The lyrics from her 2015 song may
now have new meaning for superstar singer Lady Gaga, who has postponed a
portion of her world tour because of a worsening case of fibromyalgia, a chronic
pain condition she says she has experienced for a while.
Lady Gaga, 31, opened up about her
battle with the illness to fans on Twitter last week, which has raised interest
in what the disease is and how it is treated.
What is fibromyalgia?
The word “fibromyalgia” comes from
Latin and Greek origins: The Latin prefix “fibro” refers to fibrous tissue,
while the Greek word “myo” means muscle and “algos” means pain. Fibromyalgia is
characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep
problems and memory and mood issues.
The condition affects 2 to 8 percent
of the general population, according to a 2014 review published in the Journal
of the American Medical Association, with similar rates across countries and
cultures. Women, particularly young ones, are more likely to develop the
condition than men.
There is also some association noted
with other diseases like tension headaches, anxiety and depression.
PHOTO: Lady Gaga performs during the
halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game between the New England
Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Feb. 5, 2017. (Matt Slocum/AP)
What
causes it? How is it diagnosed?
The true cause of fibromyalgia is
still a mystery but doctors believe it has to do with a combination of three
factors. The first of these is your genes. What we do know is that the
condition tends to run in families, and researchers now believe that many genes
are involved.
The second group of factors that
potentially contributes to the condition are things like psychological stress or trauma.
Third, doctors also believe that in
many cases, infections can trigger illnesses that, in turn, activate or
aggravate fibromyalgia.
As far as where the pain originates,
it appears to result from processes in the brain. Because of this, medical
professionals also often refer to the condition as a "central
sensitization syndrome.”
Symptoms sometimes begin after a
physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress, or
they gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.
There are no specific tests to
diagnose the illness. Doctors often arrive at this diagnosis by first excluding
other potential causes, and then verifying whether a set number of symptoms are
present.
What
are the common symptoms?
Some of the common symptoms of
fibromyalgia include:
•Widespread pain: The pain
associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant, dull ache
lasting for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must
occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.
•Fatigue: People with fibromyalgia
often wake up tired, even though they report sleeping for long periods of time.
Sleep is often disrupted by pain, and many patients with fibromyalgia have
other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
•Cognitive difficulties. A symptom
commonly referred to as "fibro fog" impairs the ability to focus, pay
attention and concentrate on mental tasks.
What
treatments are available?
The treatment of fibromyalgia can be
difficult. The main focus of treatment is symptom relief. Some of the treatment
modalities used are:
Medications: Medications can help
reduce the pain of fibromyalgia and improve sleep. Common choices include:
•Pain relievers. Over-the-counter
pain relievers may be helpful. Your doctor might suggest a prescription pain
relievers. Narcotics are not advised, as they can lead to dependence and may
even worsen the pain over time.
•Antidepressants: Some
antidepressants like duloxetinemay help ease the pain and fatigue associated
with fibromyalgia. Your doctor may also prescribe amitriptyline or the muscle
relaxant cyclobenzaprine to help promote sleep.
•Anti-seizure drugs. Medications
designed to treat epilepsy like gabapentin
and pregabalin are often useful in reducing certain types of pain
Therapy: A variety of different
therapies can help reduce the effect that fibromyalgia has on your body and
your life. Examples include:
•Physical therapy: A physical
therapist can teach you exercises that will improve
your strength, flexibility and stamina. Water-based exercises might be
particularly helpful.
•Occupational therapy: An
occupational therapist can help you make adjustments to your work area or the
way you perform certain tasks that will cause less stress on your body.
•Counseling: While this is not a
therapy intended to directly affect the source of pain, it can help strengthen
your belief in your abilities and teach you strategies for dealing with
stressful situations.
Also, some complementary and
alternative therapies for pain and stress management do appear to safely
relieve stress and reduce pain. But make sure to exercise caution while
attempting these newer practices since many still remain unproven because of
inadequate studies.
•Acupuncture: Some studies
indicate that acupuncture helps relieve fibromyalgia symptoms, while others
show no benefit.
•Massage therapy: It often helps
relieve stress and anxiety.
•Yoga and tai chi: Both have been
found to be helpful in controlling fibromyalgia symptoms.
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