Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Musculoskeletal > Fibromyalgia > Flashcards

Fibromyalgia Flashcards

1
Q

There are 2 mechanisms of pain. What are they?

A

Peripheral (nociceptive)

Central (non-nociceptive)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the difference between peripheral and central pain?

A

Peripheral pain occurs due to actual inflammation or damage stimulating nociceptors

Central pain does not involve nociceptors, it is a central disturbance in the processing of pain, not a result of damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Which type of pain, peripheral or central, is responsive to analgesics?

A

Peripheral

Central is not as responsive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Give some examples of peripheral pain?

A

Osteoarthritis
Pain post-surgery
Cancer pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Give some examples of central pain?

A

Fibromyalgia

IBS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Which type of pain, peripheral or central, is responsive to biopsychosocial factors?

A

Central

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

We all have a ‘thermostat’ that determines how we feel pain.

What controls the thermostat (turns it up and down)?

A

Genes

The environment we grow up in and live in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is fibromyalgia?

A

A rheumatic condition characterized by musculoskeletal pain with stiffness and localized tenderness at specific points on the body

Widespread pain after other diseases have been excluded

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How can you diagnose pain as being caused by fibromyalgia?

A

Symptoms present for at least 3 months

Pain at 11 of 18 defined tender sites on digital palpation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When palpating the tender sites during examination of patient with suspected fibromyalgia, how hard should you do it?

A

Hard enough that your nailbed goes white

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the risk factors of developing fibromyalgia?

A 
Female gender
Middle age
Low household income
Low educational status
Divorced

Psychosocial factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the psychosocial risk factors of fibromyalgia?

A

Belief that pain + activity are harmful

Sickness behaviour, such as extended rest

Social withdrawal

Emotional problems: low mood, stress, anxiety

Problems at work

Lack of support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

List some disorders closely related to fibromyalgia?

A

Depression
Chronic headache
IBS
Chronic fatigue syndrome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Who gets fibromyalgia?

A

Women more than men

Often middle age + over 60

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What sort of pain is experienced in fibromyalgia?

A

All over, but predominantly neck and back

Generalised morning stiffness
Paraesthesia of hands + feet

Pain is aggravated by stress, cold, activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the clinical features of fibromyalgia?

A

Pain

Fatigue

Non-restorative sleep:

  • frequent waking
  • waking unrefreshed

Headache, diffuse abdominal pain

Depressive symptoms

17
Q

What depressive symptoms do you see in fibromyalgia?

A

Apathy: lack of emotion
Agitated, irritable, tearful
Low mood
Poor concentration

18
Q

Why does frequent waking in the night cause people to wake up unrefreshed?

A

Frequent waking means you never get to the stage of sleep involving REM and non-REM patterns

Without these you wake up unrefreshed

19
Q

What triggers fibromyalgia?

A

Peripheral pain syndromes

Infection

Physical trauma

Psychological stress, PTSD

Hormonal alterations

Catastrophic events like war

20
Q

Investigation of fibromyalgia?

A

To diagnose fibromyalgia you need to rule out every other possible cause

If it is fibromyalgia most tests will be normal

Blood:

  • ESR/CRP normal
  • creatinine levels normal
  • no serum autoantibodies
  • Vit D levels normal
21
Q

Management of fibromyalgia?

A

Education
Help them gain coping strategies

Explain there is no actual damage happening to the body when they feel pain

Explain the importance of exercise, they will feel pain initially but exercise will make it go in the long run

Reset the pain thermostat

Pain management programmes

Drugs: low dose amitriptyline (an antidepressant) helps with sleep

22
Q

Why is exercise a vital part of managing fibromyalgia?

A

Although it will cause pain initially, exercise helps with sleep

Getting better sleep helps with mood

Also helps to reset the pain thermostat

23
Q

What is joint hypermobility?

A

Joints that move easily beyond their expected range

Can cause widespread joint pain in young people

24
Q

Joint hypermobility is very rare.

True or false?

A

False

It’s really common in children

25
Q

Who gets painful joints caused by hypermobility?

A

Common in people between age 10 and 20

26
Q

What is benign joint hypermobility?

A

A condition that affects joints and soft tissue

Hypermobile joints
Hyper-extensible skin

Tendency to recurrent sprain or dislocation

27
Q

What genetic conditions have benign joint hypermobility as a feature?

A

Ehlers Danlos syndrome

Marfan’s syndrome

Musculoskeletal (15 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions