Joint pain and fatigue are the common symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Nearly 3.7 million Americans are affected by the illness, most of who are women. Most people are ignorant of these symptoms and tend to ignore symptoms in patients as psychological complaints. Invariably the pain is real and is caused due to chronic neurological dysfunction. The symptoms can vary in different patients but the pain is usually the same.



Fibromyalgia causes pain in the joints and other parts of the body and is essentially a muscular pain in the joints. It can cause centralized pain in the spinal chord and brain, which can often be misinterpreted. The joints may feel inflamed and the skin - tender. Shooting pain experienced along with giddiness and memory fog. This muscular pain causes various other symptoms in the person.

Depression, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, extreme mood swings, restless sleeping are some of the effects of Fibromyalgia.

The pain felt in Fibromyalgia is in specific points called trigger points. It can be the neck, spinal chord, upper back, knees, elbows, shoulders etc. The areas surrounding this pain can feel tender and sometimes a burning sensation.

Memory loss or memory fog is common in these patients and so are mood swings. Their stress levels can lead to disturbed sleep patterns and usually they are very sensitive to even the slightest touch, light and temperature variations. Migraines are a common complaint in these individuals.

Fibromyalgia is a condition appearing more in women than men and the reason for this is not certain. Diagnosing Fibromyalgia is difficult as the symptoms are varied. It can only be detected by the chronic and persistent pain in the joints and the relevant symptoms.

Women who suffer from Fibromyalgia have low levels of progesterone, which helps to balance the estrogen levels in women. This is one of the main reasons there are more women suffering than men. This deficiency can cause pelvic pain, pain during menstrual periods, diarrhea, headaches etc.

Progesterone creams can help reduce the pain to a certain extent in women. This can be applied in the parts where they feel the pain and can be taken orally as well which can help restore sleep in the patients. Learning to understand your body can help women cope better with the symptoms. The body should be kept warm in order to keep the muscles supple.

Eating a nutritious diet and regular exercises can help relive the pain make the patient progress towards a cure.

Reduce stress and tension with the help of family members as well as take to therapies and meditations to relax and de-stress. Stretching exercises can improve muscle function by warming them up. Acupuncture aimed at the painful spots, chiropractic therapy, massage therapy, naturopathy and magnetic therapy are some of the methods to find the right solution to the symptoms. In fact a combination of certain therapies along with prescribed medication works best in treatment of Fibromyalgia in women.

Joining counseling groups where you would find other women with similar symptoms can help share your problems and find a remedy. You will be able to share some of your experiences and get help from the other women as to how to go about coping with the symptoms.

Women need a lot of emotional support, which can be provided by the immediate family and friends. Taking the trouble to understand their symptoms can help you show compassion and respect their needs. Keeping abreast of the medical advancement in this field can also help. Helping these patients by developing a calm and peaceful home atmosphere can go a long way in helping them cope with the symptoms. Women tend to get more irritable due to the constant pain and become dysfunctional in every day routines. This might cause them to become depressed and cause further anxiety. Be accommodating and patient towards them, to help relieve some of the constant pain that they experience.

Specific therapy can have a very good effect on women and help them cope with the Fibromyalgia. Even though there is no specific cure for Fibromyalgia, persistence and determination can help you cope with the symptoms and find a cure to this chronic neurological disorder.

Copyright (c) 2008 Hailey Harris