The Causes And Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by a generalized, aching pain. About 3.7 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia, mostly occurring in women of childbearing age. Although this disease was first identified in the early 1900s, it was actually thought to be a form of rheumatism until recently. Still, little is known about the cause or cure of fibromyalgia. Symptoms of fibromyalgia includes aches and stiffness in the soft tissues such as the muscles, tendons(which attach muscles to bone) and ligaments (which attach bones to each other). The pain can occur in any region of the body and may be either widespread or affect only a specific area. Women typically experience more widespread pain, while men tend to develop fibromyalgia symptoms in only one area, such as the shoulder. Although the condition itself is not life-threatening, the symptoms of fibromyalgia can cause a great deal of distress. The actual cause remains elusive, but it is believed that certain events may trigger the onset of fibromyalgia. For example, viral or bacterial infections, automobile accidents, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have all been associated with the onset of fibromyalgia. Some researchers believe that there are abnormalities in the brain affecting hormones and brain chemical activity. Other researchers suspect that patients with fibromyalgia have low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin - a chemical that acts as a messenger between nerve cells, or a possible defect in the system that regulates serotonin levels. Symptoms of fibromyalgia typically develop gradually in a person in their 20s, and they may come and go in cycles. * Pain. The pain that most people experience has been described as a deep muscular aching that burns, throbs or feels like a stabbing pain. The pain and stiffness is often worse in the morning. * Fatigue. The feeling of being drained of energy and unable to concentrate can vary from mild to incapacitating. This is very common in women experiencing menopause hot flashes. * Difficulty sleeping. Sleep does not feel refreshing and you wake up feeling exhausted. This is also a common issue as women approaches menopause. * Chemical sensitivities. About 50 percent of fibromyalgia patients experience sensitivities to noise, bright lights, odors, medications and certain foods. * Chronic headaches. Headaches similar to migraines or tension headaches occur in about 50 percent of patients. * Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). From 40 to 70 percent of patients experience diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain and gas. Other symptoms may include dizziness or lightheadedness, menstrual cramping, jaw pain, and numbness and tingling sensations. Doctors have a difficult time diagnosing fibromyalgia as the symptoms are very common to other conditions. In order to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a person must have widespread pain in four quadrants of their body for a minimum of three months. In addition, they must also have tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific areas.

Fibromyalgia And Sleep: Are They Connected?

Sleep problems with fibromyalgia include insomnia or difficulty falling asleep as well as frequent awakening in which you become awake enough to remember them the next day. An even more common problem is awakenings that you don''t remember but that definitely interrupt your "deep" sleep. Also, other sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea may be more common in people with fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia talk about waking up day after day feeling exhausted with no energy. Usually, they feel more tired in the morning, and many go back to sleep during the day to ease their fatigue. Also, it is common for people with fibromyalgia to have great difficulty concentrating during the day, a condition called "fibro fog." Some researchers believe it is the constant pain of fibromyalgia that causes sleep interruptions. Others have found evidence that fibromyalgia may be related to an abnormality of deep sleep. Findings have shown abnormal brain waveforms in deep sleep with fibromyagia patients. These patients tell of feeling "awake" or being in a shallow state of sleep throughout the night, instead of experiencing restful, deep level sleep. The problem with achieving only shallow state of sleep is that, during deep-level sleep, your body repairs and replenishes itself. For example, studies show that people with fibromyalgia have a low level of a hormone called somatostatin. Somatostatin is produced during deep sleep and is vital for maintaining the health of muscle and other soft tissue. If the amount of deep sleep you get is reduced over a long period of time, your body may have less ability to "repair and replenish" energy as well. People with fibromyalgia lack the deep, restorative level of sleep, called "non-rapid-eye-movement" (non-REM) sleep. Consequently, patients with fibromyalgia often wake in the morning without feeling fully rested. Some patients wake up with muscle aches or a sensation of muscle fatigue as if they had been "working out" all night. That is why establishing better sleep hygiene is vital in managing the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Improving your sleep may help decrease your pain, fatigue, and "fibro fog." Try the following sleep strategies and see if they help people with fibromyalgia. In addition, ask your physician about a sleep aid that is safe and effective to get your body back on a restful sleep regimen. * Sleep only as much as needed to feel refreshed and healthy the following day, not more. Curtailing the time in bed seems to solidify sleep. Excessively long times in bed seem related to fragmented and shallow sleep. * Keep a sleep diary. Write down how you slept each night and triggers that may have interfered with your sleep. Reviewing your notes over several weeks may give you insight into your sleep problems. * Have a regular time to wake up each morning. A regular arousal time helps strengthen circadian cycling and leads to regular times of sleep onset. * Use relaxation therapies. A gentle massage, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques are all generally considered beneficial to managing fibromyalgia and boosting restful sleep. * Exercise regularly but avoid exercising 3 hours before bedtime. Exercise may exert its beneficial effect by promoting a deep level of sleep (non-REM sleep). * Sound-attenuated bedrooms may help those who must sleep close to noise. Occasional loud noises for example, aircraft flyovers - disturb sleep even in people who are not awakened and cannot remember them in the morning. * Avoid daytime naps. Napping in the afternoon interferes with nighttime sleep. * Keep the temperature in your room cool. An excessively warm room disturbs sleep. * Hunger may disturb sleep; a light snack of carbohydrates may help sleep. * Avoid caffeine or alcohol in the evening. They both disturb sleep.

Getting To Know Life With Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Living with fibromyalgia is a challenge. For some it has been a debilitating disease. Overall, the most commonly associated symptom of fibromyalgia is the chronic presence of pain. It can seem to move from one area of the body to the next. There is no known cause for the sudden onset of fibromyalgia other than a possible link to genetic predisposition to the illness. Each day in the life of a fibromyalgia suffer is different. Getting to know life with fibromyalgia is a bit of a rollercoaster ride. One never knows just how the day will be. There are good days where the pain is manageable and where most activities are possible. In some cases these good days make up a long period of time and the sufferer may actually forget about the disease for a bit. Then there are the flare ups when all of a sudden the disease seems to come back with a vengeance, with the need for pain relief being very strong. In some cases the trade off between good days and days with pain flare ups is so wearing on the sufferer''s psyche that in addition to pain relief there is also a need for emotional help. In addition to physical pain, there is also the fact memory may be affected by fibromyalgia. Those suffering from the disease have found their long and short term memories are adversely affected. It becomes harder to think clearly, make decisions and work and function normally. When combined with the pain because of muscle spasms, actual nerve pain and weakness felt in some limbs, fibromyalgia is a debilitating disease. Fortunately, there have been strides in the treatment of the illness. Although there is no bona fide cure, natural relief with the help of magnesium formulations has shown a great deal of promise, perhaps you can also include in your treatment plan a colon cleanse program for overall well-being. It provides a way of sharpening brain function and helping with the overall ability to access information in the short and long term memory sectors. It also has a great pain relieving effect on the body as a whole. Best of all, this is made possible without the risk of dangerous side effects. Relying on natural remedies when getting to know life with fibromyalgia, is important. There is an added benefit of cutting out food colorings (which are known carcinogens) and chemical solvents that do not have a good effect on the human body. The sooner the patient chooses for natural relief, the sooner the correct dosage may be found. In fact, patients may not require any further pain medications