| Sometimes you wake up stiff in the morning. You | | | | You may have to go through a series of medical |
| may hurt all over and frequently feel tired. You | | | | tests like blood tests and x-rays. These will |
| have gone to the doctors and they can't find | | | | probably come back normal. It has been |
| anything wrong with you. If you have these | | | | estimated that it could take as long as five years |
| symptoms then you may suffer from | | | | to be diagnosed with fibromyaligia. The American |
| fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is an increasingly | | | | College of Rheumatology came up with a general |
| recognized chronic pain characterized by muscles | | | | classification for fibromyalgia and the criteria that |
| aches, pain and stiffness. Some have soft tissue | | | | has been established is that you must have |
| tenderness and general fatigue and sleep | | | | widespread aching for three months and have at |
| problems. Other may have headaches, problems | | | | least 11 locations on the body that are very |
| with thinking and memory, tingling and numbness | | | | tender under mild pressure. These guidelines are |
| in the hands and feet and if you are a woman | | | | used to help with the assessment and study of |
| you have painful menstrual periods. | | | | the condition. Fibromyalgia is not progressive and |
| So far the causes for fibromyalgia are unknown. | | | | doesn't lead to other conditions. The symptoms, |
| There could be a number of factors involved such | | | | however, can lead to depression and lack of sleep. |
| as stressful or traumatic events, illness, repetitive | | | | It can interfere with your everyday life. |
| injuries and certain diseases. Sometimes it just | | | | Fibromyalgia can be treated by changing you life |
| happens on its own. Some researches say it is | | | | style. Eat well, exercise and get enough sleep are |
| genetic. Some doctors say it could be chemical | | | | good places to start. Over the counter pain |
| changes in the brain while others say it could start | | | | medications may help with the chronic joint pain. |
| from a viral infection. | | | | The doctor may prescribe Tramadol, which is a |
| Fibromyalgia affects about 1 in 50 Americans. It | | | | non-narcotic pain reliever. He may also prescribe |
| occurs more often in women than in men. It | | | | low doses of anti-depressants. This is for |
| usually develops in middle adulthood and it can | | | | serotonin building that may provide relief for sleep |
| occur in children. If you have a family history of | | | | and pain. Higher levels may be prescribed if the |
| fibromyalgia you may get it too. Another risk | | | | patient is experiencing depression as well. |
| factor could be if you have a rheumatic disease | | | | People with fibromyalgia have a good prognosis. |
| like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. People who have | | | | Now more than ever, the disease is getting |
| ankylosing spondylitis have been know to develop | | | | recognition and people who suffer are more |
| fibromyalgia as well. | | | | educated about the disease and after making |
| Right now there is no test that can confirm | | | | some lifestyle changes are having a better quality |
| fibromyalgia. Doctors need to rely on the patient's | | | | of life. Most people do improve over time. |
| history of complaints and reported symptoms. | | | | |