In Pain but No Diagnosis? Fibromyalgia, the Hidden Cause of Fatigue

When you are in pain but diagnosed with no specific abnormalities at the hospital, do you feel even more frustrated, thinking that you might just be too sensitive? Nowadays, these complex symptoms are often called fibromyalgia, and it shares surprisingly many similarities with the concept of consumptive disease in the Donguibogam. Fibromyalgia is understood to arise not simply from muscle problems, but from dysfunction in our body's pain modulatory system. Central sensitization, in which the brain and nervous system react abnormally hypersensitively even to minor pain stimuli, acts as a core mechanism. It is just like a speaker volume set too high, making even a faint whisper sound like a clap of thunder. An imbalance of neurotransmitters also plays a major role. As substances that inhibit pain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, become deficient, the pain threshold drops, frequently accompanied by fatigue and sleep disorders. Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is also important. This axis is a critical system that regulates the stress response; when its regulatory capacity declines due to chronic stress or fatigue, our body remains in a persistent state of tension. As imbalances in stress hormones such as cortisol occur, pain and fatigue can worsen further. The inflammatory response cannot be overlooked either; a systemic microinflammatory response further amplifies pain sensations and can cause confusion in the immune system. Ultimately, fibromyalgia is a condition in which multiple systems, including the brain, nervous system, hormones, and immune system, are intricately intertwined. Rather than pain in just one localized area, it can be seen as the modern expression of consumptive disease, where the balance of the entire body collapses and energy is depleted. Therefore, rather than merely suppressing pain, treatment calls for an integrative approach that restores autonomic nervous system balance, regulates the stress response, and recovers overall physical functioning. You may have felt frustrated not knowing clearly where the pain comes from, but science is unraveling the secrets of this complex suffering one by one. Please do not struggle alone.