Fibromyalgia is a syndrome affecting the soft tissues and muscles causing pain and discomfort. The symptoms of fibromyalgia include sleep problems, painful tender joints, chronic muscle pain, and fatigue.

Diagnosing fibromyalgia
The doctors check 18 specific points on a person’s body to examine how many of them are painful when pressed firmly. Newer diagnosis methods don’t require examining a tender pressure point. Instead, fibromyalgia can be easily diagnosed if a person has had widespread pain for more than three months without any underlying condition that could cause the pain. Apart from this, the following are some of the diagnostic procedures tests that can be used to confirm fibromyalgia:

• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a type of blood test that measures the response of erythrocytes (red blood cells). It examines how quickly the red blood cells settle at the bottom of the test tube containing the blood sample. Red blood cells usually settle very slowly. However, faster-than-normal rate indicates inflammation in the body.
• Cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) – The immune system produces cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, which are autoantibodies produced by the immune system to fight infections. This test detects and measures the amount of CCP antibodies in the blood. A high rate of CCP denotes a sensitive trigger response toward pain which could be due to fibromyalgia.
• Rheumatoid factor – The test measures the amount of rheumatoid factor in the blood. Rheumatoid factor are proteins produced by the immune system that attack healthy tissue in the body. High levels of rheumatoid factor indicate that the person is suffering from an autoimmune disease or fibromyalgia.

Treating fibromyalgia
Treatments for fibromyalgia include both, medication and self-care. Major emphasis is on minimizing symptoms and improving general health. Following are some options to treat fibromyalgia:

Medications
Medications can help reduce the pain due to fibromyalgia and improve sleep. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium can be helpful. Doctors might also prescribe antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs to reduce pain and fatigue due to fibromyalgia.

Therapy
A variety of therapies, including physical therapy, water-based exercises, and occupational therapy, can help reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia affecting particular body parts. Physical therapy involves exercises that help in improving strength, stamina, and flexibility. Water-based exercises can also help in reducing fibromyalgia symptoms. Apart from this, there is occupational therapy which helps the person make adjustments to the work area causing less stress to the body.

Lifestyle changes
Apart from medications and therapy, following are some lifestyle changes that can help manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia:

• Stress management – Stress management includes developing a plan to limit overexertion and emotional stress. Some stress management activities include meditation and deep-breathing exercises. The technique is more effective when incorporated with the daily routine.
• Active lifestyle – Following an active lifestyle including activities such as biking, water aerobics, and swimming can be helpful. Exercises might increase the pain but gradually decreases the symptoms. A physical therapist can assist in developing an exercise program. Maintaining a good posture, stretching, and relaxation exercises can also be helpful.
• Get enough sleep – One of the major characteristics of fibromyalgia is Lack of sleep increases fatigue, thereby increasing pain due to fibromyalgia. Hence, make sure to get sufficient sleep and limit daytime napping.

It is important to keep a track of symptoms and consult a doctor before they turn chronic as the doctor can help create a plan to efficiently treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia.