| The medical world classifies fibromyalgia as a chronic | | | | and knees. |
| disorder that causes widespread aching, stiffness, | | | | If someone suspects they may have fibromyalgia, |
| and fatigue in the muscles, ligaments, tendons and | | | | they should keep a detailed diary of the different |
| joints. Some physicians may even call it a disease and | | | | aches and pains they experience, how long each bout |
| recommend medication and exercise as treatment. | | | | lasts, and how severe the pain was during these |
| Nobody really knows what causes fibromyalgia, but | | | | episodes. Do not leave anything out, as each bit of |
| several theories point towards some kind of physical | | | | information can be important to reach the diagnosis. |
| or emotional trauma, or an unidentified virus. Some | | | | Experiencing twitches and burning sensations in an |
| scientists state that fibromyalgia sufferers have a | | | | upper arm, or an intense headache lasting for days, |
| lower threshold for pain because of increased | | | | and then instantly disappearing, can all be related to |
| sensitivity to pain signals in the brain, while yet | | | | fibromyalgia. In some severe cases people |
| another group of researchers believe that repeated | | | | unexpectedly no longer could walk, or had to drag |
| nerve stimulation causes the brain to change. This | | | | one leg to get around. A few days later, they woke |
| could be caused by an abnormal increase in levels of | | | | up and felt as if nothing was ever wrong, at least |
| neurotransmitters, or the chemicals in the brain that | | | | until the round of symptoms appeared. |
| signal pain. | | | | Fibromyalgia pain continuously moves and does not |
| Diagnosing fibromyalgia (FM) is difficult and frustrating. | | | | differentiate between the left and right side of the |
| Because of the diversity of symptoms, and lack of | | | | body, nor does differentiate between men and |
| physical evidence, like if a bone were broken, or a | | | | women. It will not hint at where it will show up next, |
| artery clogged - which are all quite detectable | | | | or how long it will stay. One day it will cramp up a |
| through tests, proving conclusively that someone has | | | | hand, disabling a person to write, while a few days |
| this disease is virtually impossible. Even after several | | | | later memory loss may strike, leaving the afflicted |
| examinations the results may still be inconclusive, | | | | person with the feeling they are going insane. |
| because fibromyalgia cannot be detected through | | | | If you feel you may have fibromyalgia, never let |
| blood tests or x-rays. All these specific tests do is | | | | anyone tell you "there is nothing wrong with you", or |
| rule out that the patient has no other illnesses. | | | | "it is all in your head!" It is in our nature to know |
| Outside of documenting at least 3 months of | | | | when we have a medical problem, and it is up to us |
| widespread pain, there is only one medically | | | | to keep looking for that medical practitioner who is |
| recognized test that can lead to a fibromyalgia | | | | willing to believe us, and think outside of the box. |
| diagnosis, and that is by finding a minimum of 11 | | | | Yes, fibromyalgia is an "invisible" disease and may be |
| tender or trigger points on the body. Tender points | | | | misunderstood by many, but to those experiencing |
| are specific places on the body that are exceptionally | | | | the agonizing pain, it is quite real. The last thing these |
| sensitive to touch, and all 18 can be found scattered | | | | patients need is for someone to ridicule them. |
| over the neck, chest, back, hips, elbows, buttocks, | | | | |