Medically unexplained symptoms
Overview
Many people have persistent physical symptoms, such as dizziness or pain, that don't appear to be caused by a medical condition.
Symptoms
Common medically unexplained symptoms include: pains in the muscles or jointsback painheadachestirednessfeeling faintchest painheart palpitationsstomach problems Other, less common medically unexplained symptoms include: fits (seizures)breathlessnessweakness and paralysisnumbness and tingling About 1 in 4 people who see a GP have physical symptoms that cannot be explained. Many people with medically unexplained symptoms, such as tiredness, pain andheart palpitations, also havedepressionoranxiety. Treating an associated psychological problem can often relieve the physical symptoms. For others, the symptoms may be part of a poorly understood syndrome, such as: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)– also known as MEirritable bowel syndrome (IBS)fibromyalgia(pain all over the body)functional neurological disorders (FNDs) – symptoms thought to be caused by nervous system problems rather than a physical condition The fact that doctors are unable to find a condition causing these symptoms isn't unusual in medicine, and it doesn't mean that nothing can be done to help you.
Causes
Many people with medically unexplained symptoms, such as tiredness, pain andheart palpitations, also havedepressionoranxiety. Treating an associated psychological problem can often relieve the physical symptoms. For others, the symptoms may be part of a poorly understood syndrome, such as: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)– also known as MEirritable bowel syndrome (IBS)fibromyalgia(pain all over the body)functional neurological disorders (FNDs) – symptoms thought to be caused by nervous system problems rather than a physical condition The fact that doctors are unable to find a condition causing these symptoms isn't unusual in medicine, and it doesn't mean that nothing can be done to help you.