Until now it was very difficult to diagnose with certainty. Common symptoms include pain throughout the body, fatigue, trouble sleeping, headaches, among others. Best way to treat it medically is Lyrica and it is available at Prescription Hope where Lyrica price is comparatively small.
Researchers from the Ohio State University in the United States managed to detect, for the first time, the ‘molecular signature’ of fibromyalgia. Thanks to this, they developed a blood test capable of accurately detecting the disease.
The work, which was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, is expected to pave the way for a “simple and quick” diagnosis . In addition to identifying and detecting fibromyalgia, they believe that these “biomarkers” (the distinctive mark or “fingerprint”) would differentiate it from other similar related diseases.
The discovery could it be an important starting point in the care of patients turning with a disease that is often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed, “leaving them without the proper care and advice to control their chronic pain and fatigue , ” said the Principal investigator Kevin Hackshaw.
Until now, to diagnose fibromyalgia, doctors relied on patient-informed information about a multitude of symptoms and a physical assessment of the patient’s pain, focusing on specific tender points. But there is no blood test, there is no clear and easy to use tool to provide a quick response.
Although fibromyalgia is currently incurable and treatment is limited to exercise, education and antidepressants, an accurate diagnosis has many benefits. These include ruling out other diseases, confirming patients that their symptoms are real and not imagined, and guiding doctors towards recognition of the disease and proper treatment.
“Most doctors today do not question whether fibromyalgia is real, but there are still skeptics,” said the researcher, who recalls that many undiagnosed patients are prescribed opioids that have not been shown to benefit people with the disease.
In addition to identifying fibromyalgia, the researchers also found evidence that the fingerprint technique has the potential to determine the severity of fibromyalgia in an individual patient. “This could lead to better and more targeted treatment for patients,” Hackshaw concluded.
Fibromyalgia is one of the most common causes of chronic widespread pain and disproportionately affects women. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They estimate that approximately 2 percent of the population, around 4 million adults, have fibromyalgia. Other organizations estimate even higher numbers.
The symptoms common include pain and stiffness throughout the body, fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, headaches and impaired thinking, memory and concentration.