It is actually hard to answer the question “What causes fibromyalgia?” Despite all the advancements in modern medicine, there are still numerous conditions and diseases unexplained by the scientists, and unfortunately fibromyalgia is one of these unexplained conditions. Of course, doctors and researchers uncovered a lot of factors that contribute to this chronic muscle pain condition, but the real cause, the single factor that is responsible for fibromyalgia is not yet discovered.
Another unfortunate situation for the patients is that the doctors are in controversy when it comes to explaining what causes fibromyalgia. Some consider it a physical condition caused by various factors like chemical disorders, genetic inheritance, neurotransmitter abnormalities and physical trauma, while others attribute the condition strictly to psychological factors and disorders such as stress or anxiety.
So What Causes Fibromyalgia? Genetics? Stress? Hormonal Disorders?
What causes fibromyalgia
Genetics are accepted to play a role in this chronic condition’s development. This point of view is actually supported by researches which reveal that families show a high aggregation of fibromyalgia. Although the gene that is responsible for the inheritance of the condition is not discovered yet, genes associated with the serotonin, catecholamine and dopamine systems can be potential culprits as these neurotransmitters are responsible for many symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, including sleep regulation and pain perception.
Also low levels of serotonin and melatonin are suspected to be culprits of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Serotonin is the hormone that regulates sleep cycles, pain perception and the general well being sensation. Low levels of serotonin may cause fatigue after waking up in the morning, a sense of depression or anxiety during the day, and increased sensitivity towards pain (even feeling pain where other people wouldn’t feel any disturbance).
Melatonin is the derivative of serotonin; the body converts serotonin into melatonin at night to help you sleep. It is claimed by certain studies that lower melatonin levels can be responsible for the fatigue and increased pain perception, and that melatonin supplements can actually help alleviate these symptoms. However, these claims are not supported by other studies; in fact, several studies found no signs of improvement that can be associated to increased melatonin levels.
Another hormonal abnormality that may cause the fibromyalgia syndrome is high levels of substance P. Substance P is the neurotransmitter that regulates the pain perception of the human brain, and too high levels may cause increased sensitivity towards pain. That’s why substance P is associated with the fibromyalgia symptom by many physicians.
What Causes Fibromyalgia is A Difficult Question to Answer
Despite the acceptance of the factors we mentioned above in addition to many others, including sleep disorders, physical trauma, muscle abnormalities and growth hormone deficiencies, psychological and social factors, post traumatic stress disorder and chronic stress, the real factor that causes fibromyalgia is yet to be discovered. However, doctors and scientists are constantly working to find out what causes fibromyalgia, and there is no reason for not being optimistic that they will eventually reveal the cause, and come up with a real cure for this chronic pain syndrome.