differential diagnoses of fibromyalgia.
- Addison Disease
- Hepatitis C
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hypochondriasis
- Hypothyroid Myopathy
- Personality Disorders
- Complex Regional Pain Syndromes
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Malingering
Treatment of Fibromyalgia
The patient should be made aware that there is no cure for fibromyalgia, and education, lifestyle, physical activity, and proper medications can lead to achieving significant improvement.
The treatment approach includes medicines, exercise, and psychological and behavioral approaches.
There is no specific drug for fibromyalgia.
Pregabalin and milnacipran are the two drugs approved for use in fibromyalgia. While former is used for neuropathic pain associated with fibromyalgia, and milnacipran is an antidepressant.
Low-dose tricycling antidepressants are effective pain control, improved sleep, and improved sense of well-being in patients with fibromyalgia.
Anticonvulsants like including gabapentin, tiagabine, and pregabalin help in pain relief and disturbed sleep and depression.
Dextromethorphan [used in cough formulations] and topical capsaicin are effective adjunctive drugs. Trigger point injections and myofascial release can help in pain relief helpful adjuncts.
For coexisting inflammations, NSAIDs and steroids are used. Heat, massage, and other treatments are useful
Opioid analgesics are generally not recommended but are beneficial in patients with fibromyalgia who have severe allodynia.
Raloxifene [selective estrogen receptor modulator] is effective in improving pain, fatigue, reducing tender point count, and improving daily function in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia.
Nabilone [Synthetic cannabinoid] is effective in improving pain and anxiety in fibromyalgia. Beta-blockers like pindolol or propranolol improve pain and agitation when given at bedtime.
Antianxiety agents are often used in combination with antidepressants and anticonvulsant drugs and include benzodiazepines like [alprazolam, temazepam, clonazepam,] buspirone, and trazodone.
Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant effective in fibromyalgia and improves sleep disturbances.
Psychotherapy, exercise, relaxation techniques, and education are generally sufficient in children with fibromyalgia. Drugs are often not required.
Psychological and behavior therapy should be given to reduce anxiety, stress, and sleep. Depression must be treated. Encouragement and positive reinforcement can improve compliance.
Aerobic, endurance, and strength training are part of the treatment program. Apart from the improvement in pain, these also give a sense of well being.
Obesity, poor posture, and overloading activities at work and at home should be addressed.
Patients should learn to identify the factors that trigger flare-ups and what measures to take to decrease their symptoms. Infection, dietary change, a significant change in activity, lack of sleep and new medicine are frequent causes of flare up.
Sleep Disorders
Poor sleep contributes to pain, depression, and fatigue. The patient should avoid caffeine, alcohol, and large evening. Fluid should be restricted to avoid urinary frequency problems.
A sleep diary maintained by the patient about the time of going to bed, approximate time of falling asleep, number of awakenings and number of times the patient got out of bed; provides helps in medicine selection.
Presence of restless legs syndrome, periodic limb-movement disorder, or sleep apnea warrants sleep study.
Anticonvulsants like, clonazepam, gabapentin, tiagabine; nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics like zolpidem, zaleplon, eszopiclone; muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine; and dopamine agonists like pramipexole are used for sleep disorders.
Diet Changes
The patient is advised to stop using refined sugars, white flour, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate. Carbohydrates should be restricted and green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits should be preferred.
Patients with fibromyalgia produce more damaging free radicals and should eat more antioxidants in form of vitamin C, E, selenium, zinc, and phytochemicals.
