From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fibromyalgia | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
 The location of the nine paired tender points that comprise the 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia. | |
| ICD-10 | M79.7 |
| ICD-9 | 729.1 |
| MedlinePlus | 000427 |
| eMedicine | med/790 med/2934 ped/777 pmr/47 |
| MeSH | D005356 |
Fibromyalgia (FM or FMS) is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespreadpain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure.[1] Fibromyalgia symptoms are not restricted to pain, leading to the use of the alternative termfibromyalgia syndrome for the condition. Other symptoms include debilitating fatigue,sleep disturbance, and joint stiffness. Some patients[2] may also report difficulty with swallowing,[3] bowel and bladder abnormalities,[4] numbness and tingling,[5] and cognitive dysfunction.[6] Fibromyalgia is frequently comorbid with psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety and stress-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder.[7][8] Not all people with fibromyalgia experience all associated symptoms.[9]Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2–4% of the population,[7] with a female to male incidence ratio of approximately 9:1.[10] The term "fibromyalgia" derives from new Latin,fibro-, meaning "fibrous tissues", Greek myo-, "muscle", and Greek algos-, "pain"; thus the term literally means "muscle and connective tissue pain".
The brains of fibromyalgia patients show functional and structural differences from those of healthy individuals, but it is unclear whether the brain anomalies cause fibromyalgia symptoms or are the product of an unknown underlying common cause. Some research suggests that these brain anomalies may be the result of childhood stress, or prolonged or severe stress.[8]
Historically, fibromyalgia has been considered either a musculoskeletal disease orneuropsychiatric condition. Although there is as yet no cure for fibromyalgia, some treatments have been shown by controlled clinical trials to effectively reduce symptoms, including medications, behavioral interventions, patient education, and exercise.[11][12][13][14][15][16] The most recent approach of a diagnosis of fibromyalgia involves pain index and a measure of key symptoms and severity.[17]
Fibromyalgia has been recognized as a diagnosable disorder by the US National Institutes of Health and the American College of Rheumatology.[18][19] Fibromyalgia, a central nervous system disorder, is described as a 'central sensitization syndrome' caused by neurobiological abnormalities which act to produce physiological pain and cognitive impairments as well as neuro-psychological symptomatology.[20] Despite this, some health care providers remain skeptical about fibromyalgia as a disease because of a lack of abnormalities on physical examination and the absence of objective diagnostic tests.[21][22]
The above is the wikipedia entry for Fibromyalgia giving an overview of the symptoms what I would like to do with this post is highlight what it is like living day to day with Fibromyalgia.
After many years complaining to various doctors and medical professionals who failed to discover what it was that ailed me I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia last year, I was told there is no cure for this and all that can be done is to try and manage the pain with pain killers.
Many people including friends and relatives find it difficult to understand what it is like living with Fibromyalgia, they see what on the outside looks like a normal, healthy person yet fail to see what is going on inside.
From waking up in the morning the battle with pain begins, for each person the symptoms will vary and differ, for myself I get sharp pains in my thighs, hips, lower back, knees, neck, shoulders and hands.
Cramps are a regular occurrence as is lethargy and chest pain.
Never knowing which area of the body the pain will strike I take pain killers which don't seem to work for me yet work for others, again this is to be expected according to my doctor and it may take many combinations of drugs to find the correct ones which do work and help me.
Walking is mostly an issue as most days I am in too much pain to walk farther than my kitchen however I do get rare good days where I am able to do more than expected but on these days it comes with a price as I can never move far for several days afterwards.
One of the most difficult things to come to terms with is other peoples view of you, they consider you to be lazy and a layabout who doesn't want to work. this is as far from the truth as you can get, I personally would relish being able to be as active as I once was and able to hold down a job, even running a part time photography business has proved too much for me and I have had to turn down offers of work because I can not do the hours required (these have been wedding photography which is often very long hours) as standing or sitting in one place doesn't ease the pain.
Depression is brought about not only by the pain but also the knowing that you are unable to do the things you once were, simple things people take for granted such as riding a bicycle, taking a walk in the sun, tidying up, even washing up causes pain and unease especially in my lower back.
And all the time you hope for a cure or at least some release from the pain and frustration you endure, unseen by friends and relatives, not believed by those in power and treated as a second class citizen by those who are nothing more than slaves to the grind, so before you judge a person with Fibromyalgia understand what he/she goes through day in, day out, constant pain and aching, depression and an understanding that it will only get worse through the years, and that we are not lazy we are suffering.
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