| Fibromyalgia is an arthritis related disease that's | | | | difficulty getting a good night's sleep), they still |
| often difficult to diagnose because it's so often | | | | often experience fatigue throughout the day. |
| mistaken for arthritis. There are over 100 forms | | | | 3. Stiffness in the joints, especially in the morning. |
| of arthritis, and any one of them can reflect the | | | | It's this joint stiffness which often leads doctors |
| symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Both arthritis sufferers | | | | to mistake the diseas for arthritis. |
| and fibromyalgia sufferers generally describe pain | | | | 4. Frequent headaches and migraines. |
| as their primary symptom. | | | | 5. Tingling in the hands, legs, arms, and feet. |
| Unlike arthritis, however, the pain is not localized in | | | | 6. Swelling of the extremities. |
| a specific joint or muscle; it's widespread, | | | | 7. Not always, but sometimes, Fibromyalgia |
| throbbing, sharp and deep. While the pain is | | | | patients also report symptoms of irritable bowel |
| widespread, many fibromyalgia patients also | | | | syndrome. |
| report "tender spots" where pain is felt more | | | | Making it even more difficult to diagnosis |
| sharply if the area is pressed. Doctors have | | | | Fibromyalgia is that the disease often appears in |
| narrowed down the number of tender points to | | | | conjunction with other forms of arthritis. It's very |
| 18 specific locations. Under these circumstances, | | | | common, for instance, for a patient to suffer |
| it's easy to understand why fibromyalgia is so | | | | from both rheumatoid arthritis and Fibromyalgia. |
| difficult to diagnose. | | | | While the disease has become well known for its |
| If you suspect you may have Fibromyalgia, here's | | | | mystery and the challenge associated with its |
| a list of the most common symptoms: | | | | diagnosis, health care professionals are more |
| 1. Widespread pain in combination with tender | | | | aware of the telltale Fibromyalgia symptoms than |
| spots (generally, a physician will want to identify | | | | ever before. Using the 18 specific tender spots as |
| 11 tender spots before making a diagnosis of | | | | guides and learning to identify pain by degress and |
| fibromyalgia). | | | | location have helped enormously. |
| 2. Chronic fatigue. Fibromyalgia sufferers often | | | | Could Fibromyalgia Be Causing Your Pain? |
| describe an overwhelming sense of fatigue. Even | | | | Discussing your symptoms with your doctor is |
| after they've had eight or more hours of sleep | | | | the first step toward finding out. |
| (thought most Fibromyalgiapatients report | | | | |