Fibromyalgia Complications

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• QWhich parts of my body may be affected by fibromyalgia?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Fibromyalgia can affect many parts of the body. The primary physical symptom of fibromyalgia is pain, which is typically felt in many areas of the body. When diagnosing fibromyalgia, doctors ask about pain in different areas, including the neck, shoulders, chest, waist, hips, elbows, and knees.
  
  People who have fibromyalgia frequently complain of a variety of symptoms that affect other parts of the body. For instance, headaches are a common problem. Some people with fibromyalgia develop gastrointestinal problems in the form of irritable bowel syndrome. Others say they have numb or tingling extremities. Still others find that their eyes and ears become sensitive to bright lights and loud noises. Fibromyalgia seems to affect the whole body, from head to toe.

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• QDoes fibromyalgia affect people with lupus?

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  A Dr. Mihaela B. Taylor, MD , Rheumatology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

  Fibromyalgia is common in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), also known as lupus. People with lupus who also are diagnosed with fibromyalgia may experience fatigue, sleep disturbances, psychiatric disturbances and work disability. Fibromyalgia can also make lupus more difficult to diagnose and treat.
• QWhat are the long-term health effects of fibromyalgia?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  The long-term health effects of fibromyalgia vary from person to person. In many cases, fibromyalgia never goes away. Yet there is some good news about long-term health effects associated with fibromyalgia. Unlike other painful conditions such as osteoarthritis -- the most common cause of joint pain -- fibromyalgia is not a progressive disease. It doesn't cause tissues in the body to wear away. For this reason, the symptoms of fibromyalgia may not worsen over time. In fact, some people with fibromyalgia notice that their symptoms actually improve. Working closely with your doctor can help you to manage fibromyalgia over your lifetime.
• QCan fibromyalgia cause other medical conditions?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Fibromyalgia is not known to cause other medical conditions. However, people who have fibromyalgia seem to be at high risk for developing other painful conditions, including osteoarthritis (the common type of arthritis caused by wear and tear on the joints) as well as other related conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis. Also, people with fibromyalgia are frequently diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and certain other conditions.
• QWhat are possible complications for fibromyalgia?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  As if coping with pain and other common fibromyalgia symptoms weren't bad enough, people with fibromyalgia often develop complications, such as:
  

  • restless leg syndrome, in which you feel pain, tingling, and other unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs, which are only relieved by movement
  • irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a gastrointestinal condition that causes abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits (such as alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation)

  The medications your doctor prescribes for pain and other common symptoms of fibromyalgia may not bring relief for complications such as restless leg syndrome or IBS. If you develop these or other complications, tell your doctor soon.