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Overload Phenomenon in a Patient with Fibromyalgia

Description

A patient with fibromyalgia may experience an overload phenomenon, in which one or more functional components deteriorates. The type of functions affected and the deterioration pattern may be characteristic for a patient. Overload may be triggered by some stressful event or by attempting to perform too many tasks at once.


 

Systems that may experience overload:

(1) sensory function

(2) cognitive function

(3) muscular function

(4) emotions

 

Sensory overload may take the form of marked hypersensitivity to:

(1) light

(2) noise

(3) odors

(4) other sensations

 

Cognitive overload may take the form of:

(1) difficulty concentrating

(2) problems with memory

(3) inability to handle a cognitive task, especially when multi-tasking

 

Muscular overload can result in:

(1) incoordination

(2) clumsiness

(3) difficulty walking

(4) generalized weakness

 

Emotional overload may be associated with:

(1) anger

(2) anxiety

(3) agitation

 

A person experiencing overload may experience:

(1) nausea

(2) dizziness

(3) chest, abdominal or muscle pains

(4) numbness

(5) headache

 

Severe overload may leave the person temporarily incapacitated ("crash").

 


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