Fibromyalgia is a condition that affects over 8 million Americans, with 80% of them being females. People with this chronic condition have symptoms of severe fatigue and multiple sites of ache and pain in their muscles, ligaments and tendons. Years ago, people with this condition were told they had fibrositis, myalgia, rheumatism or were just plain hypochondriacs.

In the early eighties, the criteria for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia were set. These included the condition had to have been present for over three months and they had to have pain in at least 11 of 18 common muscle sites. These are examined by pressing gently into the muscle and determining if the pressure causes an increase in pain. Basically, all of the large muscles of the body, especially the muscles of posture that hold us up, are the ones that are palpated for pain. In the late nineties, some doctors began to realize that fibromyalgia did not have to be present in the whole body, but that some patients would have symptoms in one extremity, for example, and not in all of them.

This is a chronic condition, so people with it tend to have symptoms all of the time. But some of the factors that can cause an increase in the severity of the condition include things like weather, physical activity and mental stress. Even the food that you choose to eat can cause increased symptoms. Food additives and substitutes like aspartame have been shown to increase the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Could you or someone you know have fibromyalgia? The following describes the most common symptoms:

• There will usually be widespread pain in the body. Fibromyalgia causes pain in specific muscle locations when pressure is applied. These areas may include the muscles of the base of the head, the upper back and neck, the upper chest, and the forearms, thighs and calves. The pain generally persists for months at a time and is often accompanied by stiffness.

• Fatigue and sleep disturbances. People with fibromyalgia wake up tired and unrefreshed. They may stay asleep all night, but it is not good sleep. They suffer from a condition called alpha wave interrupted sleep pattern, a condition in which deep sleep is frequently interrupted by bursts of brain activity, similar to wakefulness. Consequently, they miss the deep restorative stage of sleep. Other conditions that interrupt normal sleep are sleep apnea, nighttime muscle spasms in the legs and restless legs syndrome.

People with this chronic condition have symptoms
of severe fatigue and multiple sites of aches and pain
in their muscles, ligaments and tendons.

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Between 40% to 70% of people with fibromyalgia experience symptoms of constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating.

• Chronic headaches and facial pain. 50% have recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches. 90% experience jaw and facial pain or increased sensitivity. 50% report increased sensitivity to odors, noises, bright lights, various foods and changes in weather, and numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet.

• Difficulty concentrating and mood changes.

• Chest pain or pelvic pain.

• Irritable bladder.

• Dry eyes and mouth.

• Dizziness.

• Sensation of swollen hands and feet.

What causes this?

There isn’t a single cause of this condition. The theories run the gamut from the longterm effects of having an infection to the consequences of a trauma to the upper segment of your spine. What is known is that your nervous system changes and functions abnormally. For example, changes in blood pressure may occur when you change positions, and brain chemistry may be altered so that neurotransmitters are not properly made.

The care of people who suffer from this condition must be personalized to them. This really is a condition where the patient has to become active in his or her own care. For example, exercise is important, but if you over do it, you will activated the fibromyalgia and pay the consequences for weeks. All components of your life must be analyzed. Diet is very important. Creating a diet that allows you to make more natural antiinflammatory agents will lower your need for taking anti-inflammatory medications and their side effects. You must avoid foods, food substitutes and additives that increase the inflammatory response in your body. Structural balance is important to prevent unnecessary muscle contractions. For example, a dropped arch in your foot can cause increased muscle contraction from your foot to your jaw.

Every patient with fibromyalgia suffers from diffuse pain in multiple areas and is usually chronically fatigued. The problem is that every one of these patients has to have a personalized treatment plan that needs to be tweaked to their individual needs and involves their active involvement in their care.

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