| The title of this article may seem, on the surface, | | | | fibromyalgia patients indicate that FMS patients |
| insulting to anyone who has had to cope with the | | | | have a heightened response to pain stimuli. That |
| complaints associated with fibromyalgia. However, | | | | is, individuals with fibromyalgia seem to experience |
| it's good to ask the question, even if only for the | | | | pain far out of proportion to what would be |
| purpose of answering the critics, i.e. those who | | | | considered normal. |
| doubt the existence of fibromyalgia and assign its | | | | What accounts for this? According to Dr |
| symptomology to the realm of psychiatric illness. | | | | Perricone (of The Perricone Prescrition), a pain |
| Is fibromyalgia real? This question, no doubt, gets | | | | neurotransmitter called substance P exists in |
| asked for a number of understandable and simple | | | | abnormally high levels in the brains of fibromyalgia |
| reasons. One: the vast majority of individuals | | | | patients. Additionally, research is finding that the |
| diagnosed with fibromyalgia are of one gender; | | | | sleep difficulties routinely reported by FMS |
| they are female. Two: a high percentage of | | | | patients may be linked to the pain they |
| fibromyalgia patients are concurrently treated for | | | | experience. |
| affective illnesses such as anxiety disorder and | | | | Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome often fail to |
| depression. Three: to date, the etiology of | | | | achieve sufficient amounts of stage 4, or delta, |
| fibromyalgia is unclear since there seems to be no | | | | sleep. Yet it is at this deep level of sleep that the |
| clear and definable cause for the illness (which is | | | | pituitary gland secretes human growth hormone |
| why fibromyalgia is referred to as a syndrome, | | | | and the body engages in a restorative process. |
| rather than a disorder). | | | | Can a lack of deep level, restorative sleep be an |
| However, regardless of these facts and the | | | | originating factor behind FMS pain? This has been |
| mystery that still surrounds this condition, medical | | | | suggested more than once. |
| research is increasingly bringing more light to bear | | | | Doubtless, it may be a number of years before |
| on the question, "Is fibromyalgia real?". And the | | | | fibromyalgia syndrome is more completed |
| answer would seem to be yes. What does this | | | | understood. However, many signs, and ongoing |
| research show? With regard to the chief | | | | research, indicate that the condition is not |
| characteristic of fibromyalgia, it shows quite a bit. | | | | psychiatric in nature, but, rather, can be tied to a |
| MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans given to | | | | physical origin. |