Fibromyalgia Syndrome: The Chronic Pain That Silently Takes Over the Body

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness in specific body areas. Dr. Fatma Burcu Torunoğlu, Lecturer at the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at Istanbul Okan University Hospital, has detailed the effects of fibromyalgia syndrome on quality of life for you.

Inactivity and Stress Take Their Toll

Current life is becoming increasingly difficult; rising competition, worsening living conditions, expectations, financial hardships... While rapidly advancing technology helps people access information, entertainment, and money very quickly, it renders the body's most important need—movement—nearly impossible. "Inactivity," which people are exposed to knowingly or unknowingly, causes early aging of the body, pain, and fatigue syndromes.

While severe psychological stress exerts an invisible burden on individuals, the body responds both psychologically and physically. Everyone's response to stress differs. This is influenced by people's emotional state, personality structure, hormones, and physical makeup. Therefore, each person's response to stress is different.

During the day;

-        Moving around as if carrying a load,

-        Reluctantly engaging in life with depressive mood,

-        Experiencing headaches and stomach pain,

-        Traveling to doctors in various specialties with roving muscle pain in the body and complaints of numbness and tingling,

-        Rising from bed tired and reluctantly in the morning due to sleep problems,

-        Experiencing chills and sweating attacks,

-        Having bowel problems (constipation/diarrhea)...

In short, many people struggling with low quality of life end up diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Good news: No systemic disease is diagnosed (unless accompanied by other conditions.)

Bad news: The individual plays a major role in their treatment; they must take responsibility and change their living conditions and lifestyle in many areas.

"Fibromyalgia Is Not a Disease, It Is a Syndrome!"

Fibromyalgia is not a disease but a syndrome. In other words, the signs and symptoms are collective. Tests come out normal (it may accompany other conditions, and the physician rules this out at this point), but the patient complains of chronic pain. Pain is invisible, but it is there. Although the patient's findings may not point to a disease, they lower quality of life.

When expressed medically, it can be summarized as "a musculoskeletal problem arising from neuro-endocrine (nervous-hormonal) disturbance in a person's response to stress."

"Treatment Cannot Be Solved by Medication Alone"

Treatment requires addressing the syndrome as a whole. It cannot be resolved by medication alone. First, the presence or absence of an organic problem must be determined by a physician. The patient's pain, psychological state, and daily activities should be examined in detail and a "treatment program" should be established. Physical therapy and rehabilitation physicians are specialists in this field.

Treatment includes medication as well as hobbies, exercise, and psychological and psychiatric support.