Causes of fibromyalgia

It's not clear why some people develop fibromyalgia. The exact cause is unknown, but it's likely that a number of factors are involved. Here are some of the main factors thought to contribute to the condition: Abnormal pain messages One of the main theories is that people with fibromyalgia have developed changes in the way the central nervous system processes thepain messages carried around thebody. This could be due to changes to chemicals in the nervous system. The central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) transmits information all over your body through a network of specialised cells. Changes in the way this system works may explain why fibromyalgia results in constant feelings of, and extreme sensitivity to, pain. Chemical imbalances Research has found that peoplewith fibromyalgia have abnormally lowlevels of the hormones serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine in their brains. Low levels of these hormones may be a key factor in the cause of fibromyalgia, as they're important in regulating things such as: mood appetite sleep behaviour yourresponseto stressful situations These hormones also play a role in processing pain messages sentby the nerves. Increasing the hormone levels with medication can disruptthese signals. Some researchers have also suggested that changes in the levels of some other hormones, such as cortisol (which is released when the body is under stress), may contribute to fibromyalgia. Sleep problems It's possible that disturbed sleep patterns may be a cause of fibromyalgia, rather than just a symptom. Fibromyalgia can prevent you from sleeping deeply and cause fatigue (extreme tiredness). People withthe conditionwho sleep badly can also have higher levels of pain, suggesting that these sleep problems contribute to the other symptoms of fibromyalgia. Genetics Research has suggested that genetics may play a small part in the development of fibromyalgia, with some people perhaps more likely than others to develop the condition because of their genes. If this is the case, genetics could explain whymany people develop fibromyalgia after some sort of trigger. Possible triggers Fibromyalgia is often triggered by a stressful event, including physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers for the condition include: aninjury a viral infection giving birth having an operation the breakdown of a relationship being in an abusive relationship the death of a loved one However, in some cases, fibromyalgia doesn't develop after any obvious trigger. Associatedconditions There are several other conditions often associated with fibromyalgia. Generally, these are rheumatic conditions (affecting the joints, muscles and bones), such as: Osteoarthritis when damage to the joints causespain and stiffness lupus when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues in various parts of the body rheumatoid arthritis when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the joints, causing pain and swelling ankylosing spondylitis pain and swelling in parts of the spine temporomandibular disorder (TMD) a condition that can cause pain in the jaw, cheeks, ears and temples Conditions such as theseare usually tested for when diagnosing fibromyalgia .