Studies have reported higher numbers of severe emotional and physical abuse in patients with fibromyalgia compared with the general population. Most often, the abusers are family members or partners. A history of sexual abuse does not seem to be a risk factor for fibromyalgia. However, women who have been raped may face an increased risk for the disease.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or chronic stress may play a strong role in the development of fibromyalgia in some patients. PTSD, an anxiety disorder, is a reaction to a specific traumatic event. Some evidence indicates that PTSD actually results in changes to the brain, possibly from long-term overexposure to stress hormones.
Muscle Abnormalities
Some research has found muscle abnormalities in fibromyalgia patients. These problems can be classified as the following:
- Biochemical abnormalities: Fibromyalgia patients may have lower levels of the muscle-cell chemicals phosphocreatine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Such chemicals regulate the level of calcium in muscle cells. Calcium is an important component in the muscles' ability to contract and relax. If ATP levels are low, calcium is not "pushed back" into the cells, and the muscle remains contracted.
- Functional abnormalities: The pain and stress of the disease itself may harm muscle function.
- Structural and blood flow abnormalities: Some researchers have seen overly thickened capillaries (tiny blood vessels) in the muscles of fibromyalgia patients. The abnormal capillaries could produce lower levels of compounds essential for muscle function, as well as reduce the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the muscles.
To date, none of these abnormalities has a clearly defined relationship with fibromyalgia.
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Review Date: 12/27/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
