How Can I Know if I Have Fibromyalgia?

18 Nov 2009

18 Nov, 2009 female muscle

Fibromyalgia syndrome gives a lot of neuromuscular symptoms. Muscle pain is present is all the cases but it differs in intensity and localization. Some might feel this pain as a burning or as a radiating, others gnawing, sore, stiff, and aching. Also the activity a person performs, the stress level, the weather condition and sleep patterns might modify the intensity of the pain.

Some patients complain about the fact that they are tired even after sleeping for the whole night. Others say that they wake up during the night more frequent than they did before the disease had installed. Doctors say that an interruption during the deep sleep can cause the tiredness patients complain of.

General symptoms of fibromyalgia are: muscle pain that lasts more than three months, tenderness in the 18 points, sleeping problems, fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain associated with diarrhea or constipation and bloating. Also, paresthesia or tingling in hands, arms, feet, legs or face can be present.

Fibromyalgia can often be mistaken with flu because muscle pains, tenderness fatigue are present in flu too. Fatigue can give problems in concentrating and patients complain that they can not perform simple mental tasks any more. Some of the patients can feel depressed and develop mood changes, other patients complain about anxiety along with sensitivity to light and temperature.

These symptoms can last a few days or months and even years and the symptoms can sometimes get worse or sometimes disappear for a while. Doctors do not know exactly what causes fibromyalgia but they suspect special events like the flu or a trauma to be the trigger of this disease. Also, a diminished blood flow to certain parts of the brain can lead to fibromyalgia too. Other affections like: immune or endocrine system dysfunctions, upper spinal cord injuries, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction are possible causes of the disease.

This disease gives symptoms which resemble to those in chronic fatigue syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, and temporomandibular joint syndrome.

Treating fibromyalgia syndrome can be made at home too by performing exercises. The pain, sleep problems and depression can be controlled very well with medication.

It seems that some people are more exposed than others to this affection. Those who are young, are female, have a family history of the disease and complain of having sleeping problems can develop this affection at any moment.

Having fibromyalgia syndrome does not mean you can not perform your usual activities, you just have to adjust them fit you and your needs. Many people suffer of this affection but they still go to work and live a normal live.

For more resources on fibromyalgia and espcially about fibromyalgia treatment please visit this link http://www.fibromyalgia-info-center.com/fibromyalgia-treatment.htm

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-can-i-know-if-i-have-fibromyalgia-98060.html

TrackBack URI | RSS feed for comments on this post

4 Responses

Jaymes
2009 Nov 18 1

If you have or know someone with Fibromyalgia could you please answer my question about the symptoms?
It’s very difficult to find more than "widespread pain" on the internet. And I’m looking for specifics.
What symptoms do you have or have you heard of with Fibro?
Shay M
2009 Nov 18 2

I have it, bad. And it’s ruined my life. In my early thru mid 20’s I took martial arts & worked as a horse groom – I got to the barn at 7am, cleaned & bedded 22 stalls, cleaned water buckets, fed lunch. Afternoon I worked other horses then took my training in the evening. My husband was in a wreck and needed 24/7 care, had to quit, take care of him for 6 months and then get a real job. (I’m wanting to give you background to help understand & it’s going to be a long answer.)

A few years went by and things were pretty good. And then: One October a.m. I woke up crying, my knees hurt so bad I couldn’t get out of bed, waited a few days and went to Dr, was put on meds and sent home. Knee pain faded, back pain started, back to the Dr, more meds. The pain kept moving around, I was exhausted, walked into walls from balance problems, no short term memory. It was like severe flu that would not go away.

The insomnia was awful, then I started having nightmares about being beaten! That’s how bad the pain was. I’d go to work with my scrub shirt on backwards until someone told me. Friends started forgetting about me cause I had to cancel plans so often.

I was diagnosed January 2004 from tender points (try searching "fms tender points"). No treatment was given. After 2 serious suicide attempts, I’m on a cocktail of meds, can only work a few hours a week, & still really angry.

One book I would recomend is "Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain, A Survival Manual," by Devon Starlanyl & Mary Ellen Copeland. And try fibrocenter.com I think that’s the name.

Hope i helped.
References :
SimplyMeInTheWorld
2009 Nov 18 3

it s not difficutklt to find more tahn wide spread pain

have you tried

http://www.fmaware.org
webmd
mayo clinic

there are many quack sites out there–but the legit sites are infomrative

the otehr main symtpoms are fatigue, numbness/tiungling/sogntive difficulties
References :
Nancy D
2009 Nov 18 4

Oh boy is that ever a loaded question? : ) I am Founder and owner of Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain Support Group Ministry. Yes wide spread pain is one of the main issues.

Tender points in at least 18 spots in your body
Chronic Fatigue.
All over muscle achiness & pain
Numbness & tingling
Headaches
Pain in the bones in the back of your head
TMJ
Irritable Bowel & Bladder
Mild to severe muscle spasms
Burning, stinging and gouging pains especially in feet
Unsteadiness on feet and weakness in limbs
Loss of REM sleep (Nonrestorative sleep)
Sensitivity to heat and cold,(weather changes)
Bruised feelings in different parts of your body especially
in feet, where there is no actual bruising
Mild to extreme stiffness
Memory and concentration difficulties
Skin sensitivities,
Sensitivity to stress and physical activities
Twitching and jumping in the flesh and in the muscles

Also… CONDITIONS THAT COMMONLY OCCUR WITH FMS:
Osteoarthritis
Cervical & low back degenerative diseases
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lupus
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Hypothyroidism
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Lyme Disease
Prolapsed Mitral Valve
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Sjogren’s Syndrome & Many Other illnesses
(In my own experiece and in many of my clients I have found
Neuropathy to be a symptom, even without being diagnosed with Diabetes)
References :
I have researched for well over 12 years on all this but I cannot write it all here but if you wish you can write me at nancierose@msn.com and I will write you more about my research.

Marcio Ribeiro