Since 1990, research has uncovered significant clues to what causes fibromyalgia and how fibromyalgia develops. Fibromyalgia has many types and subsets and more than one factor may be involved in causing it. In other words, there is more than one way to get it.
Mark J. Pellegrino, MD, lists these factors in his book Fibromyalgia Up Close and Personal. Even though there is no consensus among those in the medical community on what causes fibromyalgia, it is important to learn as much about fibromyalgia info as you can.
Genetics
You are at risk to develop fibromyalgia if one or both or your parents had it. Your risk also increases if one or both of your parents have a connective tissue disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. If a sibling or first-degree relative, i.e., cousin, aunt, uncle, has fibromyalgia, you could also be at risk of developing fibromyalgia
Just because you are at risk, however, does not mean that you will automatically get fibromyalgia. Don't assume that someone will get it or that it will be bad if she does.
Physical Trauma
Doctors call FMS caused by trauma "post-traumatic fibromyalgia." Trauma causes tissue injuries from which not everyone recovers completely. A physical trauma can trigger the development of FMS. In fact, physicians who treat fibromyalgia regularly report that the majority of their patients attribute the onset of their symptoms to a traumatic event. Sometimes the trauma is from a sudden incident like whiplash; other times it is from repetition trauma like years of typing or lifting.
Rheumatic or Connective Tissue Diseases
After trauma and genetics, rheumatic and connective tissue diseases are the most common cause of fibromyalgia. Many people get fibromyalgia coupled with another disease. These conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatic, psoriatic arthritis, sarcoidosis and autoimmune disorders like thyroiditis, Sjögren's syndrome and reaction to silicone breast implants. The disease or disorder may go into remission but fibromyalgia will continue to cause pain.
Infection
Various viral infections can cause fibromyalgia. Epstein-Barr, which causes mononucleosis, is one such viral infection that can lead to fibromyalgia. Researchers have also linked different strains of influenza and cytomegalovirus to FMS. Human Herpes Virus 6 may also lead to fibromyalgia. Yeast and parasite infections can also cause fibromyalgia. Doctors have seen patients with severe Candida yeast infection or parasite infections such as Giardia develop fibromyalgia. Most of the time, these infections aggravate preexisting FMS but sometimes they trigger fibromyalgia.
Emotional Trauma
Catastrophic stresses such as the death or serious illness of a loved one, history of abuse, severe illness in the individual and war can all cause fibromyalgia. These are not your everyday stresses.
Chemical Exposure
Some individuals have developed fibromyalgia after exposure such as inhaling fumes from chemicals such as petroleum oils, paint thinners, cleaning solvents, dyes or gases and fumes from burning products. They have been treated in the hospital for the chemical exposure but then later develop fibromyalgia. Many people with FMS are sensitive to chemicals, drugs and environmental allergens.
Unknown Causes
Physicians and researchers have identified many causes of fibromyalgia in recent years. Although the specific cause for a particular individual may be unknown, every single person has a cause whether it is known or not. Just because the cause is not known does not mean fibromyalgia is not there.
Lisa McMahon - Lisa McMahon has been a web developer/designer since 1995. She loves to travel domestically and overseas. She also loves gardening, ...
