Real talk... Anyone in here that works in the medical profession and deal with the subject? Need some serious help/info! Thanks in advance.
I am a Rheumatologist.Fibromyalgia is a pain threshold disorder .Pain is regulated by peripheral pain receptor sensitivity(Substance P increases it and central pain receptance(serotonin reduces it) . When serotonin goes down substance P goes up and minor tendon stresses and muscles become tense and painful. Antidepressants help increase serotonin and lower substance P . Cymbalta IMO is the most effective , Some patients told they have FIbro may have pinched nerves or inflammatory disease that can mimic it.Spondyloarthritis like Psoriatic Arthritis, Reiter's disease and Ankylosing spondylitis can act like Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is best diagnosed by an experienced Rheumatologist as we originated the diagnosis.
90 percent of the patients are female.Estrogens raise serotonin in the brain and women can have PMS due to lowered serotonin during their ovarian cycles.. When they get into the menopause they lose the effect of estrogens which lowers their baseline level of serotonin. Family history of depression is common and irritable bowel is present in 35 percent of patients.