The word fibromyalgia comes from the Greek myos meaning "muscle", Greekalgos meaning "pain", and New Latinfibro meaning "fibrous tissue".

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a medical condition characterised by chronic widespread pain and a heightened pain response to pressure. Other symptoms include feeling tired to a degree that normal activities are affected, sleep problems, and troubles with memory. Some people also report restless legs syndrome, bowel or bladder problems, numbness and tingling, and sensitivity to noise, lights or temperature. Fibromyalgia is frequently associated with depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Other types of chronic pain are also frequently present

The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown but believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors with half the risk attributed to each. The condition runs in families and many genes are believed to be involved Environmental factors may include psychological stress, trauma, and certain infections. Even though fibromyalgia is frequently referred to as an arthritis-related condition, it does not cause joint damage or inflammation, as arthritis does. Neither does fibromyalgia cause damage to muscle and other tissues. However, it is similar to arthritis because it causes severe pain and tiredness.

But if we consider it in Ayurveda, due to stress or lack of stomach acid when food is taken it does not digest properly leaving behind various toxicants. These toxicants travel in body and mostly gather in joints and tissues, causing pain and restlessness in body. Dysmenorrhea in female and erectile dysfunction in male, depression then increases the digestive problem and again add fuel to fire making pain swear and chronic.

Ayurveda here prefer DEEPAN PACHAN therapy (balancing stomach acid and increasing metabolism). And give good results

Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2–8% of the population. Females are affected about twice as often as males. Rates appear similar in different areas of the world and among different cultures. Fibromyalgia was first defined in 1990 with updated criteria in 2011. There is controversy about the classification, diagnosis, and treatment of fibromyalgia while some feel the diagnosis of fibromyalgia may negatively affect a person, other research finds it to be beneficial.

Symptoms of fibromyalgia

Common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

§                       Morning stiffness

§                       Headaches

§                       Irregular sleep patterns

§                       IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

§                       Painful menstrual periods (Dysmenorrhea)

§                       Hands and feet tingle and can feel numb

§                       Restless leg syndrome

§                       Sensitivity to cold or heat

§                       Fibro fog (memory problems, cognitive problems).

The following signs and symptoms are also possible

§                       Widespread pain

§                       Problems with vision

§                       Nausea

§                       Pelvic and urinary problems

§                       Weight gain

§                       Dizziness

§                       Cold/flu like symptoms

§                       Jaw pain and stiffness

§                       Skin problems

§                       Chest symptoms

§                       Depression

§                       Anxiety

§                       Myofascial pain syndrome (pain/tiredness in muscles and adjacent fibrous tissues)

§                       Breathing problems.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome

A syndrome is a collection of signs, symptoms and medical problems. A disease is a medical condition with defined causes and clear signs and symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome.

Causes of fibromyalgia

Causes according to Ayurveda are;

§        Fast food junk food packed food

§        Angriness mostly

§        Day sleeping in winter and rainy season

§        Sweet-dish after meal ( Ayurveda prefer sweet-dish before meal)

§        Laziness

§                Sex just after food

Experts say there are probably a number of factors. However, nobody is really sure what causes fibromyalgia. Factors such as a traumatic, stressful, or emotional event may be linked to developing fibromyalgia. Possible causal factors currently include:

§                       A stressful, traumatic physical or emotional event (e.g. Post-traumatic stress disorder, a car accident)

§                       Repetitive injuries

§                       Rheumatoid arthritis

§                       Lupus

§                       CNS (central nervous system) problems

§                       The way our genes regulate how we process painful stimuli.

Genetics. As fibromyalgia tends to run in families, there may be certain genetic mutations that may make you more susceptible to developing the disorder.

Complications

The pain and lack of sleep associated with fibromyalgia can interfere with your ability to function at home or on the job. The frustration of dealing with an often-misunderstood condition also can result in depression and health-related anxiety.

Diagnosis of fibromyalgia

A patient with fibromyalgia will usually keep going back to the doctor many times before a proper diagnosis is made. This is because the symptoms are similar to other conditions. Before diagnosing fibromyalgia the doctor needs to rule out other conditions and illnesses.

As laboratory tests do not show a physical reason for the pain that goes with fibromyalgia, there are not any diagnostic laboratory tests for it. This can be frustrating for the patient and the doctor as well. Unfortunately, the patient still runs the risk of being told by an untrained doctor that his pain is not real and that there is therefore no treatment.

The American College of Rheumatology has established two criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia:

§                     A history of widespread pain that has lasted over three months. Widespread means the pain affects the four parts (quadrants) of your body - the left, right, top and bottom sides.

§                     The presence of tender points in 18 sites of the body. These sites are located at the back and front of the neck, between the neck and chest, just below the neck on the back, the knees, the inside of the elbows, just above the buttocks (where two dimples are usually located), just below the buttocks at the top of the back thighs at their furthest point from the crotch. At least 11 of these points need to be tender for a fibromyalgia diagnosis to be confirmed. For a point to be tender the patient should feel pain if 4gk of pressure is applied to it. It is possible that a fibromyalgia patient feels pain at other points - however, for a diagnosis to be confirmed tenderness needs to be limited to those 18 points (at least 11 of them).

Treatments and drugs

In general, treatments for fibromyalgia include both medication and self-care. The emphasis is on minimizing symptoms and improving general health. No one treatment works for all symptoms.

Medications

Medications can help reduce the pain of fibromyalgia and improve sleep. But gradually body used to these drugs and seems ineffective to these drugs. Here Ayurveda have solution which we discuss later. Common choices include:

·                    Pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) may be helpful. Your doctor might suggest a prescription pain reliever such as tramadol (Ultram, Conzip). Narcotics are not advised, because they can lead to dependence and may even worsen the pain over time.

·                    Antidepressants. Duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella) may help ease the pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. Your doctor may prescribe amitriptyline or fluoxetine (Prozac) to help promote sleep.

·                    Anti-seizure drugs. Medications designed to treat epilepsy are often useful in reducing certain types of pain. Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise) is sometimes helpful in reducing fibromyalgia symptoms, while pregabalin (Lyrica) was the first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat fibromyalgia.

 

Lifestyle and home remedies

Talking with a counselor can help strengthen your belief in your abilities and teach you strategies for dealing with stressful situations.

Self-care is critical in the management of fibromyalgia.

·                    Reduce stress. Develop a plan to avoid or limit overexertion and emotional stress. Allow yourself time each day to relax. That may mean learning how to say no without guilt. But try not to change your routine completely. People who quit work or drop all activity tend to do worse than do those who remain active. Try stress management techniques, such as deep-breathing exercises or meditation.

·                    Get enough sleep. Because fatigue is one of the main characteristics of fibromyalgia, getting sufficient sleep is essential. In addition to allotting enough time for sleep, practice good sleep habits, such as going to bed and getting up at the same time each day and limiting daytime napping.

·                    Exercise regularly. At first, exercise may increase your pain. But doing it gradually and regularly often decreases symptoms. Appropriate exercises may include walking, swimming, biking and water aerobics. A physical therapist can help you develop a home exercise program. Stretching, good posture and relaxation exercises also are helpful.

·                    Pace yourself. Keep your activity on an even level. If you do too much on your good days, you may have more bad days. Moderation means not overdoing it on your good days, but likewise it means not self-limiting or doing too littleon the days when symptoms flare.

·                    Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy foods. Limit your caffeine intake. Do something that you find enjoyable and fulfilling every day.

Alternative medicine

Complementary and alternative therapies for pain and stress management aren't new. Some, such as meditation and yoga, have been practiced for thousands of years. But their use has become more popular in recent years, especially with people who have chronic illnesses, such as fibromyalgia.

Several of these treatments do appear to safely relieve stress and reduce pain, and some are gaining acceptance in mainstream medicine. But many practices remain unproved because they haven't been adequately studied.

Ayurveda home remedies

1 Take 2 -3 pieces of garlic with castor-oil early morning helps to lower pain and stress

2 take two Harad (Terminalia-chebula) with Jaggery.

3 Take Tinospora with castor-oil early morning.

4 Linseed; a spoon of linseed help to relive.

Acupuncture. Many patients have experienced improvements in their quality of life after starting acupuncture therapy. How often sessions should be depends on the individual. Acupuncture is currently used by 1 in 5 fibromyalgia patients within 2 years of diagnosis.

A study conducted at Doňa Mercedes Primary Health Centre in Spain in 2016 provided some evidence of the benefits of tailored acupuncture for fibromyalgia sufferers.

Pranayam; Pranyam has marvellous effect on this diseases. As Pranayamm balances the level of endorphin, dopamine,  cortisol, GABA , serotonin and other brain chemical it reduces pain, depression, irritability to fresh mind. Anxiety etc.

Massage therapy. This is one of the oldest methods of health care still in practice. It involves use of different manipulative techniques to move your body's muscles and soft tissues. Massage can reduce your heart rate, relax your muscles, improve range of motion in your joints and increase production of your body's natural painkillers. It often helps relieve stress and anxiety.

Yoga and tai chi. These practices combine meditation, slow movements, deep breathing and relaxation. Both have been found to be helpful in controlling fibromyalgia symptoms.