| Fibromyalgia, is at best, a poorly understood | | | | that the symptoms of fibromyalgia can be |
| medical condition and its proper name, | | | | exacerbated by external stress, both physical and |
| Fibromyalgia Syndrome, or FMS, connotes this | | | | non-physical. This would include stress brought |
| fact. A syndrome, of course, is a set of | | | | about by physical exertion and environmental |
| symptoms that occur together and seem | | | | factors (such as loud noises, odors, and bright |
| interrelated, but whose origin is not entirely | | | | lights), as well as emtional and psychological stress. |
| known. | | | | Furthermore, though fibromyalgia causes a |
| What are the characteristics of Fibromyalgia? | | | | significant amount of musculoskeletal pain, |
| There are many. Chiefly, however, fibromyalgia is | | | | particularly in the back, neck, and hip areas, it |
| a disorder that results in the following: sleep | | | | does not result in damage to muscle tissue and |
| difficulties and sleep disturbances; chronic and | | | | connective tissue (tendons and ligaments). |
| ongoing pain that is not confined to one localized | | | | Though poorly understood, and often poorly |
| area but, instead, is generalized throughout the | | | | treated, fibromyalgia can be a debilitating condition |
| human body; tender points at the epidermal level | | | | that genuinely impairs an individual. What should |
| that are painful to the touch; persistent and | | | | you do if you have some, or all, of the |
| chronic low energy levels and fatigue; headaches | | | | symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome? Visit your |
| of varying intensity; stiffness that generally | | | | treating physician and possibly a pain specialist or |
| seems at its worst in the mornings but which can | | | | orthopedist. Having the condition properly |
| last for several hours afer waking up; and | | | | diagnosed is the first step to understanding the |
| intermittent periods of confusion and memory | | | | condition, and, hopefully, gaining a foothold against |
| loss (referred to as a a fibro fog). | | | | it. Having the condition properly diagnosed and |
| And these are not the only characteristics of | | | | treated can also be important from the standpoint |
| fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia sufferers often suffer | | | | of social security disability benefits which can be |
| from dizziness, nausea, restless leg syndrome, | | | | difficult to win on the basis of many impairments, |
| swelling in the extremities, depression, irritable | | | | but may be particularly difficult for an FMS patient |
| bowel syndrome, mood swings, and anxiety. | | | | due to the uncertain etiology of the condition. |
| Other characteristics worth noting include the fact | | | | |