Fibromyalgia is a medical condition with a primary symptom of severe muscle tissue or connective tissue pain. The pain is not localized as it can be widespread throughout the body. Individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia also report numbing and tingling feelings. Other common symptoms of fibromyalgia are joint stiffness and general fatigue. There are several possible causes of fibromyalgia.
Genetics
There is evidence that suggests genetics plays a significant part in the onset of fibromyalgia. In the March 2004 issue of “Arthritis Rheumatism,” researchers assessed the family lineage of fibromyalgia and susceptibility to pain tenderness. After studying over 533 relatives, researchers indicated that genetic lineage plays a strong role in the development of fibromyalgia. This information is important in that it provides further insight and possible treatment options for fibromyalgia.
Depression
There is growing support for the notion that depression is thought to be a possible cause of fibromyalgia, or a co-existing disorder with fibromyalgia. In the October 2007 issue of “Current Pain and Headaches Report,” researchers Buscala and Cohen reported that fibromyalgia diagnosis is increasingly being made in conjunction with psychological based disorders such as depression. Buscala and Cohen explain that while there is a link between depression and fibromyalgia, it is not fully understood. What is understood, however, is that a history of depression usually is associated with individuals with fibromyalgia.
Stressful Life Events
One of the more interesting possible causes of fibromyalgia is stressful life events. In the August 2000 “Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists,” researchers studied the differences in negative life events between female patients with fibromyalgia and female patients without fibromyalgia. The results of the study indicated that female patients with fibromyalgia experienced a significantly higher percentage of stressful life events during adolescence as compared to healthy female patients. Additionally, results indicated that stressful life events within the past year were more prevalent in females with fibromyalgia as well. The implications of this study are that negative life events might be a precursor for the onset of fibromyalgia.
References
- "Arthritis Rheumatism": Family Study of Fibromyalgia; L. Arnold, et al.; March 2004
- "Current Pain and Headaches Report": Comorbidity of Fibromyalgia and Psychiatric Disorders; D. Buscala and H. Cohen; October 2007.
- "Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists": The Impact of Life Events in Female Patients with Fibromyalgia and in Female Healthy Controls; U. Anderberg, et al.; August 2000
