A short rundown on Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a painful, complex and perplexing medical condition. It is painful because it is characterized by stifness and tender points that occur in the muscle areas of the hips, shoulders, neck, and spine. It is complex because, in addition to causing general and specific pain, its symptoms include fatigue, difficulties with sleep, anxiety, and stomach related (gastrointestinal) problems. And, lastly, Fibromyalgia syndrome, or FMS, is perplexing because, while more light is being shed on this burdensome illness, the origin and basis for FMS is still unclear.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome affects millions of people all over the world. Despite this fact, though, the condition is poorly understood and is not even fully accepted by all doctors, making the outlook for many individuals with FMS less favorable than might otherwise be the case. Fortunately, more information is coming to light on fibromyalgia syndrome and, over time, this may result in greater understanding of fibromyalgia and more effective treatment for FMS patients.

A few basic facts

• Between 70% and 80% of FMS patients complain of painful muscle stiffness
• A Fibromyalgia diagnosis is sometimes based on having 11 out of 18 identifiable tender points
• Many patients with fibromyalgia have short term memory retention problems
• Patients are generally diagnosed with fibromyalgia between the ages of 20 and 60
• Fibromyalgia is occasionally mistaken for lupus
• Fibromyalgia is diagnosed more often in women than in men
• Though FMS is often classified among rheumatoid disorders, it does not seem to involve joint destruction or deformation of joints
• Most fibromyalgia patients have symptoms of fatigue which may be caused by inadequate amounts of deep-level
• The causes of fibromyalgia may be different in different individuals
• A percentage of fibromyalgia patients will find it necessary at some point to file for Social Security Disability Benefits