How Do Doctors Diagnose Fibromyalgia
Doctors base a fibromyalgia diagnosis on your symptoms, physical exam, medical history, and the results of certain tests. The American College of Rheumatology fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria include:
- generalized pain, at present, in at least 4 of 5 regions listed above
- widespread pain index of at least 7 out of 10 and symptom severity scale of at least 5 for:
- not feeling refreshed after sleep
- deficits in concentration, thinking, or memory
An alternate ACR criterion is a WPI of 46 and SSS of at least 9.
Clinicians also order blood tests and perhaps imaging tests to help narrow the diagnosis and rule out other potential causes of symptoms. Tests may include the FM/a test, which analyzes certain white blood cell markers. These markers can help distinguish fibromyalgia from rheumatoid arthritis.
Muscle Sprain Or Strain
Sprains are the tearing or stretching of ligaments. Strains are the tearing or stretching of muscles and tendons. Regularly lifting heavy objects, especially without proper form, can easily cause a person to sprain or strain their back. Sprains and strains can also occur after an awkward, sudden movement.
When To Contact A Doctor
Lower back pain, when standing or walking, is not always a cause for concern and may get better with home treatment, such as rest, OTC pain relievers, hot and cold therapy, and gentle stretching.
A person should see their doctor if the pain is severe, does not get better, or occurs along with other concerning or debilitating symptoms.
People with lower back pain should seek immediate medical attention if they experience loss of bowel or bladder control or if it affects leg movement.
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What To Do For Chronic Backpain Can You Get Pain Relief Without Surgery
Surgery can be an effective option for long-term pain relief. But theres not a lot of data to support that surgery is the best solution for curing back pain.
Generally, surgery is only recommended after non-surgical treatment options have stopped working.
The best treatment for chronic back pain is movement, which may sound weird. When your back hurts, you usually think its time to take it easy. So, you avoid certain activities or movements because you think it will help you heal faster.
But the less you move the more youll experience that muscle deconditioning and your pain will probably get worse.
So, how do you heal your chronic back pain? You need ongoing active physical therapy.
Why Fatigue Occurs Along With Back Pain
Fatigue is more of a symptom, rather than is not a disease itself. The best approach to treat this symptom is to obtain a diagnosis for its underlying causes.
Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints that come along with fatigue, or vice versa. There may be many causes for this. However, it is worth knowing that the signs and symptoms of lower back pain and fatigue emerge mostly due to overuse of musculature.
An acute muscle strain may happen due to a physical trauma when lifting heavy objects. Chronic overuse of the same muscles gradually appears over the period of time and is very difficult to diagnose.
Fatigue that comes along with back pain is much easier to address if the sufferer knows what the triggering point for this matter is, and then to take self-care and medical treatment mandatory to maintain their health.
Please note that the fatigue discussed within this article refers to physical tiredness, rather than chronic fatigue syndrome. Although information may apply to CFS, it is meant for people who experience tiredness along with back pain.
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How Can I Take Care Of Back Pain And Dizziness At Home
If your back pain and dizziness are related to an injury, resting and icing your back can help ease pain and inflammation. Always keep the ice covered with a cloth. Leave it on for no more than 10 minutes at a time to prevent injuring your skin.
You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce your back pain.
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Muscle Strains Or Sprains
Sprains and strains involve the tearing or stretching of muscles or ligaments beyond what they are meant to do. In the middle back, sprains and strains are often caused by lifting heavy objects without proper lifting form .
You can also experience a sprain or strain after a sudden, awkward movement. Most sprains or strains will resolve on their own with rest and using proper lifting technique in the future.
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What Are The Diet And Nutrition Tips For Preventing Kidney Stones
To prevent kidney stones from forming or to prevent them from recurring if you have had them in the past your doctor may recommend following a specific diet plan. If necessary, a registered kidney dietitian can help you make changes to your diet to reduce your risk of kidney stones and improve overall kidney health.
Although there is no single diet plan that can prevent kidney stones, some general nutrition tips for kidney stone prevention include the following:
- Drink plenty of water: This can encourage urine production and flush out the chemicals and minerals that can develop into kidney stones. This is particularly important in the summer months and during activities in which you lose a lot of water through sweat, which can reduce urine output.
- Avoid foods high in oxalate: This compound helps form calcium oxalate stones, which are the most common types of kidney stones. Foods with naturally high levels of oxalate include:
What Causes Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are tiny hard stones that form in the kidney as a result of a buildup of crystallized material. Kidney stones are often made up of calcium, but they can also contain uric acid or amino acids, which are proteins.
One or more kidney stones can form in one or both kidneys.
Kidney stones begin as tiny specks and may gradually increase in size.
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Data Reduction And Statistical Analysis
To determine back muscle fatigue, EMG mean power frequency was calculated . Differences between the two groups, conditions and trials were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance . Post hoc analysis was performed on significant main and interaction effects to calculate specific effects. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The statistical analysis was performed with Statistica 9.0 .
Pain That Comes With Fever
Severe back pain that comes with fever, plus tingling or numbness in your arms, can be a sign of a spinal infection. It doesnt happen often, but youre more at risk if you are obese, immunosuppressed, or have diabetes or cancer. Your doctor will ask for X-rays, CT scans or MRI scans to rule it out. In some cases, you may have to check in the hospital to get intravenous antibiotics.
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Abdominal Pain Vs Middle Back Pain
What if the pain in your midsection isnt related to bone- or muscle-related causes, or to the other conditions described above? It could, for example, involve kidney pain, which can seem as if it emanates from the mid-back region. Kidney pain could indicate a brewing infection that could severely damage your kidneys, particularly if youve recently had a urinary tract infection.
Also, pancreas pain caused by pancreatitis can radiate to the mid-back region from the abdomen, so tell your doctor immediately if you experience this type of radiating discomfort. It also may indicate pancreatic cancer. In one study, 17 percent of pancreatic cancer patients reported pain in the middle of their back as a symptom.
Originally published in 2016, this post is regularly updated.
When To Call A Doctor
911 or other emergency services immediately if:
- Back pain occurs with chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in your chest.
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
- A fast or uneven heartbeat.
- You have a new loss of bowel or bladder control.
- You have new or worse numbness in your legs.
- You have new or worse weakness in your legs.
- You have new or increased back pain with fever, painful urination, or other signs of a urinary tract infection.
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Treatment For Mild To Moderate Pain
In most cases, people with mild to moderate upper and middle back pain can manage their symptoms with:
- Over-the-counter pain medicines. These include acetaminophen and NSAIDs , to reduce pain.
- Topical pain medicines. These are medicines that you put on your skin.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . This is a cream that you can rub over the sore area and may help relieve pain.
- Capsaicin cream. This may help relieve pain.footnote 1 It’s a substance found in cayenne peppers. Capsaicin cream is applied directly to the skin over the painful area.
What Is Pots And Why Does It Cause Fatigue
POTS is a group of symptoms resulting from dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This branch of the nervous system regulates functions we dont consciously control like sweating and blood circulation.
In people with POTS, more blood collects in the lower body when standing upright. The heart beats faster to pump it up to the brain, but with little success. The causes of POTS are unknown, but the problem is thought to lie in the communication breakdown between the brain and the cardiovascular system.
POTS-related fatigue is physical in nature and the mechanism behind it is not fully understood. It may have several causes, including your body working harder to move the blood.
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High Or Persistent Fever
The big worries: Fever is your bodyâs way of fighting infection. But âfever of 103 degrees and higher warrants a trip to the doctor period,â says David Bronson, M.D., president of the American College of Physicians. It may indicate a urinary tract infection, pneumonia, endocarditis or meningitis, which may require antibiotics to clear up. A persistent low-grade fever for several weeks with no obvious cause is characteristic of some infections, including a sinus infection, and some cancers, like lymphoma and leukemia. âCancer is on the list of things we think about, but it is usually not the first thing,â says Ronan Factora, M.D., a geriatrician at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
What else it might be: Fever can be triggered by a virus, which, depending on your health and other symptoms, may require hospitalization.
Research suggests that the time between the onset of symptoms and a diagnosis of lung cancer is around 12 months. This is often because a person does not recognize the symptoms, or because they hope that theyâll go away. Back pain is one such symptom.
It is not uncommon for people to have back pain with lung cancer, or even to have back pain as their first symptom. In fact, there are certain defining symptoms that point to cancer as the cause of back pain.
Verywell / Hugo Lin
What You Can Do
Often you can stay home: There are many effective home remedies for upper back pain relief. A typical episode of muscle strain usually lasts only a few days, explains Dr. Chang. Staying comfortable during this time is key. He suggests resting, icing, and taking anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen.
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What To Do If You Suspect Something Else
Theres only one major tiphere: See a doctor, whether it is your primary care physician or aspecialist. Each condition that mimics spinal problems comes with its own treatments,but the first step is an accurate diagnosis. For example, a nerve test such aselectromyography can help a doctor spot neuropathy, and a blood-flow testsuch as the ankle-brachial index can distinguish between spinal stenosisand peripheral arterial disease.
Its so important to look atall of your symptoms and history and do a thorough examination, Dr. Khalafsays. Its how we can tell the difference between a back issue and a medicalcondition.
How Do You Treat Fibromyalgia
The goal of treating fibromyalgia is to reduce symptoms and increase function. To reduce symptoms, doctors may prescribe a combination of these types of medications:
- antidepressants, such as duloxetine , fluoxetine , or milnacipran
- antiseizure medications, such as gabapentin and pregabalin
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Pain After A Car Accident
So you were in a car crash and you managed to walk away seemingly fine because youre not feeling excruciating just yet. But the payback can happen after some time. You may have gone through a whiplash a sudden and violent back-to-front jerk of your head during the accident. This can create tears and inflammation of the muscles and ligaments in your neck and upper back. Schedule a visit to your doctor if youre having dizzy spells, neck pain, and fatigue along with your back pain.
What Is The Outlook For People With Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is not a life threatening condition. It also does not cause physical damage to the body. However, the condition can be a burden and reduce a persons quality of life. Depression, a complication of fibromyalgia, can be life threatening because of the risk of suicide. It is vital for people with fibromyalgia to seek treatment for a mood disorder in addition to physical symptoms.
Consistent and comprehensive treatment in a supportive, low-stress environment can help increase the quality of life.
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Investigating Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
Investigating pancreatic cancer can be a complex process. If you are concerned about your symptoms, it may be helpful for you and your GP to track your symptoms using our symptom diary.
When your GP examines you, they may look for jaundice , feel your tummy and send blood or urine samples to be analysed. If your symptoms include abdominal pain, weight loss and jaundice together then you should be referred to the hospital as urgent. This does not mean that you certainly have pancreatic cancer, but your symptoms need to be investigated quickly.
Ready To Address Your Back Pain
The University of Maryland Spine Network can help you put your pain behind you. With convenient locations throughout the state, the UM Spine Network is home to the region’s leading spine surgeons and specialists that can help you identify the source of your pain and put an end to it for good.
Put an end to your back pain. Find a spine specialist near you.
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How Would You Describe Fatigue Associated With Pots
People with POTS experience fatigue differently. Many describe it as feeling beyond exhausted. Its as if your energy is completely depleted. The fatigue is probably hundreds of times worse than your worst flu. People with POTS may also have trouble concentrating and thinking straight. Doing simple tasks may feel like youve just run a marathon.
This fatigue might come and go, hitting you without warning daily, weekly or less frequently. For some people, extreme fatigue lasts for days. Others may experience periodic attacks. It can come on at any moment even if you just woke up. And there is no amount of sleep or coffee that can make it go away.
Questions Asked By Your Doctor When You Are Suffering From Fatigue Along With Back Pain
If both your back pain and fatigue persist despite trying various approaches to mitigate these issues, it may be helpful to visit your doctor, and obtain a diagnosis, followed by a treatment.
These are some common questions you may hear from your doctor when you visit the doctor for medical help. At the same time, you may use these questions to ask yourself in the first-hand whether your symptoms are caused by any of the factors mentioned below:
- What is your occupation? Do you work by sitting or standing continuously for extended periods of hours?
- Are you experiencing any symptoms of fatigue including tiredness, lack of energy, sleepiness?
- Which medications do you take routinely?
- What are your sleeping habits and sleeping postures?
- Do you suffer from any sleeping disorder?
- Is there a particular time when you are feeling tired?
- Do you have a lack of energy?
- What is your exercise routine?
- Did your symptoms of ache fatigue develop suddenly or gradually?
- Do you have any underlying medical condition like hypertension, diabetes or thyroid, etc?
- Do you have any history of recent infection?
- Have you undergone any surgical intervention related to back ever?
- Do you suffer from any spinal disorders such as spinal stenosis, issues with the spinal cord, sciatica, herniated disks, or any other health conditions that affect the spine?
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