[쉬운 신경질환사전]is a series of articles designed by neurologist Hanseung Lee (Herbal Neurology Clinic) and Hidak on the topic of neurological diseases in everyday life. Common but vague symptoms such as ‘eyelid tremor’, ‘dizziness’, ‘drip hands and feet’, and ‘various headaches’ are explained in a way that is easy for the public to understand.
Almost all fibromyalgias have comorbidities. Therefore, when treating fibromyalgia, it is essential to treat the accompanying symptoms and associated diseases. If this treatment is not done properly, fibromyalgia treatment is impossible.
Excessive chronic fatigue and depression can be a comorbid symptom of fibromyalgia | Source: Getty Imagebank
Patients with fibromyalgia show symptoms such as autonomic abnormalities as pain continues throughout the body or at least in one part of the body. In addition, chronic fatigue or depression may appear as associated symptoms in more than 80% of patients. The problem is that chronic fatigue, depression and anxiety develop into diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome or major depression. Fibromyalgia can even develop after chronic fatigue syndrome or depression first appears.
In the neurology outpatient department, the main symptoms of fibromyalgia are often seen to be facial pain, headache, and cervical pain. In particular, head and neck pain often accompanies chronic fatigue, depression, and cognitive decline. The diagnostic criteria for depression and chronic fatigue, the typical comorbidity of fibromyalgia, are as follows.
Diagnostic criteria for depression
– feeling depressed most of the day, and every day
– Lack of interest or pleasure in everything
– Weight loss or changes in appetite
– think slowly
-No energy and fatigue in the body every day
– Feeling worthless or guilty every day
-Difficulty thinking or concentrating
– Regular thoughts about death, suicide, etc.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis Criteria (Based on IOM 2015)
All three of the following symptoms must be present
-fatigue
-Easy instructions with little body usage
– I do not feel refreshed when I sleep.
By the way, the following two symptoms can appear together
– decline in cognitive function
– Difficulty standing for long periods of time
Interestingly, the diagnostic criteria for both diseases and the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia are quite similar. In addition, as the disease develops very slowly, patients themselves are not very aware of the disease. In my experience, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are closely related. On examination, both diseases have a common finding of reduced antioxidant capacity. In the case of depression, antidepressants alone do not improve symptoms, so a very multifaceted approach to treatment is required.
Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression/anxiety are all caused by the wrong living environment and lifestyle. Therefore, in order to treat fibromyalgia and related diseases, it is necessary to prioritize the patient’s living environment and lifestyle, such as sleeping habits.
Help = Consultant Hidak Hanseung Lee (Neurologist at the Herbal Neurology Clinic)
