Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by fatigue and widespread pain in muscles, ligaments, and tendons. While other illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome and muscle pain syndrome also include symptoms of fatigue and muscle pain, fibromyalgia is unique in that it is suffered in parallel locations on the body.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

It is not known for certain what causes fibromyalgia. Some researchers believe fibromyalgia is hereditary, and that it is "triggered" by excess stress—either collective or a one-time intensely stressful event. Though depression is often a result of suffering from fibromyalgia, it is not a cause or symptom.

New research points towards malfunctions within the central nervous system (CNS) as a cause of fibromyalgia. Abnormal levels of "neurotransmitters" (chemicals that transmit nerve signals in the brain) and/or hormone levels have been reported in fibromyalgia patients.

It's Not Just You
An estimated three to six percent of the U.S. population has fibromyalgia. About ninety percent of the cases are women, but fibromyalgia can affect men, women and children of all ages and races.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Pain: Your central nervous system is constantly receiving information from your sensory system. Within the neurons of the CNS is a threshold that determines whether the CNS passes the information on to the brain based on signal strength. This helps ensure that the brain is not overly stimulated by minor, unimportant sensations. With fibromyalgia, the threshold is lowered so drastically that small, minor signals that the brain would not normally receive are being passed through the CNS. These "misfires" then travel at such an amplitude and rate that the brain processes these as pain signals.

People with fibromyalgia experience widespread pain. Any part of the body may be experiencing pain at one time or another, but the most common sites of pain include the neck, back, shoulders and hands. The pain itself has been described as a deep throbbing, aching, stabbing and shooting pain. The intensity of the pain will vary over time, but for the most part, the pain is a constant presence. In addition to the pain, people with fibromyalgia may experience a tingling, numbing, or burning sensation.

Fatigue: For normal people, a few days of rest will recharge the body and mind, but people suffering from fibromyalgia do not recover after a few days of rest. The exhaustion experienced by people suffering from fibromyalgia is severe, often interfering with simple, daily activities. The fatigue is "draining" and leaves the person with very limited mental and physical abilities.

Other Symptoms of Fibromyalgia: In addition to widespread pain and severe fatigue, people suffering from fibromyalgia experience headaches and migraines, dry eyes and mouth, sensitive skin, dizziness, impaired coordination, and vision problems. People also have difficulty concentrating and may suffer from a sleep disorder, such as insomnia.