Fibromyalgia: Three of every four patients, without diagnosis
A data as revealing as that 48% of patients have a disability of moderate or mild. Note that data that confirm that this is a disease that can influence the quality of life of the sufferer and that despite its prevalence, it is estimated that 3% of the population suffers, remains an unknown in many respects. Concerned, and so emphasize the specialists, the unresolved diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
What lies behind fibromyalgia? Initial symptoms appear between 20 and 40, women are particularly vulnerable. It is estimated, that 3% of the population suffers from fibromyalgia, but the real problem is that three out of four, despite having symptoms, do not have a diagnosis.
Fibromyalgia has become in the second complaint of rheumatology, although it is increasingly common to be referred to neurology. The reason is none other than its close relationship with other disorders such as migraine or cluster headaches – as happens in eight cases out of ten, memory problems – 89% of cases – and sleep disorders – 93% of the cases. To this we must add that specialists are increasingly convinced that the onset of fibromyalgia affect functional changes produced in the central nervous system.
Fibromyalgia is not a minor health problem because its symptoms may influence the quality of life of the sufferer, especially because it can lead to some degree of disability or difficulty coping with daily tasks. The absence of an accurate diagnosis is the first obstacle to implementing the treatment more correct, why the specialists insist on the importance of allocating resources to the investigation of this pathology and to its approach. The data leave no doubt. According to the data, 48% of fibromyalgia patients suffer moderate disability or mild, a percentage that drops to 10% in the case of severe disabilities. About 20% of patients unable to work or can only do so a few days.
The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is not always easy. First, because there is no clinical evidence (radiological or laboratory) for diagnosis and, secondly, and as with other diseases such as migraine, symptoms can be mistaken or attributed to other health problems.
To improve the approach to the disease must also move in another line, which has lead to uncover the origin of fibromyalgia. Recent studies point in one direction, to altered pain signal processing in the nervous system. This causes any stimulus is amplified in the brain. Hence, this condition has begun to frame within the so-called central sensitization syndromes, with irritable bowel syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Fibromyalgia is a disease, as estimated by experts that require individualized treatment, as not all patients experience symptoms as well. For treatment, today, are used to the drugs that modulate the nervous system, specific exercise or psychotherapy.