Fibromyalgia Causes
Fibromyalgia Causes
The cause of fibromyalgia in some persons is unknown. Even while the precise explanation is unknown, it’s likely that a lot of factors are at play.
These are a few of the key causes that are believed to contribute to the illness.
One of the leading explanations is that individuals with fibromyalgia have experienced modifications in the central nervous system’s processing of pain signals sent throughout the body.
It’s possible that the nervous system’s chemical composition has changed as a result.
Through a network of specialised cells, the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) conveys information throughout your body.
This system’s functioning has changed, which could be the reason why fibromyalgia patients experience chronic pain and high pain thresholds.
According to research, those who suffer from fibromyalgia have abnormally low amounts of the brain chemicals serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine.
Due to their critical roles in regulating a variety of processes, low levels of these hormones may be a significant contributor to the development of fibromyalgia:
- Mood
- Appetite
- Sleep
- Behaviour
- Your response to stressful situations
These hormones are also involved in the nerves’ processing of pain signals. Medication that raises hormone levels can interfere with these signals.
According to some experts, fibromyalgia may also be influenced by variations in the levels of certain other hormones, such as cortisol, which is released when the body is under stress.
It’s possible that irregular sleep patterns are more than just a symptom of fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia might keep you from getting enough rest and make you feel incredibly exhausted (fatigue).
The fact that people with the condition who have poor sleep also tend to have higher pain levels suggests that these sleep issues probably contribute to the other fibromyalgia symptoms.
According to research, some people may be genetically predisposed to developing fibromyalgia more than others, with genetics perhaps playing a minor role in the condition’s development.
If true, heredity may be the reason why many people experience fibromyalgia symptoms following a trigger.
A stressful event, such as one that causes physical strain or emotional (psychological) strain, can commonly cause fibromyalgia to develop.
A few potential causes of the condition include:
- An injury
- A viral infection
- Giving birth
- Having an operation
- The breakdown of a relationship
- Being in an abusive relationship
- The death of a loved one
However, fibromyalgia can occasionally appear without any evident cause.
Numerous other illnesses are frequently linked to fibromyalgia.
These are typically rheumatic conditions, which affect the joints, muscles, and bones. Examples include:
- Osteoarthritis – when damage to the joints causes pain and stiffness
- Lupus – when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues in various parts of the body
- Rheumatoid arthritis – when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the joints, causing pain and swelling
- Ankylosing spondylitis – pain and swelling in parts of the spine
- Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) – is a condition that can cause pain in the jaw, cheeks, ears and temples
When fibromyalgia is diagnosed, tests are typically conducted to rule out such conditions.
treatment modalities to treat the symptoms and ease chronic fibromyalgia pain.
