| Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that mainly | | | | Long term pain and fatigue can make you |
| manifests itself as widespread pains all over the | | | | depressive. So it is no surprise that some patients |
| body, and more specifically in certain well defined | | | | also suffer from mood swings, while others are |
| tender regions. | | | | having a hard time fighting stress and anxiety. |
| The muscle pains are experienced in different | | | | Sensitivity to temperature and light and difficulty |
| ways: they can radiate, appear as a burning pain, | | | | to concentrate are also commonly reported. |
| muscles always being sore or a general aching and | | | | Problems with concentration can reduce your |
| stiffness. Most patients report that the pain varies | | | | ability to perform simple mental tasks. Doctors |
| in intensity depending on the weather. | | | | attribute the occurrence of these problems to |
| The quality of your sleep as well physical activity | | | | sleep disturbances and the general fatigue |
| also have a big influence. Symptoms like fatigue | | | | following from it. |
| and tiredness and muscle pains can appear to be | | | | To summarize, symptoms indicating fibromyalgia |
| very similar to normal flu symptoms. That is why | | | | include the presence of most of the 18 tender |
| the disease can go undiscovered for quite a long | | | | points, muscle pain lasting for more than a few |
| time. | | | | months, sleeping problems, general fatigue, and |
| Even after a full night's sleep several patients | | | | headaches. The feeling of "pins and needles" in |
| complain about general fatigue, while others wake | | | | extremities, also called paresthesia, can be |
| up very often during the night and are unable to | | | | present. But such symptoms are also found in |
| have an undisturbed sleep. Such interrupted | | | | other neuromuscular diseases. |
| sleeping patterns can cause long term fatigue in | | | | As there is no simple list of symptoms exclusively |
| patients. | | | | associated with fibromyalgia, the syndrome is |
| Some symptoms are very similar to what | | | | normally diagnosed after eliminating other diseases |
| happens in patients with CFS or chronic fatigue | | | | with similar symptoms. |
| syndrome. They also experience fibromyalgia | | | | Discussing a history of depression or anxiety with |
| related symptoms such as tender points. | | | | a doctor will help him in creating a personal |
| There are 18 known tender spots in the body, | | | | treatment plan for the patient. Unfortunately for a |
| soft tissue that is highly sensitive to pressure. | | | | long time many doctors have refused to even |
| They are situated in the shoulders, neck, lower | | | | acknowledge the existence of diseases like CFS |
| back, knees and elbows as specified by the | | | | and fibromyalgia. |
| American College of Rheumatology criteria. | | | | |