Star designer Harald Glööckler suffers from fibromyalgia, he revealed that now. The incurable disease causes pain all over the body. What is behind the chronic disease.
Pain all over the body, stomach and intestinal problems, swelling and a feeling of complete exhaustion: around two percent of all people in Germany suffer from fibromyalgia, including Harald Glööckler. In an interview with “Das Neue Blatt”, the star designer spoke for the first time about the disease, which manifests itself in pain all over the body.
“I have pain all over my body. I have a headache, a sore throat, everything swells up. My hands start to tingle and my feet get stiff. On some days I feel like I’m 100 years old,” reports the 57-year-old.
Fibromyalgia is a previously incurable, chronic pain disorder that causes pain in a wide variety of parts of the body – mostly near the joints and in muscles. The spine is almost always affected. The disease is also known as soft tissue rheumatism.
Fibromyalgia sufferers usually have to contend with a high level of suffering. The disease develops over a long period of time and is usually recognized very late. In addition, the symptoms occur in phases and with varying intensity. Emotional stress or lack of sleep are considered to be possible triggers for the “flare-ups”.
Those affected suffer from pain all over the body, which usually occurs in the back and then spreads to the legs and arms. As reported by the German Rheumatism League, the disease never affects the joints, but causes pain in the area. Shoulders, elbows, hands, hips, knees or ankles are particularly affected by chronic pain.
The symptoms often lead to sleep disorders – a vicious circle that ends in physical and mental exhaustion. Other complaints associated with fibromyalgia syndrome include:
Fibromyalgia is now a recognized medical condition. Due to the unclear causes of the development of the disease, many sufferers are still not taken seriously and are referred to as hypochondriacs.
According to the German Rheumatism League, in addition to mental and physical stress and chronic lack of sleep, other factors can also contribute to the development of the nerve disease. This includes:
In addition, fibromyalgia syndrome can also occur as a secondary disease, i.e. as a result of other diseases – such as rheumatoid arthritis. It is currently being investigated whether biochemical or neurological disorders play a role in the development of the disease.
The different symptoms make a uniform therapy for fibromyalgia impossible. Doctors usually have to tailor the therapy to those affected – this requires patience, perseverance and trust. “The only thing that helps me is nerve pills,” reports Glööckler. The designer experiences the difficulties of treatment firsthand. “Doctors don’t know exactly where it’s coming from, so it’s not very treatable.”
So we can only speculate about the trigger at Glööckler. However, it is worth noting that mental stress such as abuse in childhood or adulthood is related to the disease. Because, as Glööckler revealed earlier this year on the RTL program “I’m a star – get me out of here”, his father was violent.
A combination of several types of therapy usually leads to alleviation of the symptoms. Doctors, psychologists and psychotherapists have to work together.
Those affected usually receive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – painkillers that are used in rheumatism therapy – to combat the acute pain. The problem: They usually have numerous side effects. Depending on the symptoms, treatment with antidepressants is also conceivable. The drugs can improve sleep, reduce pain and relieve tension.
In addition to drug treatment, the German Rheumatism League also recommends physiotherapy to loosen up the muscles. People with fibromyalgia syndrome usually tolerate exercise in warm water particularly well. Relaxation therapies – such as autogenic training or breathing exercises – are also recommended.
