Nearly 400,000 people in Canada suffer from Fibromyalgia. It affects more women than men. There are critical psychological and social factors involved, with a greater need to educate patients on how to manage their pain and prevent it from becoming a permanent disability. In many cases, it can be directly linked to injuries suffered in motor vehicle collisions.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition in which there is pain but there is no single apparent cause that can be identified. There is heightened sensitivity to pain and pressure and it is thought to be a condition in which pain signals are incorrectly processed in the central nervous system. There are definite psychological factors involved, such as anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. Though it could be a psycho-somatic condition, the pain is very real and can be life-altering in severe cases. Medical opinions differ widely about the definition of fibromyalgia simply because there are many factors involved, making it difficult to diagnose, treat, cure and manage.

Illnesses and conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are terms “invisible” illnesses. They cause persistent and profound chronic fatigue, pains and cognitive and behavioral changes.

Symptoms

The symptoms are not very characteristic or definitive. They include a range of sensations, feelings and cognitive abilities.

• General, wide-spread pains
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Insomnia or constant drowsiness
• Disturbed sleep
• Pain in response to pressure
• Tingling and numbness
• Muscle spasms
• Weakness in limbs
• Nerve pain/twitching
• Palpitations
• Bowel disturbances
• Impaired concentration
• Memory problems
• Feeling of slowing down
• Reduced attention span
• Inability to multi-task
• Headaches
• Anxiety/Depression

There may also be co-morbid symptoms like hypoglycemia, cystitis, bowel problems, skin problems etc.

As we can see, the symptoms are extremely diverse, wide-spread and wide ranging.

Diagnosis and Causes

There is no specific test to diagnose fibromyalgia. The pains and other issues that are reported could mimic other conditions and usually, the patient and doctor go through a long-drawn out process of trial and error before arriving at a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. However, if there is a history of a recent motor vehicle collision, then the doctors may suspect a case of FM, because in about 87% of cases, quick and sudden onset of fibromyalgia occurs with infection, inflammation and trauma. Fibromyalgia is 13 times more common in patients who have suffered a neck injury or whiplash following an accident.

Other causes may include flu, pneumonia and other viral infections.

Physical causes include hyper-extension of the spine/neck as in an accident, neck and back injuries, childbirth, surgery etc.

The greatest percentage of reported fibromyalgia cases have occurred after a motor vehicle accident. 

The Real Cost of Fibromyalgia 

This condition puts huge economic, social and psychological burdens on the sufferer, their families, employers and the tax payer in general. The cost of health-care and extended pain management can be enormous. There is a marked decline in household productivity and lower industrial labor force productivity when people suffer from fibromyalgia. Absenteeism, depression and social and psychological decline are other features that could affect families and society at large. Fibromyalgia sufferers usually consume many more pain-relief medications than others, leading to side-effects and problems like ulcers etc.

Treatment

There is no definitive treatment for fibromyalgia and it typically consists of management of symptoms.

Medication: Serotonin based drugs, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressants, anti-seizure, opoids, Human Growth Hormone, muscle relaxants, etc are prescribed for a variety of symptoms and to reduce the discomfort and pain.

Psychological interventions: Counseling, cognitive behavioral therapies, multi-disciplinary, holistic approaches have been found to be beneficial when used in conjunction with medication and exercise. Art and music therapy are helpful.

Exercise: This is the single most effective treatment for fibromyalgia. Cardio and aquatic exercises are especially beneficial.

How We Can Assist

Whiplash injury, traumatic injuries to the body and head, spinal injuries etc can all result in the development of fibromyalgia. Our personal injury lawyers can help victims and their families to establish the link between the two events. It’s important that victims retain all their medical records, pharma records and other notes from paramedical staff etc that follow in the wake of the accident.

Our no win no fee lawyers can ensure that all the evidence concerning the accident is documented and that expert witness are called to back your claims. Since most accidents can be traced to the negligence or fault of another person, our accident attorneys can establish the facts and ensure that your rights are protected. Since fibromyalgia is a difficult condition to diagnose and treat, the insurance companies can easily contest your claims unless you have expert legal representation.

If you, your family or a friend has been injured in an accident, please feel free to speak to one of our injury lawyers for a free consultation about how we are able to assist in making a personal injury claim. We consult in all cities across Ontario with a no win no fee guarantee. Our personal injury lawyers have helped victims secure millions of dollars in personal injury cases. Call us Toll Free On our 24/7 Injury Hotline: 1 – 844 495 7333.