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Fibromyalgia Center - Brownsville, TX

Brownsville Rheumatologist Doctors for Fibromyalgia

Type of Physician: Rheumatologist

What is a Rheumatologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners treat diseases of the joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. The rheumatologist diagnoses and treats arthritis, back pain, muscle strains, common athletic injuries, etc. The rheumatologist may work closely with other specialists such as orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists.

Specialty: Rheumatology

Common Name:

Rheumatologist Doctors in Brownsville *

South Texas Arthritis Center
Bricia Toro-de-Zarei
1200 Calle Milagros St
Brownsville, TX 78526
(956) 350-2508

Jorge Zamora-Quezada MD
Jorge Zamora-Quezada
2601 Cornerstone Blvd
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 664-1400

Brownsville, Texas

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Fibromyalgia

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by restless sleep, awakening feeling tired, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and disturbances in bowel function. Fibromyalgia is sometimes referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome and abbreviated FMS. Fibromyalgia was formerly known as fibrositis.

While fibromyalgia is one of the most common diseases affecting the muscles, its cause is currently unknown. The painful tissues involved are not accompanied by tissue inflammation. Therefore, despite potentially disabling body pain, patients with fibromyalgia do not develop body damage or deformity. Fibromyalgia also does not cause damage to internal body organs. In this sense, fibromyalgia is different from many other rheumatic conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and polymyositis). In those diseases, tissue inflammation is the major cause of pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the joints, tendons and muscles, and it can lead to joint deformity and damage to the internal organs or muscles.

What causes fibromyalgia?

The cause of fibromyalgia is not known. Those affected experience pain in response to stimuli that are normally not perceived as painful. Researchers have found elevated levels of a nerve chemical signal, called substance P, and nerve growth factor in the spinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients. Levels of the brain chemical serotonin are also relatively low in patients with fibromyalgia. Studies of pain in fibromyalgia have suggested that the central nervous system (brain) may be somehow supersensitive. Scientists note that there seems to be a diffuse disturbance of pain perception in patients with fibromyalgia.

Also, patients with fibromyalgia have an impaired non-rapid eye movement, or non-...

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Depression facts

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  • One in 10 people will have a depressive disorder in their lifetime, and in one of 10 cases, the depression is a fatal disease as a result of suicide.
  • Some types of depression, especially bipolar depression, run in families.
  • While there are many social, psychological, and environmental risk factors for developing depression, some are particularly prevalent in one gender or the other, or in particular age or ethnic groups.
  • There can be some differences in symptoms of depression depending on age, gender, and ethnicity.
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Emergency Contact for Brownsville

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Brownsville Hospitals *

Valley Baptist Medical Center Brownsville
1040 W Jefferson St
Brownsville, TX 78520
(956)544-1400

Valley Regional Medical Center
100 A Alton Gloor Blvd
Brownsville, TX 78526
(956)350-7000

Brownsville Doctors Hospital
4750 N Expressway
Brownsville, TX 78526
(956)554-2000

Harlingen Medical Center
5501 S Expressway 77
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956)365-1000

Valley Baptist Medical Center
2101 Pease St
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956)389-1100

Knapp Medical Center
1401 E 8th St
Weslaco, TX 78596
(956)968-8567

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