LIVING WITH FIBROMYALGIA

What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a non-life-threatening, chronic disorder of the muscles and related soft tissue, including ligaments and tendons. Its main symptoms are muscle pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and tender points at certain parts of the body. Many people describe fibromyalgia as feeling like a persistent flu.

Some health care providers may use these terms to refer to fibromyalgia: fibromyositis, fibrositis, periarticular fibrositis, muscular rheumatism, chronic muscle pain syndrome, musculoskeletal pain syndrome, or tension myalgia. However, "fibromyalgia," which means "pain of the muscles and other fibrous tissue," is the accepted term and has replaced some of the others. Terms ending in "-itis," which means "inflammation," are now considered incorrect because inflammation does not play a significant role in fibromyalgia.

Key Characteristics
Muscle pain, either throughout the body or only at certain points, is the primary symptom. It may range from mild discomfort to pain severe enough to limit work, social activities, and everyday tasks. Pain commonly occurs in the neck, shoulders, chest, rib cage, lower back and thighs and may feel like a burning, gnawing, throbbing, stabbing, or aching sensation and may develop gradually. It usually seems worse when a person is trying to relax and is less noticeable during activity.

A related, key aspect of fibromyalgia is the presence of "tender points," muscles and tendons that are tender when pressed. Typically, tender points are located in the neck, back, knee, shoulder, elbow, and hip.

People with fibromyalgia also feel moderately to severely fatigued and have sleep problems, including insomnia. This may result from restless legs and arms, which may disrupt their sleep, or they may suffer from sleep apnea or grind their teeth while they sleep.

Tender Points
According to the American Academy of Rheumatology, for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, you must have unusual tenderness at a minimum of 11 of the 18 "tender points" associated with the condition. Some health care providers diagnose fibromyalgia in patients who have fewer tender points but who otherwise have severe, widespread (meaning upper and lower body occurring on both right and left sides) pain symptoms that are present for at least three months.

The standard tender points are located in the muscle or other soft tissue on both sides and the front and back of the body. Those who have fibromyalgia may have unusual tenderness at any of several other points on the body as well.



Who Is Affected
Experts estimate that 3 million to 6 million Americans have fibromyalgia. Of these, 80% are women. One of the main risk factors is being a woman between the age of 20 and 50. Another risk factor is having a rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or Sjogren's syndrome. Fibromyalgia also seems to run in families, so a gene may be at least partly responsible for the condition. Most people with fibromyalgia begin to notice symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40, but children and older adults may also develop the condition. Women with fibromyalgia typically feel pain throughout their body, while men are more likely to have facial pain or pain and stiffness in a certain part of the body as a result of a work- or recreation-related muscle strain.


(my Fibromyalgia symptoms)

Most days are spent in bed because of the pain, fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness and drowsiness from my medications.

I have been dealing and struggling with these symptoms of Fibromyalgia for over a year. I am unable to sit or stand for long periods of time because the pain will start in another part of my body or from weakness or nausea.

I don't get to go as many places, clean my house or able to dress myself as well as I use to because of stiffness and mobility problems.

Sometimes the pain is so bad that I can't wear clothes or allow much to touch my skin. I often lose many nights of sleep due to pain. I have to be careful how I move or position myself when I sit or lie down.

When the pain is very severe at times to the point where I experience loss of appetite, deep depression and anxiety.

Also often times someone accompanies me to places I need to go outside the home. There are even times when I've experienced memory loss.


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http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/default.htm

GOD BLESS!!