This is the stuff that led me to my field. I'm glad that it wasn't a one-time interest spark! :D
I am suspecting that fibro is neurological, given a) the wide variety and types of symptoms (nerve pain, tingling, changes in skin sensitivity, altered sleep patterns, etc.), b) occurrence of co-morbidities that are rooted in neurological factors (e.g. changes in serotonin that interfere with sleeping patterns), and c) many medications used to treat various symptoms are ones that are also used to treat neurological conditions, such as CNS stimulants, anti-seizure drugs, dopamine, etc.
As we don't know what causes it, we're still treating symptoms. I figure that fibro falls under a rheumatologist's domain of expertise because the *symptoms* fall under the umbrella of soft tissue and joint pain...but as we don't know enough about it, we can't treat the underlying *cause* of the disease. I'm hypothesizing about it being neurological, and now knowing that it causes disturbances in speech patterns makes me think that even more so.
Given the speech changes, perhaps talk to your rheumatologist about getting a neuro consult. Considering the cloudiness you have described with your thinking that is symtomatic of fibro, I'd wonder if there was something (yay, more drugs :/ ) that could less than significantly, ya know?
I've only had a few patients with fibro. It's really interesting, but I hate seeing them suffer with it. There are SO many things affected by it; as I had said earlier, I had no idea speech/language patterns could be affected by it as well.
I am suspecting that fibro is neurological, given a) the wide variety and types of symptoms (nerve pain, tingling, changes in skin sensitivity, altered sleep patterns, etc.), b) occurrence of co-morbidities that are rooted in neurological factors (e.g. changes in serotonin that interfere with sleeping patterns), and c) many medications used to treat various symptoms are ones that are also used to treat neurological conditions, such as CNS stimulants, anti-seizure drugs, dopamine, etc.
As we don't know what causes it, we're still treating symptoms. I figure that fibro falls under a rheumatologist's domain of expertise because the *symptoms* fall under the umbrella of soft tissue and joint pain...but as we don't know enough about it, we can't treat the underlying *cause* of the disease. I'm hypothesizing about it being neurological, and now knowing that it causes disturbances in speech patterns makes me think that even more so.
Given the speech changes, perhaps talk to your rheumatologist about getting a neuro consult. Considering the cloudiness you have described with your thinking that is symtomatic of fibro, I'd wonder if there was something (yay, more drugs :/ ) that could less than significantly, ya know?
I've only had a few patients with fibro. It's really interesting, but I hate seeing them suffer with it. There are SO many things affected by it; as I had said earlier, I had no idea speech/language patterns could be affected by it as well.
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