When it comes to chronic pain conditions, nothing is as debilitating and widespread as fibromyalgia. It is a condition that causes pain throughout the body and increases your sensitivity to pain as well. Besides that, general fatigue, sleep problems, and appetite fluctuations are some of the side-effects of the condition.
Despite the fact that around 10 million people in the country suffer from the condition, and though a huge amount of research is available on the subject, the causes of fibromyalgia are still not well understood.
As of now, there is ongoing research about the possible factors involved in the onset of fibromyalgia and the risk factors that may increase one’s likelihood of suffering from this condition.
Understanding fibromyalgia
The condition is pretty simple since it operates on the basic principle of pain detection. Nothing is as sensitive to pain as your brain is, and this is what leads to fibromyalgia. People who have fibromyalgia have more pain receptors that carry pain signals to the brain.
On the flip side, cells that reduce the pain receptors from reaching the brain continuously or those that slow down this signaling, are fewer in number.
Thus, a single bump feels like stabbing, and things that shouldn’t cause any pain at all lead to a numbing, painful sensation. Either way, the patient’s pain signals are all awry and off the charts most of the time.
It is quite difficult to understand the factors that lead to this condition. However, here are some causes that may lead to fibromyalgia:
Genetics
Seeing as how fibromyalgia runs in families, it isn’t strange to suspect that a patient’s genes play a vital role. Women with a relative suffering from fibromyalgia are more likely to suffer from this condition themselves. Perhaps, there is a gene that causes hypersensitivity to pain.
There is a possibility that genes could also hinder the role of the pain receptors. Doctors believe that genes may make certain stimuli more painful than it is in reality.
Hormonal imbalances
Hormones control our bodies throughout our lives, and they play a crucial and indispensable role in understanding and identifying pain. Serotonin and norepinephrine in particular help in processing pain throughout the body. If these hormones are low in concentration, one’s pain sensitivity shoots up.
Abuse in childhood
Adults who report abuse in their childhood are more likely to develop fibromyalgia. However, this factor warrants an explanation. Abuse of any kind, whether it is emotional, physical, or mental, changes the structure of the brain as well as its chemistry. Thus, it is no surprise that pain detection and processing gets affected in the process.
Life triggers
Some situations that occur in our day to day life can be a trigger of fibromyalgia. It also leads doctors and researchers to speculate if fibromyalgia occurs on such short notice, or if it lays dormant until a trigger sets it off. The trigger could be anything like heartbreak, loss of a loved one, surgery, and even childbirth.
People who have fibromyalgia report a lot of triggers, and there is no way to know which trigger is responsible for the onset of the condition.
Lifestyle
Although this cause is under severe debate, one cannot overlook it. The lack of a proper sleep schedule and lack of any exercise are just two of the lifestyle factors that can set off fibromyalgia in someone who would least expect it.
However, it can be hard to tell if sleep is a cause or a symptom of this condition. Those suffering from lifestyle diseases such as anxiety or depression may also be at higher risk of developing fibromyalgia.
The problem with diagnosis
It is quite difficult to understand the exact causes of fibromyalgia, as these causes stated above could be risk factors as well. It is equally tough for doctors to identify the illness.
Another reason diagnosis may be difficult is because the symptoms of pain resemble other diseases such as hyperthyroidism, and in old patients, an incorrect diagnosis of arthritis may be given.
Additionally, there is no lab test that can confirm the illness. For this reason, there are three criteria listed down by the American College of Rheumatology for getting an accurate diagnosis.
- Ongoing symptoms for at least three months
- No identifiable presence of another illness or disease to explain the problem
- Pain and other symptoms in 19 identified body parts along with sleep and cognitive problems combined with fatigue.
If you or your loved one experiences any of these symptoms, then visit a doctor immediately. A trained medical professional will help you diagnose and treat the condition in the course of a few months. They may even help you alleviate the pain through pain relief therapies.
