Have you heard about fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal pain (lasts more than three months) and diffuse pain (affects the whole body). It is also an alteration of the pain perception mechanisms of central origin present in neurotransmitters. Its name comes from the words "fibro", fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments; "Mine", muscles; and "algia", pain.   

This disease, recognized by 1992 by the World Health Organization (WHO), can cause a deterioration in the quality of life of people who suffer from it. The diagnosis takes on average from 5 to 7 years because of the confusion with the symptomatology of other conditions such as arthritis, lupus and thyroid problems.

To increase the knowledge about fibromyalgia, the University of Azuay organized an event presented by María del Carmen Ochoa, rheumatologist, called "Conference on Fibromyalgia. An Integral Approach With Today's Perspectives, "the June 21 at 16: 00.     

Martha Cobos, Administrative Vice-Rector, said: "Thinking about fibromyalgia from a holistic approach is understanding that we are not sick, we are people who suffer from some disease."

Fibromyalgia usually affects the muscles and presents an exaggerated sensitivity at predefined points. It causes pain throughout the body, painful urination, psychological disorders (anxiety, depression), tiredness, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to intense light, morning stiffness and memory problems.

Ochoa believes that fibromyalgia is a "misunderstood pain." In addition, he added that this type of pain can appear when "a person is hard with himself".

A warning sign about the condition of fibromyalgia is chronic pain in different parts of the body, but there is absence of radiological and analytical alterations. For this reason, many times people think that what they feel is part of their imagination, or as it is commonly said "is in your head".

"We, unfortunately, do not diagnose a disease that has the context, as the WHO says, of what is health," said Fernando Arias, an internal doctor.

In general, fibromyalgia occurs in women from 35 to 60 years of age, with a psychological profile with a tendency to despair, depression, perfectionists and introverts.