| Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that causes | | | | There are other conditions that mimic basic |
| tremendous physical pain to the patient (when | | | | fibromyalgia symptoms, therefore in order to find |
| touched on certain pressure points) and fatigue. | | | | a reliable result; thyroid stimulating hormones |
| Unlike most perceptions, Fibromyalgia is not a | | | | should be checked periodically. |
| disease. Instead it is a condition that causes a lot | | | | Treatment |
| of different symptoms that may affect the | | | | Because Fibromyalgia is still poorly understood by |
| overall system of the body. Fibromyalgia is said to | | | | specialists, there is actually no cure for the |
| affect at least 5% of the overall population | | | | condition as of this moment. But don't fret! |
| worldwide. The name fibromyalgia comes from | | | | Doctors may still not have the knowledge to |
| the words "fibro" which means fiber, "my" which | | | | treat the whole condition but they try to treat |
| means muscles and "algia" which means pain. | | | | the condition by treating the symptoms reported |
| Fibromyalgia: a chronic disorder | | | | by patients. |
| Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that means that | | | | Because of the complexity of the condition as |
| pain can continue for unknown time frames, it | | | | well as difference of patients with regards to |
| may last for days, months and even years. | | | | symptoms being felt, there is no definite or |
| However, fibromyalgia pain doesn't worsen | | | | universal procedure for treating the symptoms of |
| overtime and doesn't cause any form of | | | | Fibromyalgia. Treatments are very comprehensive |
| inflammation to any internal organs. | | | | and usually involve more than one health care |
| Fibromyalgia is a poorly understood condition. | | | | specialist. |
| There are no laboratory tests available to | | | | Active exercise program, acupuncture, |
| diagnose fibromyalgia, which tend to make | | | | psychotherapy, behavior modification therapy, |
| doctors believe that this condition may be brought | | | | massage and physical therapy are the types |
| on by the patient's emotions. However, recent | | | | usually involved in the program. These procedures |
| research discovered that patients with | | | | when used alone or in conjunction in another |
| Fibromyalgia have altered sleeping patterns. Many | | | | therapy may alleviate the pain of the symptoms. |
| patients complain of frequent sleep disturbances | | | | Physical exercise and muscle improvement |
| and fatigue even if they were able to have an | | | | activities are basic and essential programs for |
| ample amount of sleep. It was also discovered | | | | patients. These kinds of activities have been |
| that one third of the patients have low insulin | | | | associated with improvement in pain, tender point |
| growth factor levels, meaning they have low | | | | counts as well as disturbed sleep. This kind of |
| growth hormone secretion. | | | | program may be easy at first but is often difficult |
| Diagnosis | | | | to maintain. |
| Diagnosis of the condition is based on the | | | | Acupuncture is being considered now as an |
| symptoms observed after a series of | | | | important conjunction to any treatment program. |
| examination and observation as well as symptoms | | | | Frequency of acupuncture sessions may vary |
| described by the patient. There are certain | | | | from patient to patient but the program itself has |
| institutions such as the American College of | | | | been proven to improve the quality of life of |
| Rheumatology (ACR) that has established a | | | | patients. |
| diagnostic criterion for these kinds of conditions, | | | | Lastly, there is no perfect type of treatment |
| which include unexplained pains or Tender points. | | | | program available in the system. Therefore you |
| Tender points are usually located at 11 to 18 | | | | should collaborate with a health care specialist to |
| points of the body such as the shoulders, lower | | | | construct your unique treatment plan that would |
| back, buttocks, elbows, hips, knees and neck. | | | | address your particular condition. This unique |
| Locations of the pain may shift at different | | | | treatment plan would evolve over time depending |
| occasions. | | | | on your present condition. |