Fibromyalgia syndrome: when the whole body hurts

Fibromyalgia syndrome: when the whole body hurts

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain disorder that affects many people – especially women between the ages of 30 and 60. It is characterized by widespread muscle pain, sleep disorders, exhaustion and increased sensitivity to pain, without any recognizable inflammation or tissue damage. This often makes the diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia difficult.

What is fibromyalgia syndrome?

Fibromyalgia means “fiber-muscle pain” – and this is exactly what the disease describes: diffuse pain in muscles, tendons and joints, which is often accompanied by other symptoms. The most important symptoms are

• Chronic pain in several parts of the body
• Sleep disorders and non-restorative sleep
• Tiredness, exhaustion, difficulty concentrating (“fibro-fog”)
• Sensitivity to cold or weather
• Gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome
• Depressive moods or anxiety

Although fibromyalgia is physically very stressful, no organic causes can be identified in laboratory tests or imaging procedures. This can lead to frustration for those affected – and unfortunately also to a lack of understanding in their social or professional environment.

What causes fibromyalgia?

The exact cause is not yet fully understood. A disorder in the pain processing of the central nervous system is suspected. Stimuli that are barely perceived by healthy people trigger pain in people with fibromyalgia. Genetic predisposition, stress, trauma or infections can also play a role.

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

There is no definitive test. The diagnosis is made when:

• The pain has been present for at least 3 months
• At least 11 of 18 defined “tender points” are sensitive to pressure
• Other causes (e.g. rheumatism or thyroid disease) have been ruled out

It often takes years for the correct diagnosis to be made – the sooner those affected are made aware of it, the better.

What options are there for relief?

Fibromyalgia cannot be treated with a single medication – a multimodal therapy is required, consisting of

• Exercise therapy (e.g. gentle endurance training or yoga)
• Relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation
• Sleep management
• Pain psychotherapy or behavioral therapy
• Supportive: heat applications, massages, acupuncture or individually tailored medication

The aim is to improve the quality of life and to be able to cope better with the disease.

Toxopheresis – a complementary approach for fibromyalgia

Toxopheresis can also be used as a supportive and complementary measure for chronic pain syndromes. This is a specialized blood purification procedure in which certain substances such as circulating inflammatory mediators are filtered out of the blood. As fibromyalgia is thought to be linked to a dysregulation of the immune system and chronic inflammatory activity, toxopheresis can help to relieve the system and reduce symptoms. Initial experience has shown an improvement in pain intensity, cognitive performance and fatigue in patients.

Conclusion

Fibromyalgia is an invisible but real disease that requires a lot of patience and understanding – from those affected and those around them. Modern therapy concepts, individually adapted measures and new approaches such as toxopheresis open up more possibilities for improving life today than just a few years ago. If you take your symptoms seriously and get to know your own body better, you can regain more control over your everyday life in the long term.