| Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, also referred as | | | | trigger points on the body. Additionally, pain |
| the back pain complex, have many causes. One | | | | expressions or symptoms may include deep |
| the principle, least understood causes of back pain, | | | | muscle aches and pains, at times deep, almost |
| and there are myriad causes, is commonly | | | | burning sensations; muscle cramps and spasms, |
| referred to as the musculoskeletal pain syndrome. | | | | mild to severe and debilitating, particularly low |
| Musculoskeletal pain syndrome is expressed in one | | | | back pain radiating into the legs (sciatica); nerve |
| of two forms, fibromyalgia or myofascial pain | | | | pain, to include prickly or needle-like sensations on |
| syndrome. The two pain syndromes are | | | | the skin; generalized weakness, particularly in the |
| responsible for pain in various parts of the body, | | | | limbs; and, disturbances of the bowel, to include |
| to include the neck, back, both upper and lower, | | | | colitis-like spasms. |
| and the legs (sciatica). This article will deal with the | | | | Sleeplessness and sleep disturbances are common |
| former, fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia results in pain to | | | | in fibromyalgia sufferers, and may grow in |
| the affected area when touched, these areas are | | | | severity and frequency over time; and, as |
| known as trigger points. Fibromyalgia may also be | | | | psychological symptoms become more prevalent, |
| responsible for fatigue, stiffness, and sleep | | | | particularly anxiety and depression. Significantly, a |
| disturbances. Fibromyalgia is a more widespread | | | | kind of "fibrofog" or "brain fog," manifesting itself |
| condition than myofascial pain syndrome and is | | | | as cognitive dysfunction, may be a consequence |
| found throughout the body. Both pain syndromes | | | | of sleeplessness and dysfunction. There is a clear |
| are thought to be related to a change in or | | | | and demonstrable link between fibromyalgia |
| alteration of the body's pain threshold, meaning | | | | symptoms and the inability to concentrate, |
| that the pain reported is out of proportion with | | | | difficulty with memory, both short and long term, |
| the actual pain stimuli. Fibromyalgia is an often | | | | and impaired attention span and an inability to |
| disputed classification and in fact has been | | | | multi-task. There are many more symptoms |
| referred to as the "non-disease." | | | | expressed by fibromyalgia sufferers but they are |
| Fibromyalgia is defined as muscle and connective | | | | beyond the scope of this article. |
| tissue pain. The condition is characterized by | | | | Ultimately, there are a multitude of symptoms |
| widespread, chronic pain combined with an overly | | | | and consequences linked to this devastating and |
| sensitive reaction to allodynia, or gentle touch. As | | | | debilitating syndrome. Neck pain, back pain, and |
| noted above, fibromyalgia is not only responsible | | | | sciatica are certainly significant in fibromyalgia |
| for widespread pain, to include neck pain, back | | | | patients but the concert of symptoms, the |
| pain, and sciatica but may also be characterized | | | | syndrome, has multiple expressions and possible |
| by debilitating and disabling levels of fatigue, | | | | causes, physiological and psychological. The |
| sleeplessness and sleep dysfunction, stiffness and | | | | fibromyalgia treatment focus must be a holistic |
| soreness, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and a | | | | one, primarily because of the multiple-system, |
| myriad of symptoms expressed by and affecting | | | | multi-symptom nature of the syndrome. There is |
| various body systems. The concert of | | | | no clear and systematized approach to the |
| symptoms, not always present in full, are | | | | handling of, much less a cure for, fibromyalgia |
| generally referred to collectively as the | | | | sufferers. Treatment strategies often include |
| "fibromyalgia syndrome." In addition to the above | | | | analgesics such as NSAIDS (naproxen-sodium) for |
| mentioned symptoms, fibromyalgia may also be | | | | aches and pain. Antidepressants are often |
| expressed in terms of cognitive dysfunction, as in | | | | prescribed for depression and for possible |
| difficulty shaping and expressing concepts and | | | | serotonin dysfunction and its impact on the |
| thoughts, and an increase incidence of anxiety and | | | | central nervous system's ability to properly |
| affective symptoms. The link between stress and | | | | process pain impulses. The impact of |
| fibromyalgia appears to be a significant one, with | | | | norepinephrine and serotonin affecting and |
| a number of psychological manifestations being | | | | stimulating drugs is being explored, a link has been |
| present, to include depression. In fact, there is a | | | | discussed and it is suggestive but the outcome is |
| powerful link between major depression and | | | | still unclear. Additionally, behavioral intervention and |
| fibromyalgia. The etiology or cause remains highly | | | | alternative medicine are options many pursue. As |
| speculative, as it has not been shown that there | | | | with most cases of neck pain, back pain, and |
| is a true causal link between the two. It has been | | | | sciatica, exercise is an essential component in the |
| suggested, and this author concurs, that | | | | treatment strategy, more so due to the |
| depression may be a consequence of having to | | | | wide-ranging, often ambiguous constellation of pain |
| endure multiple symptoms, including sleeplessness | | | | symptoms. Again, a holistic approach is vital if |
| and sleep dysfunction, with no clear cause or | | | | there is to be a resolution for not only the neck |
| treatment options. | | | | pain, back pain, and sciatica but the myriad of |
| Fibromyalgia, as noted above, is defined as | | | | additional symptoms collectively classified as the |
| widespread, chronic pain and a response to | | | | fibromyalgia syndrome. |
| allodynia or gentle touch, particularly at various | | | | |