Fibromyalgia is a complex condition
Recent studies show that 80-90% of diagnoses of fibromyalgia are women. In addition, the chronic muscle pain and disturbed sleep patterns associated with the disturbance to leave 60% of subjects on disability, unable to work. One must wonder why fibromyalgia and its subsequent symptoms are not treated as a national medical emergency, such as AIDS or cancer. The answer lies in the under-funded and under-researched field of neuroscience. One of the treatments for fibromyalgia syndrome is surprising that a sleeping pill! Unfortunately, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome go together like peanut butter and jelly. The researchers suggest two possible causes of fibromyalgia and fatigue, the first is that since the MRI for patients with fibromyalgia show brain signals lighting in the same areas continuously, the neurons simply worn out and leave the patient more sensitive to pain and soreness. The other possible cause of fatigue has to do with the body’s own substances or dopamine and adrenal fatigue. Because the body produces constantly stress associated with chemicals on a regular basis, it is unable to make enough “feel good” chemicals to allow pay-sleep cycles.
Not only is fibromyalgia associated with bizarre activity of the brain, but researchers are now putting together the link between fibromyalgia and reproductive health as well! Approximately 85-90% of patients with fibromyalgia are women. Women with chronic pain syndromes are more likely to breast cysts have a greater stiffness during pregnancy as well as severe headaches and abdominal cramps during PMS. Many women find the occurrence of fibromyalgia at the same time of menopause, which may be associated with lower levels of estrogen and cortisol.
It is possible that genetic polymorphisms in the serotonergic, catecholaminergic, and dopaminergic systems may predispose some people to fibromyalgia and sleep disorders. Other hypotheses focuses on disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis (which controls stress hormone release) or unregulated nerve growth factor. In some studies, patients with fibromyalgia to have found four times as much nerve growth factor in their spinal fluid. Whatever the reason, doctors are looking for looking for something that will cure the symptoms, in order to unlock the secret cause.