The simplest way to explain Fibromyalgia is that it is a deep, aching pain stemming from the muscles and occurring all over the body. While that’s not very specific, it is very hard to get much more exact on Fibromyalgia. This is why getting a diagnoses of Fibromyalgia is extremely hard.
There are no tests for Fibromyalgia, nothing that blood work or an x-ray will show. As a result, patients can spend months or even years getting tested for everything from rheumatoid arthritis to mononucleosis before finally reaching a Fibromyalgia diagnoses. Further complicating the diagnoses are symptoms like stomachaches and headaches which may also be connected to the Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia has also been connected to sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome as well.
The reason that this problem is so elusive lies in what causes the condition itself. Fibromyalgia seems to occur when the brain and spinal cord start to process pain signals in a different way than normal. These nerve centers start to respond more strongly to touch and to pressure, and the results of this can be wide and varied, leading to the difficulty in diagnosing this elusive condition.
Once Fibromyalgia is diagnosed, the next step is deciding how to best manage the pain. Physical therapy and moderate exercise can help release the muscles, making it easier to move without pain. Both over the counter and prescription pain medication can help to relieve the pain associated with this condition. But Fibromyalgia is touchy. One day someone with Fibromyalgia might feel wonderful, while the next day they might be bed ridden. But this does not mean someone with Fibromyalgia should withdraw from their daily activities. In fact, people who quit their normal level of activity tend to have more pain that people who don’t. The key is to plan for an off-day, and be ready to manage the pain when it comes.
