Fibromyalgia

Question 1

What is fibromyalgia

Answer 1

rheumatic disorder characterized by diffused muscle pain.

Question 2

What is the clinical presentation of fibromyalgia

Answer 2

fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood disturbances and cognitive disturbances
(anxiety, depression, FIBRO FOG)

Question 3

Epidemiology and risk factors

Answer 3

Epidemiology: affects more women than men (7.7% vs 4.9% men), affects 6.4% of population in the U.S.

Risk factors: Women and having other rheumatic disorders (lupus and RA)

Question 4

What are somatic symptoms of FM

Answer 4

Cardiovascular: Palpitations, raynauds

Respiratory: allergies, dyspnea, cough

Digestive: dry mouth, dysphagia, dyspepsia, irritable bowel

Genitourinary: irregular mentstrual cycle, dysmenorrhea, irritable bladder

Endorcrine: fatigue, sweating, hypoglycemia

MSK: costochondritis, TMJ dysfunctions, muscle spasms.

Nervous system: chronic migraines, hypersensitivity to noise, odors, temperatures, insomnia, tinnitus, double vision, vertigo.

Question 5

How is the new criteria for diagnosing different than the others

Answer 5

Old one: 11/18 tender points for at least 3 months. Not good since fm changes from day to day.

New:
rule out other rheumatic conditions, neurological disorders and mental health conditions.
good subjective evaluation (pain questionnaire, family hx)
simple blood testing (no confirmatory lab test for fm)

Question 6

What are non pharmaceutical management of fibromyalgia

Answer 6

1. multicomponent therapies
2. self-management strategies
3. cognitive and behavioural therapies
4. exercise
5. acupuncture
6. meditative movement therapies