Treatment for Fibromyalgia – Definition of Condition

Published by admin on January 13, 2010

Today, millions of individuals throughout the United States are attempting to uncover the definition and background of fibromyalgia. This complex and often challenging chronic pain based disorder affects a sufferer on a mental level, a physical level, and even on a social level. This condition is not a specific disease, but it is identified as a syndrome by medical professionals. This means that it is a collaboration of chronic fatigue symptoms and medical issues that occur in conjunction with one another, yet no cause may be identified. Throughout this fibromyalgia health guide, you will learn about the definition and causes of fibromyalgia.  Future posts will discuss the treatment for fibromyalgia, both traditional and alternative treatments.

According to the Encarta Dictionary, the fibromyalgia definition is as follows:

“A disorder causing aching muscles, sleep disorders, and fatigue, associated with raised levels of the brain chemicals that transmit nerve signals neurotransmitters.”

This condition has been called many different names. The following terms list the most commonly used to describe the condition:

• “Fibromyalgia Syndrome”

• “FMS”

• “Fibromyositis”

• “Fibrositis”

It has been estimated that well over twelve million individuals in the United States alone suffer from this condition. Interestingly, as more and more research in the field  allows medical staff to diagnose fibromyalgia, this condition has validated the fact that females are ten times more likely to acquire this condition than men. The ages in which women are typically affected range from the age of twenty five to the age of sixty. Those that suffer from this condition typically ache in numerous ways all over. It is typical for the sufferer to also experience fatigue that is literally crippling. This could occur even if the patient has experienced an ample amount of rest.

The body has many different points which are referred to as “Tender Points”. When researching what causes fibromyalgia, you will often find that these tender points are often mentioned. For those that suffer from FMS, pain and sensitivity is often experienced in these tender points. Patients that are given a diagnosis of fibromyalgia must meet certain criteria related to the tender points in the body. The first is that the pain that is experienced must be “widespread”. This means that it affects all four of the specified “quadrants” of the body. This pain must be experienced over the course of three months total. There are eighteen unique tender points in the body. To have fibromyalgia, pain must be experienced in at least eleven of these.  And those are just some of the signs of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

There are many symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. When seeking out information on the definition and background of fibromyalgia, you will discover that the symptoms of this medical condition are literally immense. The symptoms of the medical condition can typically be broken down into four categories. These categories include that of “Pain”, “Sleep Problems”, “Fatigue” and “Other Symptoms”. Below, you will find a brief description of each:

• Pain – The pain that a patient of this condition experiences is considered to be both “chronic” and “widespread”. This means that every area of the body could be affected and the pain that is experienced could be mild, moderate, or even severe. Individuals that experience this pain often describe it in many ways. It could be deep, throbbing pain or sharp, stabbing pain. In addition to the pain, sensations such as numbness and burning are often described. Pain typically results as a result of hypersensitivity to noise, lights, smells, weather conditions, fatigue, and stress.

• Sleep Problems – Individuals that suffer from fibromyalgia often suffer from sleep complications. This problem is associated with a complication that affects stage four of the sleep cycle. When this stage of sleep is affected, the body does not experience the natural repair and restorative process. As a result, severe symptoms are likely to be experienced.

• Fatigue – When seeking the definition and background of fibromyalgia, you will discover that fatigue is quite common when it comes to this condition. It is not just normal fatigue either. It is almost crippling to an extent for many patients.

• Other Symptoms – In addition to the symptoms mentioned here, there are many other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. These include, but are not limited to conditions such as headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, issues with memory, concentration problems, vision issues, neurological problems, and coordination that is impaired to one degree or another.

Conclusion

As you can see, when you search online regarding help for fibromyalgia, you will discover quite a bit of information. This comes as a natural result of this condition being so complex and misunderstood. However, medical professionals are consistently studying all aspects of this chronic condition seeing that so many patients are now being diagnosed with it.