“May 12 is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale”, explains the association FibromyalgieSOS. “Born in 1820 in Great Britain, she was working as a nurse when she contracted a severe form of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia around the age of 40. At the origin of the Foundation of the International Red Cross, its anniversary now corresponds to World Fibromyalgia Day and constitutes “a strong symbol of resistance and the fight once morest the disease. »
A struggle that has lasted for two centuries. However, the management of the disease remains difficult in 2022. Firstly because the diagnosis is complicated by the variability of the symptoms and the absence of a specific biological marker. Indeed, if “it is above all associated with fluctuating diffuse chronic pain, a large majority of patients also suffer from persistent fatigue, difficulty concentrating and paying attention, and physical deconditioning (a psychophysiological process leading to physical inactivity and withdrawal)”, describes Inserm (National Institute of Health and Medical Research). In addition, the treatments remain symptomatic.
That said, care is improving through research. This enabled Inserm to carry out a collective expert report published in 2020. Which contains several important conclusions in terms of care that should be remembered on this 2022 world day dedicated to fibromyalgia. Thus, the institute emphasizes “the need to promote support that adapts and evolves according to the symptoms. “But above all, he insists on” an early recovery through appropriate physical activity. “And for good reason, “thanks to medical imaging, it has been described that physical activity acts on the control of pain at the cerebral level”, recalls the Ministry of Health *.
* A physical activity prescription reference for fibromyalgia in the context of prescription physical and sports activity is on the 2022 work program of the HAS (High Health Authority).
