Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex

FM = CS!

A new name for Fibromyalgia is Central Sensitization.
An iVillage Health Special Message
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Doctor Examines Roots of Fibromyalgia

Do you have chronic, widespread pain or tender spots on your body? Has an overwhelming sense of fatigue sapped your day-to-day energy? Years ago, some experts would have insisted that such discomfort was all in your head.

Today, most doctors acknowledge these symptoms as more than figments of overactive imaginations. Thanks to a groundbreaking study 25 years ago, fibromyalgia is recognized as an actual medical condition that causes the central nervous system to translate normally nonpainful stimuli into pain.

A physician who contributed to the earlier study is now offering new insights about fibromyalgia and similar conditions. Dr. Muhammad B. Yunus combed through research published in more than 200 publications and identified 13 separate conditions triggered by a process called central sensitization (CS). His findings were published in the journal Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.

In patients with CS, the spinal cord and brain can affect sensitivity at various points on the body. Even mild pressure at these points can lead to significant pain that causes other related symptoms, such as poor sleep and fatigue.

Conditions rooted in CS are known as central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) and include irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches and restless legs syndrome. Fibromyalgia is among the best-known types of CSS. It is the second most common disorder seen by rheumatologists. According to the Arthritis Foundation, fibromyalgia affects an estimated 2 percent of the United States population - about 3.5 million Americans.

People of all races and ages may develop fibromyalgia. However, it occurs most often in women over the age of 30. According to the American College of Rheumatology, about 80 to 90 percent of those affected by fibromyalgia are women.

Symptoms linked to fibromyalgia include widespread and localized pain, fatigue, sleep problems and mood disturbances such as depression. These symptoms vary in intensity and come and go over time.

Certain conditions - such as poor sleep, physical activity and anxiety - may aggravate fibromyalgia symptoms. Though fibromyalgia is not a progressive or life-threatening condition, it impairs quality of life. Patients often have other related CSS conditions, including migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, TMJ disorder or restless legs syndrome.

The cause or causes of fibromyalgia remain unknown. There are many theories, including abnormalities in brain chemicals, infections, trauma and genetics. In his new findings, Yunus emphasizes both the biological and psychosocial factors (such as life stress and mood disorders) that contribute to fibromyalgia and other CSS conditions.

Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose because it does not cause obvious physical damage to the body and cannot be detected through laboratory and imaging tests. The American College of Rheumatology has established two criteria for diagnosis: widespread pain and the presence of 11 of 18 specified tender areas known as trigger points.

There is no known cure for fibromyalgia, but the symptoms can be treated. Medications such as analgesics and antidepressants can assist with pain management. Proper nutrition, exercise and sleeping habits also help. Some patients benefit from complementary treatments such as massage, acupuncture, relaxation techniques or biofeedback.