Causes of Fibromyalgia...

Fibromyalgia is one of those medical problems for which there currently is not an agreement of opinion or research as to what may be the single cause. Most likely, it is in some way connected to a number of factors, which are not yet understood. There are, however, some ideas that do have some credibility about what causes fibromyalgia...

Part of the problem of identifying a cause comes from the fact that something may be true in about 60-80% of cases of fibromyalgia (FMS), but which is not true in all cases. In fact, there really is not anything consistent in the way of determinable causes...

One theory that seems to have some validity to it is that some have a dysfunction of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal Axis (HPA). Because the HPA axis regulates a number of bodily functions, it can produce symptoms that are widespread. It would include heart rate, blood pressure, sleep patterns, digestion, balance, sexual desire, and more...

Another possibility is called central sensitization. It is thought that there is an extra sensitive neural pathway formed that remembers pain and somehow becomes extra sensitive and may amplify the pain signals sent through that pathway...

One more possibility, among several others, is a lack of certain neurotransmitters. Your neurotransmitters enable your brain to function properly and help you to feel good, too. Being low on certain neurotransmitters will definitely cause some problems such as depression, increased pain, sleep problems, and mood disorders, to name a few...

One neurotransmitter that has been discovered to be in higher than normal proportions in some people with FMS is called substance P. This neurotransmitter relates pain signals to the brain. In some cases of FMS, it has been found to be 300% higher than others, but doctors still are not convinced that it is the full cause of fibromyalgia...