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Fibromyalgia Signs And Symptoms

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Sometimes you wake up stiff in the morning. You may hurt all over and frequently feel tired. You have gone to the doctors and they can't find anything wrong with you. If you have these symptoms then you may suffer from fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is an increasingly recognized chronic pain characterized by muscles aches, pain and stiffness. Some have soft tissue tenderness and general fatigue and sleep problems. Other may have headaches, problems with thinking and memory, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet and if you are a woman you have painful menstrual periods.

So far the causes for fibromyalgia are unknown. There could be a number of factors involved such as stressful or traumatic events, illness, repetitive injuries and certain diseases. Sometimes it just happens on its own. Some researches say it is genetic. Some doctors say it could be chemical changes in the brain while others say it could start from a viral infection.

Fibromyalgia affects about 1 in 50 Americans. It occurs more often in women than in men. It usually develops in middle adulthood and it can occur in children. If you have a family history of fibromyalgia you may get it too. Another risk factor could be if you have a rheumatic disease like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. People who have ankylosing spondylitis have been know to develop fibromyalgia as well.

Right now there is no test that can confirm fibromyalgia. Doctors need to rely on the patient's history of complaints and reported symptoms. You may have to go through a series of medical tests like blood tests and x-rays. These will probably come back normal. It has been estimated that it could take as long as five years to be diagnosed with fibromyaligia. The American College of Rheumatology came up with a general classification for fibromyalgia and the criteria that has been established is that you must have widespread aching for three months and have at least 11 locations on the body that are very tender under mild pressure. These guidelines are used to help with the assessment and study of the condition. Fibromyalgia is not progressive and doesn't lead to other conditions. The symptoms, however, can lead to depression and lack of sleep. It can interfere with your everyday life.

Fibromyalgia can be treated by changing you life style. Eat well, exercise and get enough sleep are good places to start. Over the counter pain medications may help with the chronic joint pain. The doctor may prescribe Tramadol, which is a non-narcotic pain reliever. He may also prescribe low doses of anti-depressants. This is for serotonin building that may provide relief for sleep and pain. Higher levels may be prescribed if the patient is experiencing depression as well.

People with fibromyalgia have a good prognosis. Now more than ever, the disease is getting recognition and people who suffer are more educated about the disease and after making some lifestyle changes are having a better quality of life. Most people do improve over time.

Fibromyalgia Signs And Symptoms

This is acomplicated syndrome wherein the pain can be all over the body or just in certain parts of muscles around the joints. The majority who are affected by this are women over the age of 30, who suffer from pain in the neck, back and shoulders. They would generally complain of stiffness and tenderness and pain in the joints.

It may seem that the problem is with the joints but infact it is a muscular pain that causes the problem. This can appear in anyone including children and men of all ages and is the second most common disorder as per rheumatologists.

Due to the steady pain the person tends to show signs of stress, sleeplessness, extreme moodiness, and even depression. This may not be constant, but can escalate with the pain and uneasiness. The cause of this must be due to certain pain stimulating chemicals in the body and the increase or reduction of serotonin in the body making it sensitive to pain.

Fibromyalgia causes the pain to be centralized wherein you feel the pain elsewhere in the brain or spinal cord. This can be triggered with just a slight touch or even external factors like light and sound. It may seem psychological due to this, but in reality the pain is genuine and caused due to these factors.

People suffering from Fibromyalgia can be in a very painful state even though this symptom is passive. Even though it is not a fatal condition and does not cause any permanent damage, the person suffering can be in a distressed state due to the pain.

It can be a severe set back as the person will not be able to function like a normal person continually due to the constant pain in the joints. These symptoms of joint pain and headaches along with back pain can continue over long periods sometimes even up to a decade once it starts.

It can be enhanced by weather conditions like cold or humid weather or even psychological disturbances like stress or exertion can trigger this symptom.

This symptom is associated with sleeplessness and restlessness where the patient suffers from sleep disorders and tends to be a very light sleeper, awakened several times.

Joint pain is very common along with tenderness of the skin and a feeling of stiffness. The pain can be extreme or a dull continuous throb which makes a person almost disabled. Due to the pain the joints may feel inflamed even though there will not be any swelling.

The person suffering from Fibromyalgia will tend to feel tired most of the time and will not have the energy to function normally mentally and physically. Their mental stability is not in condition and they may show symptoms of memory loss or weak concentration an poor aptitude. Their skin becomes extra sensitive to external factors like heat and cold or even sounds.

Due to the constant suffering these people tend to also undergo extreme mood fluctuations which can result in the person having no patience and displaying anxiety syndrome or even depression due to the inability caused by the onset of Fibromyalgia. Their energy levels are low and alertness can be lessened. Actions which need continuous motion could become impossible.

Other symptoms that can be noticed are rash, pain during menstruation, visual impairment or even ear pain. The temperature can also fluctuate and be below normal most of the time causing dryness of the mouth as well.

Irritable bowel syndrome can be another sign of Fibromyalgia, complaints of constant pain in the stomach, constipation or nausea are seen in most of the patients.

Other common symptoms can be irritable bladder, twitching of muscles, dry eyes, cramps, numbness etc. Occasionally, they even react to certain medications when suffering from Fibromyalgia. Hormonal variations can trigger the symptoms or even certain allergies. The most common complaint would be of body pain where the muscles seem overworked and tender and cause a burning sensation.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia can be treated over a period of time and it is better for the family to study this particular syndrome in order to understand the patient and help him in his recovery.

Copyright (c) 2008 Hailey Harris

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About Author

Both Michael Russell & Hailey Harris are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Michael Russell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Celebrities, Dieting and Diabetes Treatment. Michael RussellYour Independent guide to . Michael Russell's top article generates over 2240000 views. to your Favourites.

Hailey Harris has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fibromyalgia, Cure Anxiety and Food And Drink. Hailey Harris is an expert in dealing with Fibromyalgia after suffering for more than 10 years with health problems. She is now symptom free and living a pain free life. She developed. Hailey Harris's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.

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