Medically unexplained conditions

What are they?

I sympathise with people who have symptoms that are difficult to explain and pinpoint. It must be frustrating, for instance, to suffer with pain that doesn’t fit with a medical condition.

If these inexplicable symptoms last for more than a few weeks they’re known as “medically unexplained symptoms”, when doctors can’t find a problem with the body that may be the cause.

Common medically unexplained symptoms include: pain in the muscles or joints, back pain, headaches, tiredness, dizziness, feeling faint, chest pain, heart palpitations and stomach and bowel problems.

Possible causes

Depression and anxiety may accompany medically unexplained symptoms and treating a psychological problem can often lessen the physical side of things.

Then again, the symptoms may be part of a poorly understood syndrome, such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as ME, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or fibromyalgia, with pain experienced all over the body.

Your GP can help.

Talk to a doctor so they can rule out all the possible conditions that might be causing your symptoms. You and your GP together may identify some lifestyle changes that could make life easier.

Treatments

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) would enable you to understand links between your symptoms, worries and feelings. It might also provide ways to cope.

For symptoms that appear to be caused by a problem with the nervous system, you’ll be referred to a neurologist. They may recommend psychotherapy, but could also suggest other treatments such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Self help

Regular exercise is known to help manage stress. This is important as stress has been linked to problems such as pain and IBS. Planning pleasurable personal time to unwind should also help.