Fibromyalgia Flashcards
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome diagnosed by the presence of widespread body pain.
What are the risk factors for fibromyalgia?
- Family history of fibromyalgia
- Rheumatological conditions
- Age 20-60
- Female sex
What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
- Chronic pain
- Fatigue unrelieved by rest
- Sleep disturbance
- Mood disturbance
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Headaches
- Numbness and tingling sensations
What are the signs of fibromyalgia?
- Diffuse tenderness of examination
What investigations should be ordered for fibromyalgia?
- Clinical diagnosis
- ESR/ CRP
- Thyroid function test
- FBC
- Rh factor
- Anti-CCP antibody
- ANA antibody
Breifly describe how fibromyalgia is a clinical diagnosis
There is no x-ray or laboratory testing for fibromyalgia; the diagnosis is strictly clinical. If the patient does not meet clinical criteria for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, then some further tests may help explain the patient’s musculoskeletal pain or fatigue.
Presence of chronic (>3 months), widespread body pain and associated symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disturbance.
Why investigate ESR/ CRP? And what may this show?
- To exclude inflammatory cause of muscular pain or fatigue.
- May be normal.
Why investigate thryoid function test? And what may this show?
- To exclude hypothyroidism.
- Likely to be normal.
Why investigate FBC? And what may this show?
- To exclude anaemia as a cause for fatigue or iron deficiency as a cause for muscle pain and fatigue.
- Likely to be normal.
Why investigate Rh factor? And what may this show?
- To exclude rheumatoid arthritis; indicated only if true arthritis is present.
- Likely to be normal.
Why investigate anti-CCP factor? And what may this show?
- To exclude rheumatoid arthritis; indicted only if true arthritis is present.
- Likely to be normal.
Why investigate ANA antibody? And what may this show?
- To exclude systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Indicated only if true arthritis or other signs or symptoms of SLE are present.
- Likely to be normal.
Briefly describe the treatment for fibromyalgia
- Pharmacotherapy including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and gabapentinoids.Often patients benefit from two or three drug classes used together, whereas other patients respond to (or need) only one class.
- Non-pharmacological therapies, such as education, exercise, and cognitive behavioural approaches.
What is the role of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in fibromyalgia?
Give examples of TCAs used in fibromyalgia
- Improve sleep and visceral motility as well as pain.
- Amitriptyline and cyclobenzaprine.
What is the role of serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) in fibromyalgia?
Give examples of SNRIs used in fibromyalgia
- First choice for patients with comorbid depression or fatigue.
- Duloxetine and milnacipran.