Unlike RA, fibromyalgia is not caused by an infection or a disease in your joints, bones, or muscles. Instead, it is due to changes in the way your brain and spinal cord process pain signals.
Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your past health problems. They may check for other illnesses with similar symptoms, such as lupus or an underactive thyroid.
Symptoms
Pain can be difficult to diagnose because it comes in many shapes and forms. It can be burning, aching, dull, or sharp. It can be constant or it can come and go. It can be triggered by certain activities or it can happen at any time. It can also differ from person to person – not just the amount of pain but how it feels, where it is, and how it changes over time.
When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis pain, the symptoms include swollen and tender joints that are warm and red. They can happen in any joint but are more common in the wrists, hands, and feet. People with RA often feel tired and have trouble with everyday tasks such as making a fist, brushing teeth, or buttoning shirts. They may have problems sleeping and wake up feeling unrefreshed.
In fibromyalgia, the symptoms are widespread muscle and joint pain and fatigue. It is not clear what causes it but doctors believe that something changes the way your brain and spinal cord process pain signals from your nerves. It is also thought that your genes may play a role.
There is no cure for fibromyalgia but medication, exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep can help ease the pain. You can start with low-impact exercises like walking, swimming or yoga. Your doctor can refer you to a physiotherapist who will teach you exercises to strengthen your muscles without putting too much strain on your body. You can also buy a piece of resistance equipment that you can use at home to work out your muscles by pushing against weights or elastic bands.
Diagnosis
RA symptoms usually appear in multiple joints and typically on both sides of the body, in a symmetrical pattern. Symptoms may include pain when resting, tenderness in the joints and the surrounding muscles, joint swelling and warmth, and fatigue that lasts for more than three months. The condition can happen at any time but is most common between the ages of 30 and 50. It can be caused by a physical injury, but researchers think there is also a genetic link. It’s possible that certain gene mutations affect the transmission of chemical pain signals to nerve cells. Other risk factors include a history of rheumatic illness, sleep problems and stress.
A doctor will ask about your symptoms and carry out a physical examination. There are no blood tests, x-rays or scans to diagnose fibromyalgia, but doctors can use a method called the tender point exam. This involves touching 18 specific points around the body. The doctor will then ask whether you feel pain at those sites.
Physiotherapy can help with the pain and stiffness of fibromyalgia. You can be referred to a physiotherapist by your doctor, but you can also see one privately and pay for the treatment yourself. Your physiotherapist can show you how to exercise without overstraining your muscles and advise on relaxation techniques. They will also teach you how to manage your fibromyalgia and how to cope with your symptoms.
Treatment
RA causes inflammation that attacks the lining of your joints, which leads to pain and stiffness. It can also damage cartilage, a cushy layer that covers the ends of your bones and protects them from rubbing together or moving out of place. You can get a diagnosis for RA by making a list of your symptoms and discussing them with your doctor. Your rheumatologist may then ask for blood and imaging tests to rule out other conditions.
Getting enough rest can help reduce symptoms. You can also try cold treatments, like applying ice packs to your joints and muscles. Heat can help reduce stiffness, too. Some people find acupuncture helpful.
Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain and tenderness all over the body. But unlike arthritis, this pain doesn’t come from problems with your joints and bones. Instead, chemicals in your brain and spinal cord make your nerve cells extra sensitive. When you touch a hot or cold object, stretch your muscles or move, these nerves send messages to your brain that you’re in pain.
Your GP may refer you to a physiotherapist. These specialists can teach you exercises that won’t hurt your muscles, such as Tai chi and yoga. You can also try resistance exercise at the gym, which works your muscles by pushing or pulling against a load (weights, elastic bands, your own body weight). Some people find relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation helpful.
Prevention
There are a few things you can do to prevent these two conditions. One is to follow a healthy diet. If you are able to eat low-salt, high-fiber foods and avoid processed junk food, your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia will be lower. It’s also important to get regular exercise. Exercise helps reduce inflammation, improves overall health and can strengthen muscles. Aerobic exercises like swimming, walking and cycling help to get the blood flowing, while strength training and stretching can ease symptoms.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain that is present on both sides of the body and above and below the waist. You may feel tender in the same places at all times, called trigger points. To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you must have pain that lasts for at least three months and meet other criteria. These include extreme and persistent fatigue, difficulty sleeping and cognitive issues.
Scientists aren’t sure what causes fibromyalgia, but they know that something in the brain and spinal cord changes how your body responds to pain signals. It’s possible that the condition is triggered by physical trauma or surgery, but many people who experience fibromyalgia don’t have any identifiable trigger. It’s also thought that certain genes make you more likely to develop the condition. Doctors can prescribe general pain relievers, sleep aids and antidepressants to help with the discomfort.