Employees with fibromyalgia report greater work productivity loss compared to those without musculoskeletal pain conditions.
In Short
- Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition showing widespread musculoskeletal pain
- This condition mostly affects women, as per studies
- There is no cure for fibromyalgia as the treatment focusses on symptom management
There has been a noticeable trend among employees, especially with desk jobs, who are complaining of body ache and fatigue. While deadlines and stress have become paramount in workplaces, many employees are overlooking a lifestyle disorder called fibromyalgia.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition showing widespread musculoskeletal pain, has become an increasingly recognised lifestyle disorder affecting a significant portion of the workforce.
This condition, which predominantly affects women, is marked by fatigue, cognitive disturbances, and psychiatric symptoms, with an estimated prevalence of 6.4% in the United States, according to recent studies.
The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia remains uncertain, but it is not associated with tissue inflammation.
Instead, ongoing research suggests that fibromyalgia may be a pain regulation disorder, part of a broader category known as central sensitisation syndromes.
Patients with fibromyalgia often exhibit neurochemical imbalances in the central nervous system, leading to heightened pain perception, known as allodynia, and an increased response to painful stimuli, termed hyperalgesia.
Fibromyalgia among working professionals
The impact of fibromyalgia on employees is profound. The disorder’s symptoms are pain and stiffness throughout the body, overwhelming fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive issues commonly referred to as “fibro fog”, which severely impair work productivity.
Tune In
Employees with fibromyalgia report greater work productivity loss compared to those without musculoskeletal pain conditions. The condition can make fulfilling family and work responsibilities challenging, negatively affecting social relationships and mental health.
Accommodating employees with fibromyalgia involves restructuring work schedules, allowing for frequent rest breaks, and considering part-time hours or flexible work arrangements.
Jobs that require prolonged standing, repetitive movements, or heavy lifting, such as retail positions, are particularly unsuitable for people with fibromyalgia due to the exacerbation of symptoms.
Scientifically, fibromyalgia is linked to abnormalities in pain processing in the brain, as evidenced by functional MRI studies.
While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, current research focusses on identifying novel drugs targeting these underlying mechanisms, with some studies exploring the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and antidepressants for chronic pain management.
