Does Anybody Really Know What Fibromyalgia Is?

It seems like the only people who know what Fibromyalgia is are those who suffer from it. People know the name, but until it comes “a knockin” its not relevant to most of us. It’s truly a mystery disease, and as such, is completely misunderstood.
Actually, Fibromyalgia is not a disease, but is a syndrome. So what is the difference, you might ask? Well, a syndrome is a group of problems, not an individual disease. Fibromyalgia took years to be recognized. It was ignored and misunderstood, and there are still doubters who consider this syndrome a legend more than accepted disease entity.

So what are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is characterized by the presence of multiple tender points and a constellation of symptoms.

Pain
The pain of Fibromyalgia is profound, widespread and chronic. It knows no boundaries, migrating to all parts of the body and varying in intensity.

Fibromyalgia pain has been described as stabbing and shooting pain and deep muscular aching, throbbing, and twitching. Neurological complaints such as numbness, tingling, and burning are often present and add to the discomfort of the patient. The severity of the pain and stiffness is often worse in the morning. Aggravating factors that affect pain include cold/humid weather, non-restorative sleep, physical and mental fatigue, excessive physical activity, physical inactivity, anxiety and stress.

Fatigue
In today’s world many people complain of fatigue; however, the fatigue of Fibromyalgia is much more than being tired. It is an all-encompassing exhaustion that interferes with even the simplest daily activities. It feels like every drop of energy has been drained from the body, which at times can leave the patient with a limited ability to function both mentally and physically.

Sleep problems
Many fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep disorder that prevents them from getting deep, restful, restorative sleep. Medical researchers have documented specific and distinctive abnormalities in the Stage 4 deep sleep of Fibromyalgia patients. During sleep, individuals with Fibromyalgia are constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity, limiting the amount of time they spend in deep sleep.

Other symptoms
Additional symptoms may include: irritable bowel and bladder, headaches and migraines, restless legs syndrome (periodic limb movement disorder), impaired memory and concentration, skin sensitivities and rashes, dry eyes and mouth, anxiety, depression, ringing in the ears, dizziness, vision problems, Raynaud’s Syndrome, neurological symptoms, and impaired coordination.

It is estimated that it takes an average of five years for an Fibromyalgia patient to get an accurate diagnosis. Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. Fibromyalgia affects predominantly women (over 80%) between the ages of 35 and 55. Rarely, fibromyalgia can also affect men, children, and the elderly. For some, the onset of Fibromyalgia is slow; however, in a large percentage of patients the onset is triggered by an illness or injury that causes trauma to the body.
So does anybody really know what fibromyalgia really is? No one is exactly sure what causes it, it comes in many forms with many different symptoms, cloaks itself with other diseases, and can take up to 5 years to be sure you have it! No wonder it is one of the most misunderstood of diseases. Whoops, did I say diseases?—I guess I meant syndromes….