Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
updated on 03/11/2008 at 11:30AM

Understanding the Condition, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is one of the most common pain syndromes, found in almost every country and in almost every culture on the planet. It affects roughly four million Americans. FMS can affect people of any age, even children, although it strikes most often between the ages of twenty and fifty-five. Doctors continue to speculate on the exact cause of fibromyalgia. Regardless, there are several things you can do to alleviate the symptoms of this debilitating condition. Read on to learn more about fibromyalgia, its symptoms, and what you can do to get relief.

Fibromyalgia: Understanding the Condition

The American College of Rheumatology has established general guidelines for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, to help in the assessment and diagnosis of the condition. These guidelines define the criteria for fibromyalgia as follows:

A history of widespread pain or aching that lasts for over three months.
Pain or abnormal tenderness in at least eleven of the eighteen designated tender points located on the body under mild but firm pressure. These tender points are located in the area around your head, upper body, buttocks, and certain joints.

Both of these criteria must be met for there to be an official diagnosis of fibromyalgia. However, many health care providers feel these guidelines are too rigid. Talk to your doctor about your condition and whether or not it could be fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia: Understanding the Symptoms

The symptoms of fibromyalgia vary from person to person. Weather, physical activity, stress levels and time of day can also play a role in the intensity of symptoms. Here's a list of the symptoms most frequently associated with fibromyalgia.

Pain: Muscle pain is the most common and prominent symptom of this condition. As defined above, the pain that occurs with fibromyalgia is widespread throughout the body although it may start in one general location and radiate to other parts over time. It may feel like a muscle cramp or it may be more sharp and severe. Some fibromyalgia sufferers have described the pain as feeling like a persistent flu.
Fatigue: Fibromyalgia disrupts sleep patterns making it difficult for sufferers to obtain a deep and restful night of sleep. Patients often wake up exhausted, even after a full night's sleep, due to abnormal sleep patterns, and muscle spasms
Depression and Anxiety: Many researchers are convinced there is a biological link between fibromyalgia and depression; however, they are unsure if depression is the result of fibromyalgia or the cause of it. Regardless, about 25% of people who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia also seek treatment for some type of depression.
Digestive Disorders: Constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and other digestive disorders are common in people who suffer from fibromyalgia.
Headaches: People, who experience facial pain and neck stiffness as a result of fibromyalgia, usually report a greater incidence of headaches as well. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) is also common in people with fibromyalgia.
Heightened Sensitivity: It is common for people who suffer from fibromyalgia to report a greater sensitivity to touch, strong odors, noises, and lights.
Other Symptoms: Stiffness, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, vertigo, difficulty with balance, dry eyes, skin and mouth, painful menstruation, chest pain, mood changes, irritable bladder, short term memory loss or difficulty with cognitive function, and difficulty concentrating are all additional symptoms often associated with fibromyalgia. Other conditions also tend to coexist with fibromyalgia including depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, painful menstruation, and over sensitivity to various stimuli such as drugs or noise.

Fibromyalgia: Understanding Your Options

Even though scientists may not be completely sure of the exact cause of fibromyalgia, there are still several treatment options that can help to alleviate the symptoms of the condition. For starters, you can help restore your immunity by eating a healthy diet, without too much salt or fat, and avoiding unhealthy substances like drugs, sugar, alcohol and caffeine that worsen symptoms over time. Alleviating the symptoms of fibromyalgia involves improving your overall health, and gradually working up to an exercise program that will strengthen your muscles. Your health care provider will work with you to develop a course of treatment that will specifically fit your condition. Many fibromyalgia sufferers swear by natural remedies that can strengthen the immune system and alleviate pain without causing harsh reactions within the body.

You can also lessen the painful episodes of fibromyalgia by placing heat or ice packs on sore joints and practicing gentle stretching methods. Massage therapy, acupuncture, relaxation and stress reduction techniques, and cognitive psychological therapy may also be helpful in alleviating the pain, fatigue, and other symptoms often associated with fibromyalgia.

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