| Fibromyalgia is one of two conditions known | | | | localized, and generally triggered by a "gentle |
| collectively as the musculoskeletal pain syndrome. | | | | touch" or allodynia, it is still extremely painful to |
| The constellation of symptoms expressed by | | | | the fibromyalgia sufferer. |
| fibromyalgia patients is often referred to as the | | | | Unfortunately, no one knows the etiology or |
| fibromyalgia syndrome. Fibromyalgia symptoms | | | | cause of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is debilitating |
| are found in approximately two percent of the | | | | and often disabling, and patients often present |
| population, it affects vastly more women than | | | | with such significant levels of pain that it is almost |
| men, with reports of ratios are as high as ten to | | | | impossible for them to function without |
| one, women to men. Fibromyalgia, while difficult to | | | | accommodation. The pain is found in the muscles, |
| diagnose, is usually found in individuals as early as | | | | tendons, ligaments, joints, and, what has been |
| childhood but predominantly in patients from | | | | referred to as, deep skeletal pain. Pain associated |
| twenty years of age to fifty. Significantly, | | | | with the fibromyalgia syndrome often varies in |
| pregnant women are affected by this disorder in | | | | level and location from day to day. While it is |
| greater numbers than the remainder of women in | | | | unclear what causes fibromyalgia, some possible |
| the population. The most notable symptoms of | | | | explanations include some sort of physical or |
| this widespread, often debilitating condition include: | | | | stress-related trauma or event, a psychologically |
| deep and throbbing low back pain; chronic, | | | | or emotionally upsetting or stressful event, and/or |
| non-specific pain; painful trigger points, areas | | | | a catastrophic illness or related immune disorder. |
| tender to the touch; and stiffness, sometimes | | | | While researchers are still searching for the |
| known as morning stiffness. | | | | ultimate explanation, many believe that |
| Additionally, fibromyalgia is known to produce | | | | fibromyalgia is the result of any abnormal amount |
| sleeplessness and sleep dysfunction, extreme | | | | or imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, |
| fatigue, and even anxiety and depression. In the | | | | particularly substance P, norepinephrine, dopamine |
| previous article, "Understanding The | | | | and, perhaps most significantly, serotonin. |
| Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome: Fibromyalgia and | | | | Consequently, pain levels usually in check for the |
| Back Pain Part I," we discussed in some detail the | | | | "normal" individual are out of whack or out of |
| various symptoms associated with the | | | | proportion for the fibromyalgia sufferer. It has |
| fibromyalgia syndrome. In this article, we will | | | | been suggested, that fibromyalgia patients have |
| specifically address fibromyalgia-related pain, its | | | | their pain "volume control" set on high. Finally and |
| consequences, and possible treatment strategies. | | | | as stated previously, fibromyalgia pain is |
| Fibromyalgia pain is widespread and prevalent in | | | | characterized as one of two types of pain, pain |
| more than ninety-seven percent of all patients | | | | affecting the soft tissue and particularly the |
| with the disorder. Fibromyalgia back pain, unlike | | | | muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the joints, |
| other expressions of neck pain, back pain and/or | | | | and the existence of trigger points at skin level, |
| sciatica is generally widespread and difficult, if not | | | | particularly around the joints. |
| impossible, to pinpoint. The pain may be felt in the | | | | As suggested in the previous article on this topic, |
| tendons, the muscles, and even the ligaments | | | | and noted above, treatment should be holistic in |
| surrounding the joints. It has been described as | | | | nature bringing to bear the various disciplines and |
| ranging from slight and mild to acute and | | | | subdisciplines of medicine required to treat this |
| throbbing. Other adjectives used to describe the | | | | controversial and little understood syndrome. A |
| pain are deep, sharp, dull, aching, tender, throbbing, | | | | combination of medications, particularly NSAIDs |
| sore, annoying, gnawing, burning, and many | | | | and antidepressants, along with behavioral therapy |
| others. For many fibromyalgia sufferers the pain | | | | to deal with stress and anxiety-related conditions, |
| is transitory, it comes and goes and may express | | | | as well as the depression, alternative medicine, |
| itself at a variety of locations on or in the body. | | | | and a thorough and complete, individualized and |
| In addition to deep and throbbing muscle aches | | | | medically supervised exercise program should all |
| and pains, individuals suffering from fibromyalgia | | | | be part of the treatment strategy. Neck pain, |
| may have what is referred to as "pain to the | | | | back pain, and sciatica, as well as pain levels |
| gentle touch" or allodynia. This type of pain is | | | | expressed at other areas the body, may remain |
| expressed at various trigger points or specific | | | | problematic until a specific cause for the |
| locations sensitive to the touch. The fibromyalgia | | | | syndrome can be found and treated. The |
| trigger points are generally found at or near the | | | | prognosis can be good, depending on a number of |
| joints. Interestingly, it's the area around the joints | | | | factors, including but not limited to the individual |
| that is the most sensitive. In these areas, it may | | | | fibromyalgia syndrome sufferer's motivation and |
| be at skin level and is not generally associated | | | | adherence to the treatment strategy prescribed. |
| with the deeper, throbbing pain. Once again, the | | | | Any program must include a complete exercise |
| pain associated with these trigger points may also | | | | program to help overcome the neck pain, back |
| be described as prickly or needle-sharp pain, | | | | pain, and sciatica, and a program of education, |
| rather than deep and throbbing in the body. It | | | | both self and group administered. |
| must be understood, that while this pain is | | | | |