| One of the early symptoms of fibromyalgia, and | | | | cope up with the fluctuating pain and the other |
| perhaps also the most characteristic of this | | | | symptoms of this condition. |
| syndrome, is widespread pain. There are a whole | | | | Being one of the early symptoms of fibromyalgia, |
| slew of other symptoms that accompany | | | | widespread pain is also the most defining. This kind |
| fibromyalgia pain, such as extreme fatigue, | | | | of pain is not unique to one or two parts of the |
| dizziness, depression, stiffness, and sleep | | | | body; it has to be felt all over, or at least almost |
| disorders. After all, fibromyalgia is a syndrome - a | | | | everywhere. Doctors have identified 18 tender |
| set of signs and symptoms that may be | | | | points where fibromyalgia pain is most likely to |
| unrelated to each other but ultimately does not | | | | occur. For you to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia |
| have a specific underlying cause. Pain, which is the | | | | syndrome, you need to have at least 11 of the |
| most uncomfortable of these symptoms, is the | | | | 18 tender points. More commonly, patients have |
| first one to be dealt with. | | | | tender points in the neck, shoulders, lower back, |
| About 3.5 million residents of the United States, or | | | | waist, ribs, buttocks, thighs, and knees. |
| approximately two percent of the entire | | | | What causes all this pain? It seems that people |
| population, suffer from fibromyalgia. Most of them | | | | with fibromyalgia are highly sensitive to this |
| are women in their 20s and 30s but there are | | | | unpleasant sensation. In fact, research has shown |
| also men and children. For these patients, the pain | | | | that those suffering from this syndrome have a |
| of fibromyalgia is experienced at varying degrees. | | | | lower threshold for pain than people who do not |
| To some extent, it can be similar to arthritis pain | | | | have it. It has also been proven in studies that it |
| because it affects the bursa, apart from the | | | | only takes half the stimulus that is normally |
| muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The bursa is a | | | | needed to generate pain signals for people with |
| sac of fluid that surrounds the joints for | | | | fibromyalgia to hurt. Even what is supposed to be |
| smoother movements. Fibromyalgia is, however, | | | | a gentle touch could be excruciating pain for |
| different from arthritis. | | | | somebody with this condition. What's more, |
| Some people experience only a mild pain, which | | | | patients keep a lingering memory of the pain in |
| allows them to go about their daily activities with | | | | their brains. This is why, even when the cause of |
| little problem except for an occasional slight | | | | pain is no longer present, the pain still is. |
| discomfort that can easily be dismissed. Others | | | | No cure exists for fibromyalgia pain. That's |
| experience excruciating pain all over and are not | | | | because this condition is considered a syndrome |
| as lucky. Many patients describe the pain as deep | | | | and not a disease. There are, however, a number |
| and dull, but others say they feel a throbbing, | | | | of methods of relieving this pain. Recently, the |
| stabbing ache in the muscles. Some say the pain | | | | Food and Drug Administration has approved three |
| is worst in the morning and eventually fades off | | | | drugs for the management of fibromyalgia. |
| during the day. Others say the pain does not go | | | | Doctors also recommend non-narcotic pain |
| away at all, it only moves to other parts of the | | | | relievers and anti-depressants. Alternative |
| body. People with severe fibromyalgia pain will | | | | therapies to complement medication are also |
| have to incorporate lifestyle changes to help them | | | | helpful. |