What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a painful disorder that is recognized by the presence of widespread pain that is chronic and responds to pressure. It causes extreme fatigue, stiff joints, and sleep disturbance. It is somewhat similar to arthritis, but the pain is around the body rather than just at joints. Additional symptoms of fibromyalgia include swallowing difficulties, numbness, tingling, and some bowel or bladder abnormalities. It can cause anxiety and nervousness, depression, and some cognitive dysfunction.

Fibromyalgia affects muscles and connective tissue rather than joints. It is sometimes referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome because symptoms include more than just pain. Not all symptoms mentioned occur in all affected persons. It can be confused with other similar disorders, including arthritis, and has been linked to abnormalities of the central nervous system. There is some thought that this disorder can result from childhood stress, or continual severe stress, instead of being a brain disorder. Apparently there is no cure for fibromyalgia, which causes more stress in those persons affected by it.

To reduce the effects of fibromyalgia, various techniques have been tried, including exercise, stress reduction therapy, medications, education and some behavior modifications.

Within the medical community, this disorder is controversial. Some doctors do not consider it to be a disease because there are no objective diagnostic tests to show that it exists. In the past, it was ignored, or lumped in with other diseases that are similar. Those include multiple chemical sensitivity, and chronic fatigue syndrome..

For the patient experiencing extreme fatigue and a body that is painful upon touching, this disorder causes more stress and can reduce normal activities. Explaining the symptoms is difficult and vague, which can lead to misdiagnosis. There are body maps with pressure point locations that are used to help determine if the patient has fibromyalgia.

Depression is common in patients with fibromyalgia, and there are some homeopathic treatments that may offer some relief, such as massage on the pressure points, moist heat, cold packs, and acupuncture. The theory behind these treatments is that a rise in serotonin and decrease in cortisol will reduce depression as these chemicals affect the nervous system.

People who are in pain, as those with fibromyalgia, will try many remedies to help obtain relief from their problem. Pain causes depression, and stress, both of which increase awareness of pain, so anything that reduces pain, should also reduce their stress and depression.

Back To Fibromyalgia Main Page

Back To Health Information Main Page