Some women suffer from chronic pain for no reason and it is sometimes ignored. It may be a symptom of fibromyalgia in women, the incidence of which in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is 13.5%, which indicates a high number of infections. The condition requires early and accurate diagnosis to begin controlling the symptoms, and this is what is done within Al-Mousa Specialist Hospital in Al-Ahsa, so learn with us all the details in this article.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition caused by a disorder in the processing of nerve signals in the central nervous system, which causes a defect in the way the spinal cord and brain process pain signals, and results in an increased feeling of pain even in the absence of causes, so the patient suffers from musculoskeletal pain that spreads to different areas of the body.
What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia in women?
The symptoms of fibromyalgia in women are numerous and their severity varies from one case to another, and we learn about them in detail below:
1. Pain spreading throughout the body
Women feel muscle pain in various areas of the body, especially the upper area, which includes the shoulder, neck and back. The pain is similar to tingling or chronic muscle tension. In some cases, the pain extends to the joints such as the hand and foot joints for no reason, and its intensity increases when pressure is placed on some areas of the body. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by muscle spasms in the legs.
2. Sleep disorders and fatigue
Most sick women suffer from constant fatigue and exhaustion even after waking up, and symptoms also include intermittent and uncomfortable sleep with insomnia, which is why women always feel lazy and unable to concentrate or be active.
3. Digestive system disorders
As for digestive system disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, they include flatulence, gas, constipation or frequent diarrhea, and some women feel severe pain in the pelvic area and lower abdomen that affects appetite.
4. Psychological and neurological symptoms
There are some psychological and neurological symptoms that are among the most prominent symptoms of fibromyalgia in women, including:
- Anxiety and stress.
- Frequent forgetfulness.
- Frequent migraines.
- Extreme difficulty concentrating.
- Suffering from bouts of depression due to the severity of the pain.
- Numbness and tingling in the extremities, especially the fingers and toes, with a feeling of coldness and heaviness.
5. Less common symptoms
There are some symptoms that appear in only a few cases, such as extreme sensitivity to loud sounds or strong lighting, feeling pain in the jaw area with difficulty opening the mouth or chewing, and in rare cases the patient suffers from sensitivity in the scalp and pain when combing the hair.
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Why do women get fibromyalgia more than men?
There are several reasons why women are more susceptible to fibromyalgia than men, the most important of which are:
1.Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes in women mainly and directly affect the sensory centers in the brain, especially estrogen and progesterone, and women are exposed to these changes regularly with the menstrual cycle, which makes them more vulnerable to infection.
2. Immune response in women
Women's immune response is much stronger than men's, so the body reacts to internal inflammation more, resulting in low-grade neuritis, which is associated with fibromyalgia.
3. Central nervous system reaction in women
The central nervous system in women is more reactive to external influences such as stress and anxiety, which causes disturbances in the processing of nerve signals, which exposes women to fibromyalgia.
4. Genetic factors
The genetic factor is one of the main reasons for the appearance of fibromyalgia symptoms in women, because studies have shown that having a family history of fibromyalgia increases the chances of developing it in women more than in men.
5. Psychological factors
Women are more susceptible to chronic anxiety and depression, and constant exposure to life stress without relief, which makes the symptoms constantly worsen and more clearly in women.
The relationship between the menstrual cycle and fibromyalgia
We continue with the symptoms of fibromyalgia in women, and one of the most important points that concerns many women is the relationship between the menstrual cycle and fibromyalgia, which is a really close relationship that appears in several points, the most important of which are:
- Estrogen decreases during the menstrual cycle, which increases the feeling of pain and symptoms.
- Women with fibromyalgia are more likely to experience severe menstrual cramps due to worsening pain.
- The hormonal changes that occur due to menstruation cause increased fatigue, weakness, sleeplessness, and mood swings.
- Fibromyalgia may make the body highly sensitive to any hormonal changes, making women feel more severe symptoms during menstruation than others.
How do symptoms differ from one woman to another?
Of course, the symptoms of fibromyalgia in women vary from one woman to another in several ways, including:
- Places of pain concentration: A woman may complain of constant pain in the neck and shoulder, while others indicate pain in the lower back, joints, or peripheral muscles, as the locations are not constant.
- Degree of pain: Some women suffer from mild pain that can be tolerated, while others feel severe pain that prevents them from performing daily activities.
- The appearance of symptoms related to the digestive system: Some women may feel bloating and nausea, while these symptoms become non-existent in others.
- The extent of response to hormonal changes: Of course, the response varies from one woman to another to any hormonal change, especially during the menstrual cycle, as the symptoms and their severity differ during that period.
- Severity of fatigue: Of course, the state of fatigue and exhaustion varies from one case to another, and ranges from mild fatigue to chronic fatigue that does not go away even with sleep and rest.
- Mood: Some cases are accompanied by severe depression and anxiety, while other cases pass without any psychological impact on the patient.
- The presence of additional symptoms: such as numbness in the extremities, migraines, etc., of course, varies from one woman to another, which makes the clinical picture completely different.
Book your consultation now at برنامج الفحص الشامل At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.
كيف يتم تشخيص الفيبروميالجيا؟
Together we learn how to diagnose fibromyalgia with a specialist doctor, which is the best and most accurate way to confirm the infection. Diagnosis methods include the following:
- The patient's medical history: Doctors ask the patient about the location and nature of the pain she feels, along with the accompanying symptoms, diseases she suffers from, and disorders related to the digestive system and sleep.
- Clinical examination: The doctor begins to examine the areas of pain by pressing 18 specific points distributed over the body. If 11 points out of 18 are felt, this is an indication of fibromyalgia.
- Pain rating scale: Some doctors use a pain rating scale, the severity of symptoms, and an assessment of the number of painful areas on the body (Widespread pain index).
- Rule out any chronic diseases: By doing x-rays and multiple blood tests, such as testing the thyroid gland, measuring vitamin D, or ensuring that there is no anemia, these diseases can cause the same symptoms as fibromyalgia in women.
- The effect of symptoms on daily activity: Doctors evaluate some functions to determine the extent to which symptoms affect daily activity, such as sleeping, working, and eating, which helps in determining the appropriate treatment plan.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the most common questions we receive about fibromyalgia symptoms in women:
هل الفيبروميالجيا مرض نفسي؟
No, fibromyalgia is not a psychological disease, but rather a chronic condition that affects the nervous system and causes several disturbing symptoms and severe pain in the body, but there is no doubt that the patient’s psychological state affects the development of the disease and the severity of the symptoms.
Does fibromyalgia cause breast pain?
Yes, fibromyalgia causes breast pain because the surrounding tissues and muscles become sensitive after the disease, and the pain points are widely spread throughout the upper body, which includes breast pain.
How do I know if I have fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia can be initially identified through symptoms such as widespread pain in the upper body for 3 months for no reason, in addition to other symptoms we mentioned above, and of course the infection is confirmed through medical diagnosis.
Which doctor diagnoses fibromyalgia?
The doctor who specializes in diagnosing fibromyalgia is a rheumatologist and joint pain doctor, as he has the experience to treat fibromyalgia and other autoimmune diseases. Contact Al Mousa Specialist Hospital to find out all the details.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia in women may seem annoying and painful and you may think that this is the end of the road. We tell you that we are with you at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, step by step, starting with early diagnosis of the disease and continuous follow-up with specialists, which greatly helps in controlling the symptoms and condition and preventing complications. Contact us to begin your recovery journey.
Symptoms Fibromyalgia – nhs
Fibromyalgia; symptoms & diagnosis – clevelandclinic
