Diagnostic Image PowerPoint on Fibromyalgia
BIOL 218 HUMAN ANATOMY
F 2011
Fibromyalgia in the Human Body
Diagnostic Image Compendium
Introduction
 The following 12 images/slides show how Fibromyalgia can affect
someone with the disease.
 The intention for this selection of images is to show people where
tender points can be found and possible hormone links to increase in
pain. Another thought to cause of pain in FM patients is overactive
nerves which is shown.
 Fibromyalgia is still very new and being intensely researched, and
researchers have yet to find a test to definitively diagnose this.
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Fibromyalgia can be a vicious cycle to manage and control, but with
the correct team of Doctors it can be managed.
What is Fibromyalgia?
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Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread
musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and
mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful
sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.
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This image shows the 18 possible tender points, not to be confused
with trigger points, that when pressed are painful in a person with
Fibromyalgia.
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Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection
or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually
accumulate over time with no single triggering event.
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Women are much more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men.
Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches,
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome,
anxiety and depression.
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The disorder most commonly has its onset in middle adulthood, but
can occur in adolescence and old age. Those who have a rheumatic
disease such as osteoarthritis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or
ankylosing spondylitis also are at higher risk for developing
fibromyalgia.
symptomlog.com
The Stress-Hormone-Fibromyalgia Link
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The master gland that controls our hormones is called
the hypothalamus. Situated deep within our brain, the
hypothalamus sends biochemical messages to the
thyroid, adrenal glands, and ovaries (among others)
through the pituitary gland, to regulate our metabolic
balance, immune system, autonomic nervous system,
and more. In turn, our tissues talk back to the
hypothalamus by way of chemical messaging.
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Adrenal Glands: Responsible for releasing cortisol and
controlling our daily cortisol cycle. Many Fibromyalgia
patients describe “crashing” under stress which is most
likely an adrenal imbalance. The research suggests a
connection between past emotional trauma and
disrupted cortisol rhythms in fibromyalgia patients.
But what’s remarkable is that when a person takes
steps to heal toxic emotions and support their adrenal
health, not only does their stress response dramatically
improve, but so do their fibromyalgia symptoms.
womentowomen.com
Stress-Hormone-Fibromyalgia Link
 Ovaries: Women with fibromyalgia experience more severe symptoms premenstrually, and
sometimes after menopause as well. This is because estrogen, progesterone, and possibly even
testosterone can all affect pain and fatigue in the body. A study done in 2005 looked at these
connections, and around 50% of the women in the study said they experienced more pain and
fatigue during their periods, 25% stated that their fibromyalgia symptoms started with menopause,
and 26.4% said the severity of their symptoms increased after menopause. So it makes sense that
by gently balancing our hormones through adrenal, thyroid, and ovarian support, we can lessen the
burden of fibromyalgia. But here’s some good news to keep in mind: function in fibromyalgia
patients does tend to improve over the years, and symptoms decrease with age as patients develop
effective coping strategies.
 Thyroid: Once a woman’s HPA axis is off-kilter, it’s much more likely her hypothalamicpituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis will suffer, too. The two are intimately connected. Very often when the
thyroid is imbalanced, it actually stems from an adrenal imbalance. Recent research has been
demonstrating an association between thyroid conditions and fibromyalgia, which seems more
prevalent in women in menopause. While these relationships remain poorly understood, the
symptoms we see with hypothyroidism — low body temperature, poor immune function, fatigue,
and achiness — can certainly contribute to more intense fibromyalgia symptoms. So the good news
is that when we address the hypothyroidism, again, fibromyalgia symptoms can also improve.
Causes and risk factors
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Doctors don’t know exactly what causes
Fibromylagia, but it most likely involves a
variety of factors working together. These may
incude:
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Genetics. Because fibromyalgia tends to run in
families, there may be certain genetic mutations
that may make you more susceptible to
developing the disorder.
Infections. Some illnesses appear to trigger or
aggravate fibromyalgia.
Physical or emotional trauma. Post-traumatic
stress disorder has been linked to fibromyalgia.
Current thinking centers around a theory
called central sensitization. This theory
states that people with fibromyalgia have a
lower threshold for pain because of
increased sensitivity in the brain to pain
signals.
Symptoms
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Pain is the main symptom of Fibromyalgia.
Painful areas are called tender points. Tender points are found in the soft tissue on
the back of the neck, shoulders, chest, lower back, hips, shins, elbows, and knees.
The pain then spreads out from these areas. The pain may feel like a deep ache, or
a shooting, burning pain.
People with fibromyalgia tend to wake up with body aches and stiffness. For some
patients, pain improves during the day and gets worse at night. Some patients have
pain all day long. Pain may get worse with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety,
and stress.
Fatigue, depressed mood, and sleep problems are seen in almost all patients with
fibromyalgia. Many say that they can't get to sleep or stay asleep, and they feel
tired when they wake up.
Irritable Bowel Syndrom (IBS)
Memory and Concentration problems
Numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
Palpitations
Reduced ability to exercise
Tension or Migraine headaches
Complications
 Fibromyalgia generally doesn't
lead to other conditions or
diseases. But 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.
Treatments
In general, treatments for fibromyalgia include both medication and self-care. The
emphasis is on minimizing symptoms and improving general health.
 Medications can help reduce the pain of fibromyalgia and improve sleep. Common
choices include:
 Analgesics. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may ease the pain and stiffness caused by
fibromyalgia. However, its effectiveness varies. Tramadol (Ultram) is a prescription pain
reliever that may be taken with or without acetaminophen. Your doctor may recommend
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin,
others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) — in conjunction with other medications.
 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.
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Treatments cont’d
 Anti-seizure drugs. Medications designed to treat epilepsy are often
useful in reducing certain types of pain. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is
sometimes helpful in reducing fibromyalgia symptoms, while
pregabalin (Lyrica) was the first drug approved by the Food and Drug
Administration to treat fibromyalgia.
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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 those who remain active. Try stress management techniques, such
as deep-breathing exercises or meditation.
Alternative Medicine
 Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a Chinese medical system based on restoring
normal balance of life forces by inserting very fine needles through the skin to
various depths. According to Western theories of acupuncture, the needles
cause changes in blood flow and levels of neurotransmitters in the brain and
spinal cord. Some studies indicate that acupuncture helps relieve fibromyalgia
symptoms, while others show no benefit.
 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.
Fibromyalgia
Diagnostic Image Compendium
Summary and Conclusions
 This Diagnostic Image Compendium on Fibromyalgia is intended to educate
and inform people on the real pain of Fibromyalgia. There is still so much
researchers are trying to learn about Fibromyalgia and then pass it on to
patients.
 Arthritis or Rheumatalogical Disorders would be interesting to compare with
Fibromyalgia since the symptoms are so close.
 Mayo Clinic has some great research and I believe everyone that is looking for
medical information should visit their website.
Fibromyalgia in the Human Body
Diagnostic Image Compendium
Research List / References
1.
Location of Tender Points
symptomlog.com
2.
Stress-Hormone-Fibromyalgia Link
womentowomen.com
3.
Overactive Nerve Impulse
rncasemanager.com
4. Fibromyalgia vicious cycle
headachetreatmentbellevernonpa.com