Fibromyalgia causes chronic pain and is charecterized by the stiffness and tenderness of muscles, joints and tendons. It is one of the most common disease that effects the muscle and leads to chronic pain and impairment. The individual suffering with this disease does not develop any deformity or damage to the body and the internal organs in the body, and this makes it different from other rheumatic diseases.

Fibromyalgia cause in not yet discovered, though high levels of a nerve chemical signal called 'substance P' and a nerve growth factor are found in the spinal fluid of the patient suffering with this disease. The levels of serotonin, noradrenalin and dopamine are also relatively lower in these patients. The disturbance in nocturnal sleep can be a problem rather than a symptom in this disease. The risk factors associated with fibromyalgia, which can trigger the disease includes depression, physical trauma, psychological trauma and viral infections such as hepatitis or HIV, reported medical website NHS Choices.

Women between the age of 35 and 55 are more effected. The most common symptom of fibromyalgia is pain, which is not caused by tissue inflammation. The minor sensory stimuli, which usually does not cause pain, can cause severe pain in individuals suffering with fibromyalgia. The pains can be triggered by weather change, noise and emotional stress. In fibromyalgia, the pain generally effects the tender points of the body and is a typical symptom of fibromyalgia. The tender points are located at the back of the head, between shoulder blades, front side of neck, upper chest, upper hip, elbows, sides of hip and inner knees. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia includes anxiety, depression, headache, irritable, fatigue and bowel syndrome, reported Myoclinic.

There is no specific test to conform fibromyalgia but your physician may diagonise the disease by the blood test, which includes erythrocyte sedementation rate (ESR), complete blood count and thyroid test.

You can go to a rheumatologist or a neurologist for the treatment of fibromyalgia and the treatment aims to ease your symptoms to the maximum possible extent, so that you can you can improve the quality of living. The treatment mainly depends on medication and self care.

Fibromyalgia medications includes :

Analgesics – it releives the pain and tenderness. Tramadol, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium are the drugs used.
Antidepressants – it releives the pain and fatigue associated with the disease and the drugs used are duloxetine and milnacipran.
Anti-seziure drugs – the drugs used for epilepsy such as gabapentin and pregabalin can help to reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Regular counseling from your physician can strengthen your belief and will prepare you psychologically to deal with stressful situations.