History and Introduction
First observed in the nineteenth century, fibromyalgia was originally referred to as fibrositis and fibrositis syndrome. It later was referred to as fibromyositis and muscular rheumatism. Dr. Philip Hench coined the term “fibromyalgia” to refer to the disease in 1976. Fibromyalgia is diagnosed by examining the severity of each patient’s pain across 19 specific areas of the body, as well as the severity of their associated symptoms (such as sleeping difficulty, cognitive dysfunction, and fatigue).
Over the years, fibromyalgia has carried a legacy of negative stigma within many realms of the medical community. Originally disregarded as a “psychosomatic” illness, many clinicians believed that people with fibromyalgia simply imagined their symptoms. Others believed that fibromyalgia was not a singular disease but a combination of symptoms from a group of related conditions.
In addition, other clinicians have refused to acknowledge the disease altogether, considering it an illegitimate condition and simply treating each specific symptom in the absence of a formal diagnosis. This lack of acceptance by the medical community has made patients feel ostracized, confused, and frustrated. In addition, this lack of acceptance has also made it difficult for patients to explain their symptoms to family and friends.
When the American College of Rheumatology established definitive diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia in 1990, the disease finally received the credit it deserved and gave patients the ability to receive a true diagnosis. However, despite the existence of these diagnostic criteria, some clinicians still refused to accept that fibromyalgia is a true condition and continued to insist that its symptoms were the result of another physiologic condition or simply psychological in nature.
Despite the continuing resistance from some in the medical community, fibromyalgia has become more widely accepted as a true medical diagnosis, thereby enabling patients to get the care they so desperately need and so greatly deserve. For far greater detail relative to defining and understanding the many aspects of fibromyalgia, please refer to our website – www.fibromyalgia-treatment.com.
The sections in the primary header labeled “What is Fibromyalgia?”, “Fibromyalgia Treatment” and “Fibromyalgia Symptoms” contain comprehensive information on all aspects of fibromyalgia. You will find individual articles detailing specific treatment options, from various pharmaceutical drugs to complementary and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and yoga. There you can also read detailed articles on the many symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, and morning stiffness, as well as find summaries of the latest research surrounding fibromyalgia.
Symptoms: Pain
The most common symptom associated with fibromyalgia by far is chronic, widespread pain. The pain is often described as being deep, muscular pain as well as pain in the connective tissues (“myofascial pain”). Individual descriptions of pain sensations vary among fibromyalgia patients, with some describing it as aching, throbbing, or sharp/shooting. Others describe it more as a burning or tingling sensation.
The pain associated with fibromyalgia causes sufferers to ache all over. Certain "Tender Points” on the body may continue to ache regardless of the therapies a patient tries, and muscles may feel constantly overworked. The pain of fibromyalgia can concentrate around the joints of the neck, back, shoulders, and hips, which can make sleeping difficult and restrict mobility. Furthermore, fibromyalgia pain is frequently made worse by changes in weather, temperature, loss of sleep, fatigue, excessive physical activity or lack thereof, and stress/anxiety.
Fibromyalgia pain differs from acute pain (that which originates suddenly and resolves over a period of time, such as with a broken bone), in that it is chronic, persistent, and ongoing. Living with the pain of fibromyalgia is extremely difficult. It makes relaxation problematic and interacts severely with an individual’s ability to sleep restfully. Chronic sleep deprivation results in increased pain and aching, morning stiffness, and daytime fatigue. Fibromyalgia pain can also make it difficult for sufferers to maintain an active lifestyle and lead to social isolation, depression, and anxiety.
Fatigue
In addition to widespread muscle pain and aching, chronic persistent fatigue is another hallmark symptom of fibromyalgia. It occurs in as many as 90% of patients and can be so severe that it leads to isolation, depression, and anxiety. Many fibromyalgia sufferers describe their fatigue as being similar to that which occurs with the flu, truly debilitating and exhausting. Fatigue may wax and wane as symptoms worsen or improve, however it continues to be problematic and made worse by the sleep disturbances most fibromyalgia patients also experience.
Some researchers and physicians have observed strong similarities between the fatigue seen in fibromyalgia patients and the condition called chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). CFS is a disorder marked by persistent, extreme fatigue that does not improve, even after a person rests. In addition, a number of other symptoms are commonly seen in CFS, including muscle pain, impaired memory, and headache, sleep problems, and painful lymph nodes. It also occurs most often in women in their forties and fifties. Due to the strikingly similar symptoms and the high rate of occurrence in women, CFS and fibromyalgia are often miss-diagnosed as each other or diagnosed together in the same patient.
Excerpted from the book Your Guide to Treating Fibromyalgia.
This excerpt has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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