Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes life-disrupting symptoms like pain, fatigue, headaches, and sleep problems. It can be difficult to diagnose, in part because fibromyalgia symptoms are hard to distinguish from those of many other conditions.
Doctors group fibromyalgia under the header of arthritis-type conditions, even though it does not damage the joints as arthritis does. Yet joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue, which are all common with arthritis, are also hallmark fibromyalgia symptoms. Fibromyalgia pain may be at least in part due to problems with the brain?s ability to process pain signals. Sometimes a physical or emotional trauma, such as surgery, an accident, or the death of a loved one can set off fibromyalgia symptoms.
The most notable fibromyalgia symptoms are pain and fatigue. To qualify as fibromyalgia, the pain must have lasted for at least three months, and be located in both the upper and lower body, as well as on both sides of the body. Fibromyalgia pain can be severe enough to interrupt sleep. People often report that they don?t feel well rested, even after a full night?s sleep. Rest may be further interrupted by conditions that often occur together with fibromyalgia, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
Other fibromyalgia symptoms affect mood and concentration. A condition nicknamed ?fibro fog? reflects the difficulty people with fibromyalgia often have focusing or completing tasks. More general issues, such as headaches, sensitivity to light and temperature, painful periods, and bowel problems also fall under the header of fibromyalgia symptoms.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, but it can be managed. Treatments are aimed at relieving pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms. Three medicines?duloxetine (Cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella), and pregabalin (Lyrica)?are specifically approved to treat fibromyalgia. Analgesic pain relievers and NSAIDs can also help with pain. Lifestyle measures such as reducing stress, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced diet can also improve quality of life with fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia causes patients seemingly unexplainable pain that often prevents them from being able to work or pursue leisure activities. Although drug therapy helps some patients, medications can produce side effects like nausea, edema, weight gain, and increased heart rate.[1] Research suggests that natural relaxation techniques play a key role in … Read More
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is a chronic pain condition that causes aches and discomfort throughout the body. It also causes fatigue, sleep disruption, and damage to mood and memory. While there are a slew of treatment options for this condition ranging from infrared saunas to medications to supplements, new research shows … Read More
Fibromyalgia symptoms are often misunderstood, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP. These symptoms include tender spots at specific areas of the body that can be especially painful to pressure or touch. The exact cause is unknown, but some studies show that genetic factors may predispose certain … Read More
Fibromyalgia is a relatively new disease: It wasn't until 1981 that the first controlled study to identify symptoms of fibromyalgia was published. And it wasn't until 2005 that the American Pain Society issued the first treatment guidelines for fibromyalgia. So exactly what is fibromyalgia? It's "a generalized soft tissue pain … Read More
From Diet Coke to Crystal Light “Natural Lemonade,” aspartame is still the most commonly used artificial sweetener in diet beverages. Despite ongoing declarations of aspartame’s safety from the FDA and mainstream health organizations, researchers continue to explore and uncover evidence of aspartame side effects. Since 2011, original research has been … Read More
Fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain, affects millions of people in the U.S. About twice as many women as men experience symptoms of fibromyalgia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health experts aren’t sure why the risk is so much higher in women than men, but … Read More
In the world of medicine, fibromyalgia is a relatively new disease. The first controlled study that validated the symptoms of fibromyalgia was published in 1981, and the American Pain Society issued the first treatment guidelines for fibromyalgia pain in 2005. “Fibromyalgia is a generalized soft tissue pain syndrome characterized by … Read More
What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is viewed as a rheumatic condition (like arthritis), even though it doesn't cause inflammation or joint damage. Hallmark fibromyalgia symptoms include fatigue and chronic pain from “tender points”—places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs that hurt when touched. Other fibromyalgia symptoms include trouble … Read More
Ginseng is one of the most well-known, commonly used supplements in the world, and for good reason: it’s a known fatigue-fighter, stress-buster, and overall vitality-booster. But Panax ginseng benefits have mainly been demonstrated in studies using healthy people as subjects and researchers have been wondering if its virtues extend to … Read More
Feeling sleepy all the time zaps the fun out of life. It robs you of your motivation and can make it next to impossible to perform even your most basic day-to-day tasks. Instead of turning to caffeine, energy drinks, and sugar to keep you going, there’s a much safer, more effective … Read More
