What it is

Those of you with Fibromyalgia know exactly what it is, those who don’t can learn more here. There are many sources available in print form and on the World Wide Web. Educating yourself can help you cope with the challenges you will be faced with if you suffer from Fibromyalgia. If you are a caregiver, family member or friend and know someone with Fibromyalgia, education will help you better understand Fibromyalgia.

Let’s first dissect the word Fibromyalgia to better understand it:

fibro – fibrous tissues (Latin)

myo – muscle (Greek)

algos – pain (Greek)

Put them all together and what do you get….connective tissue or muscle pain = Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic, widespread or centralized pain throughout the body. The pain occurs in different muscles, ligaments and tendons. Some people experience tender areas on their body that are painful to touch. Most Fibromyalgia sufferers must cope with feelings of exhaustion, some of which comes from dealing with the constant pain.

According to the Mayo Clinic, 2% of the population of the United States suffers from this debilitating condition. Other estimates vary up to 4% being affected. Women, especially older women are more likely to develop Fibromyalgia then men, with an estimated ratio of 9:1.

What researchers do know is that this affects everyone differently. The constant aches that occur can best be described as flu like aches. Some pain can be felt as stabbing or shooting pain, even needlelike. What everyone can agree on, is that there is true pain being felt and “tender points” are truly tender, even painful to the touch. Along with pain, some sufferers may experience other symptoms such as: fatigue, difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety, stiffness in the joints, bowel or bladder problems, even difficulty swallowing. Because of these other symptoms, Fibromyalgia is often referred to as Fibromyalgia Syndrome or FMS.

The chart below shows the “tender points” previously mentioned. A rheumatologist will diagnose you to rule out other closely related conditions. They are called “tender point” because when pressure is applied to these areas, additional pain is felt. The American College of Rheumatology has set forth guidelines in the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. You must have widespread pain lasting for more than 3 months and you need a minimum of 11 out of a possible 18 positive “tender points.” Blood tests are usually performed to rule out RA.

The causes of Fibromyalgia are still unknown. Several treatments are available for coping with the pain of FMS. They include medications, physical therapy, aqua therapy and counseling. Alternative medicine or therapies such as acupuncture, meditation and massage therapy have proven effective in some cases.

For further information I suggest from my own personal use looking into Fibromyalgia at wikipedia.org, The Mayo Clinic, The Arthritis Foundation and your doctor. Knowledge and understanding can help you create a more active and fulfilling lifestyle. It can help you cope with pain and feelings of isolation you may encounter. Education can help others understand you better. Don’t be afraid to learn or to try something new, like a different medication to treat your Fibromyalgia. Learn to accept and live with your Fibromyalgia, become stronger in spite of it.