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Fibromyalgia SymptomsFibromyalgia, or FMS for fibromyalgia syndrome, is a chronic disease affecting between 2 and 4% of the general population. Fibromyalgia Symptoms cause neuromuscular pain and general fatigue, and disturbs sleep and other daily activities. While the causes of FMS are unknown, and no "cure" has been developed, there are many effective ways to lessen the symptoms of FMS and help you to lead a more normal life. Fibromyalgia Symptoms are also characterized by tender spots. Those tender spots are felt particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips. Fibromyalgia mainly affects muscles and their attachment to bones. Although it may feel like an arthritic joint disease, fibromyalgia is not a true form of arthritis and does not cause deformities of the joints. Instead, fibromyalgia is a form of muscular rheumatism causing muscle pain. There is no swelling involved and the joints are not often affected. But pain is felt in the muscles, ligaments or tendons. Originally termed fibrositis, describing inflammation of the muscles and tissues, it was later found that inflammation is actually not part of the set of symptoms associated with FMS. Fibromyalgia means, literally, pain in the muscles and soft tissues. Fibromyalgia symptoms are better understood today than a few years ago. Also, the interrelatedness of various factors are understood, and can be used to aid in treatment. For example, researchers have been able to reproduce similar symptoms of fibromyalgia in healthy people by disturbing their deep sleep schedule. Women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia 20 times more often than are men. And women between the ages of 20 and 60 are at greatest risk. Causes of Fibromyalgia SymptomsNo one knows what causes fibromyalgia. But some think the start of the syndrome comes after an illness like the flu or a traumatic event. Diagnosing FMS usually focuses first on eliminating other conditions such as a thyroid disturbance, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, or other similar conditions. Once this is done, FMS is diagnosed by identifying certain "tender points" throughout the body. These are points that occur in an established pattern in patients with FMS, usually on both sides of the body. Patients generally must have pain in at least 11 of the 18 tender points to be diagnosed with FMS, though some physicians will diagnose FMS without these. There are 18 tender points used in diagnosing FMS. These occur in pairs, clustering around the neck, shoulders, shoulder blades, lower back, elbows and knees. Patients may have other tender points, but only these 18 are used in diagnosis. List of Fibromyalgia Symptoms
For more information Fibromyalgia Research: Challenges and Opportunities |