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Fibromyalgia Pain
Learn About Relief From
Fibromyalgia Pain Here
Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that causes physical pain and fatigue.
Classified as a syndrome not a disease. Fibromyalgia causes many different
symptoms:
 Do You Have Fibromyalgia?
For the most part, routine laboratory
testing reveals nothing about Fibromyalgia However, upon physical examination,
the Fibromyalgia patient will be sensitive to pressure in certain areas of the
body called tender points. To meet the diagnosis criteria, patient must have:
A. Widespread pain in all four
quadrants of their body for a minimum of three months.
B. At least 11 of the 18 specified
tender points. (see diagram)
There 18 sites used for diagnosis
cluster around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knees and elbow regions. Over 75
other tender points have been found to exist, but are not used for diagnostic
purposes. Some experts believe that a person does not need to have 11 tender
points to be diagnosed and treated for Fibromyalgia. The criterion was
originally intended for research purposes and many people may have Fibromyalgia
with less than 11 of the required tender points.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness
that causes physical pain and fatigue. Classified as a syndrome not a disease.
Fibromyalgia causes many different symptoms:
• Fatigue.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Sleep disorders.
• Chronic headaches.
• Jaw pain.
• Memory impairment.
• Muscle pain morning stiffness.
• Painful menstruation.
• Numbness and tingling in the
extremities.
• Dizziness or light headedness.
• Skin and chemical
sensitivities.
Fibromyalgia's main symptom is
widespread musculoskeletal pain. This pain affects the ligaments, tendons, and
muscles throughout the body. Ligaments are made of tough tissues which attach to
the bones in your body. Tendons help to attach muscles to your bones. Muscles
allow you to stretch and flex various body parts.
One of the significant symptoms of
Fibromyalgia is the associated sleep disorder, or disrupted sleep pattern. Often
times a person with Fibromyalgia will sleep for two or three hours at a time
before waking and having difficulty getting back to sleep, this pattern
continues throughout the night. The cumulation of ‘bad sleep” results in the
“fibromyalgia fog” that adds a lethargic feeling to the muscle pain.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
The causes of Fibromyalgia are
unknown. Fibromyalgia has been linked to:
• Stressful or traumatic events,
• Car accidents
• Repetitive injuries
• Illness
• Certain Diseases: rheumatoid
arthritis, lupus, spinal arthritis
Who is Affected by Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia affects as many as 1 in
50 Americans and research shows that most people with Fibromyalgia are women.
However, men and children can also have the syndrome.
Learn about Fibromyalgia Relief
This chart shows some
of the Fibromyalgia tender points
Download a larger
Fibromyalgia tender points chart from the manuals page.
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