Fibromyalgia Pain - When Your Body Hurts All Over

Fibromyalgia is a common, but poorly understood condition. Fibromyalgia or FM/FMS refers to a syndrome - a group of symptoms and signs previously referred to as Fibrositis.

Fibromyalgia (FM/FMS) is often called the "invisible disease" because outwardly fibromyalgia sufferers/patients may look perfectly healthy but internally they may have intense pain throughout their bodies, they may be constantly fatigued and weak, they may be dizzy, confused, lacking sleep, suffering digestive disorders and generally living a poor quality of life.

The cause of Fibromyalgia is unknown.

It remains a controversial diagnosis although the majority of Doctors (Rheumatologists) now accept the reality of this condition.

There is no known cure for Fibromyalgia but there are ways to treat the symptoms to improve your quality of life.

Fibromyalgia pain is not all in the person's/patients' heads as we are lead to believe. It does not appear to simply a psychological disease, although many patients do become depressed.

There are abnormalities of various factors in the blood and the fluid around the brain which suggest that the body's nervous system has lost some of its ability to properly cope with modestly uncomfortable events.

Unlike hypochondriacs, most Fibromyalgia sufferers WANT TO GET WELL, the depression that occurs is usually as a result of Acute/Chronic Pain and Tiredness and they do not appear to be malingers.

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA (FM/FMS)?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points - places on your body where slight pressure causes pain.

The most common symptoms are sleep disturbance, widespread pain, tiredness and morning stiffness.

Patients will complain of pain arising from their joints, more commonly from their muscles and the majority of patients will have pain arising from both joints and muscles.

The pain of Fibromyalgia is often made worse by extreme changes in the weather, humidity, cold/damp weather, stress and lack of sleep/tiredness.

FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS CHECKLIST

General Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Delayed reactions to physical exertion or stressful events
* Other family members with fibromyalgia (Genetic Predisposition)
* Sweats and Night-Sweats
* Unexplained Weight Gain or Weight Loss
* Cravings for Carbohydrate and Chocolate (usually lacking in Magnesium)
* Headaches & Migraines
* Vision changes, including rapidly worsening vision

Muscle & Tissue-Related Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Pain that ranges from mild to severe, and may move around the body
* Morning Stiffness
* Muscle Twitches

Sinus & Allergy-Related Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Allergies
* Post Nasal Drip/Runny Nose
* Mold & Yeast Sensitivity/Allergy
* Shortness of Breath
* Earaches & Itchy Ears
* Tinitis

Sleep-Related Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Insomnia - light and/or broken sleep pattern with unrefreshing sleep
* Fatigue
* Twitchy Muscles at night
* Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Reproductive Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Menstrual problems/PMS
* Loss of Libido
* Impotence

Abdominal & Digestive Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Bloating & Nausea
* Abdominal Cramps
* Pelvic pain
* Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Cognitive/Neurological Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Difficulty speaking known words, other language impairments (dysphasia)
* Directional Disorientation
* Poor Balance and Coordination
* Paresthesias in the upper limbs (Tingling or Burning Sensations)
* Short-term Memory Impairment
* Confusion (Brain Fog or Fibro Fog)
* Trouble Concentrating
* Staring into space before brain “kicks in”
* Inability to recognize familiar surroundings

Sensory Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Sensitivity to Smell/Odours
* Sensitivity to Weather Pressure Changes, Temperature & Humidity
* Sensitivity to Light
* Sensitivity to Noise

Emotional Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Panic Attacks/Anxiety
* Depression (as an overlapping condition)
* Tendency to Cry easily
* Free-floating anxiety (not associated with situation or object)
* Mood Swings
* Unaccountable Irritability/Hard to Please/Perfectionist

Heart-Related Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Mitral Valve Prolapse (as an overlapping condition)
* Rapid, fluttery, irregular heartbeat
* Pain that mimics heart attack, frequently from costochondritis (as an overlapping condition)

Skin, Hair & Nail-Related Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Mottled Skin/Chloasma
* Bruising or Scaring easily
* Hair Loss (temporary)

Miscellaneous Fibromyalgia Symptoms

* Hemorrhoids
* Nose Bleeds

Fibromyalgia and Pain Management Methods

The management of Fibromyalgia is extremely difficult and there is 'no quick fix'.

Drug treatment probably has only a minor role. The usual anti-inflammatory drugs given to arthritis patients are not normally effective. Low dose anti-depressant drugs may be helpful initially but should not be used as a long-term remedy.

Fibromyalgia can occur in conjunction with other conditions such as Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Arthralgia, Chronic Fatigue (CF), Irritable Bowel (IBS), etc.

Although Fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to live with, it is not dangerous and does not ultimately impair the function of joints, muscles or other body tissues and is not crippling like some other conditions that Rheumatologists see.

Psychological counselling can be helpful and a gentle Exercise program including walking, hydrotherapy and gentle aerobic exercise is extremely useful.

My personal story is one of getting on and off the Fibromyalgia treadmill with one Doctor saying yes you have it and others saying no you do not but you have such and such. The most difficult part of dealing and coping with an 'invisible condition' is just that ... it is INVISIBLE to every one except for the person searching for answers to why they are in pain.

Apparently according to my latest medical tests I am no longer a Fibromyalgia sufferer but have another non-related Blood/Bone condition which is the cause behind my pain. Funny thing is though I still wake up most mornings feeling more tired than when I went to bed even though I have had a relatively decent night's sleep and my body is still unable to spring out of bed rejuvenated from that night's sleep as it is painfully stiff and needs 'stretching time' before I venture out to face a new day!

I had a funny moment with my husband the other morning when upon rising I motioned my way up the hallway of our house 'arring and orring' at this and that hurting me as I was walking ... he said to me cheekily "you are the only person I know who wakes up 'injured', you are creaking louder than this old house does" ... at first I told him to "sod-off" but then I laughed because although he was stating the obvious ... he was actually telling the truth!

Fibromyalgia is not a nice problem to be dealing with ... it is very REAL and should be treated with the utmost respect.

Other HubPage Articles that I have written on Fibromyalgia/Pain and Reiki Healing are listed below. Click on the highlighted link to read the article.

Being-In-Pain-Proves-That-You-Are-Alive

Energy-Healing-Away-My-Pain

Empowerment-Through-Reiki-Healing

Energy Healing-Understanding-Yin-and-Yang-Energy-Systems

Fibromyalgia-Raise-Awareness-By-Networking-With-Others

Psychosomatic-Illness-Imaginative-Mind-Games

Reiki-Healing-and-Fibromyalgia-Pain-Relief

Reiki Healing-Self-Healing-Your-Mind-Body-and-Soul

Reiki Healing-Why-Choose-Reiki

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