| Fibromyalgia is a chronic, widespread, debilitating | | | | neck, shoulders, lower back and hips… |
| disease that often manifests as diffuse pain, | | | | Individual cases of fibromyalgia have a wide |
| constant muscle aches and overwhelming fatigue. | | | | variability, but many patients also suffer from |
| Although it affects about 2-6% of the general | | | | other disorders as well. These comorbid |
| population (about five million people), fibromyalgia | | | | syndromes commonly include chronic clinical |
| is not a contagious disease. Women are about 9 | | | | depression, lyme disease, chronic fatigue |
| times more likely to be diagnosed than men, and | | | | sydrome, premenstrual syndrome, restless legs |
| it is most prevalent in prevalent in people | | | | syndrome, spinal disorders, or hypothyroidism. |
| between 20-50 years of age. | | | | There are also many factors that can aggravate |
| Fibromyalgia usually displays a variety of | | | | fibromyalgia. Severe weather changes, nutritional |
| symptoms including generalized aches and pains, | | | | deficiencies, over-exertion, increases in stress |
| increased sensitivity of the skin, chronic fatigue, | | | | levels, allergies and cold weather have all been |
| weakness or dizziness, muscle stiffness or joint | | | | shown to contribute to flare-ups. |
| pain and migraine headaches. Symptoms of | | | | Treatment of fibromyalgia has historically been |
| fibromyalgia vary greatly between individuals but | | | | inadequate at best. There is no cure for the |
| almost all suffer from an associated sleep | | | | disease and therapies are usually aimed at |
| disorder. Depression, anxiety, irritable bowel | | | | alleviating the symptoms and improving quality of |
| syndrome, numbness and tingling of the | | | | sleep. Medications commonly prescribed for |
| extremities and heightened sensitivity to stimuli | | | | fibromyalgia include conventional analgesics, |
| may also be present. | | | | low-dose antidepressants, muscle relaxants and |
| Currently, there is no known specific cause of | | | | sleep-inducing agents. Alternative therapies that |
| fibromyalgia. Popular opinion suggests a disorder in | | | | have shown some promise include acupuncture, |
| pain perception and processing in the pathways to | | | | chiropractic care, physical therapy, meditation or |
| the brain. Research has shown that fibromyalgia | | | | relaxation techniques and a gentle aerobic |
| patients have elevated levels of substance P | | | | exercise program. Other important considerations |
| (involved with enhanced pain perception) and a | | | | to prevent fibromyalgia from flaring up include a |
| lower than normal production of natural stress | | | | regular sleep routine, emotional and physical stress |
| hormones. Another theory revolves around a | | | | reduction, good social support networks and |
| sleep disturbance as the cause, because many | | | | strategies to conserve energy and minimize |
| fibromyalgia patients cannot attain deep sleep. Still | | | | triggering factors. |
| other theories have implicated reduced immune | | | | Fibromyalgia can be a very difficult disease to live |
| system function, environmental toxins, abnormal | | | | with because of its chronic, disabling nature and |
| hormonal fluctuations, viral causes, genetic links | | | | the presence of widespread skepticism. There is |
| and dysfunctional neurotransmitters. Although | | | | often no objective evidence of physical illness and |
| exciting new research is constantly being done, | | | | the disease is very poorly understood. Sufferers |
| the cause of fibromyalgia remains elusive and has | | | | of fibromyalgia face accusations of laziness or |
| the medical world stumped. | | | | feigning illness. Social activity and recreation is |
| Diagnosis of fibromyalgia is based on a specific set | | | | often be avoided and the patient's career is |
| of criteria, including a physical examination or | | | | usually affected as well. Although fibromyalgia can |
| observation, and the symptoms described by the | | | | affect every aspect of its victims' lives, it does |
| patient. Ruling out other possible diseases is key. | | | | not have to be as devastating as it once was. |
| Currently, there are no conclusive laboratory tests | | | | With advanced scientific research and promising |
| to identify fibromyalgia but for diagnostic | | | | new treatments waiting in the wings, anything's |
| purposes, there has to be a history of diffuse | | | | possible. |
| pain lasting longer than three months. Another | | | | Disclaimer: The information presented here should |
| diagnostic requirement is the presence of at least | | | | not be interpreted as or substituted for medical |
| 11 "tender points" out of a possible 18 and these | | | | advice. Please talk to a qualified professional for |
| are typically located at elbow and knee joints, the | | | | more information about fibromyalgia. |