How Fibro Affects me
Definition, Basic Facts and Symptoms
* Fibromyalgia affects 3-6 million Americans.
* 80% of People suffering with Fibromyalgia are women.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a non-life-threatening, chronic disorder of the muscles and related soft tissue, including ligaments and tendons. Its main symptoms are muscle pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and tender points at certain parts of the body. Many people describe fibromyalgia as feeling like a persistent flu.
Some health care providers may use these terms to refer to fibromyalgia: fibromyositis, fibrositis, periarticular fibrositis, muscular rheumatism, chronic muscle pain syndrome, musculoskeletal pain syndrome, or tension myalgia. However, "fibromyalgia," which means "pain of the muscles and other fibrous tissue," is the accepted term and has replaced some of the others. Terms ending in "-itis," which means "inflammation," are now considered incorrect because inflammation does not play a significant role in fibromyalgia.
Key Characteristics
Muscle pain, either throughout the body or only at certain points, is the primary symptom. It may range from mild discomfort to pain severe enough to limit work, social activities, and everyday tasks. Pain commonly occurs in the neck, shoulders, chest, rib cage, lower back and thighs and may feel like a burning, gnawing, throbbing, stabbing, or aching sensation and may develop gradually. It usually seems worse when a person is trying to relax and is less noticeable during activity.
A related, key aspect of fibromyalgia is the presence of "tender points," muscles and tendons that are tender when pressed. Typically, tender points are located in the neck, back, knee, shoulder, elbow, and hip.
People with fibromyalgia also feel moderately to severely fatigued and have sleep problems, including insomnia. (www.webmd.com)
Symptoms
- Chronic muscle pain, muscle spasms or tightness, and leg cramps
- Moderate or severe fatigue and decreased energy
- Insomnia or waking up feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep
- Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position for too long
- Difficulty remembering, concentrating, and performing simple mental tasks
- Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and constipation alternating with diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome)
- Tension or migraine headaches
- Jaw and facial tenderness
- Sensitivity to one or more of the following: odors, noise, bright lights, medications, certain foods, and cold
- Feeling anxious or depressed
- Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Increase in urinary urgency or frequency (irritable bladder)
- Reduced tolerance for exercise and muscle pain after exercise
- A feeling of swelling (without actual swelling) in the hands and feet
- Painful menstrual periods
- Dizziness
Symptoms may intensify depending on the time of day -- morning, late afternoon, and evening tend to be the worst times, while 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tends to be the best time. They may also get worse with fatigue, tension, inactivity, changes in the weather, cold or drafty conditions, overexertion, hormonal fluctuations (such as just before your period or during menopause), stress, depression, or other emotional factors. (Webmd.com)
(Self -portrait-Living with Fibro-18 going on 81) Piece done by Miriam Eve(ME)
You know it's Fibro when...
*You've slept but you feel like you've been up for a week
*Your legs feel like they are made of lead
*Holding a five pound grocery bag feels like holding the weight of the world
*Freak out over a "lost" cell phone while you are talking on it
*You can't think of how to spell things like F-I-B-R-O-M-Y-A-L-G-I-A
*You look for a spoon in the refridgerator
*Your spend more time urinating then doing your homework. . .
To Add your own, "You know it's Fibro when..." quote, click the blog link at the top of the page.
Likely causes of Fibromyalgia
Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction
Fibromyalgia may be caused by a problem with the brain’s autonomic nervous system. This system helps to control a number of bodily processes, including digestion, reaction to stress, and metabolism. Problems with the hormones and neurotransmitters used by the autonomic nervous system can interrupt certain bodily processes, causing a number of fibromyalgia symptoms.
Sleep Disorders
A large percentage of fibromyalgia patients have difficulty sleeping. Though once seen as a fibromyalgia symptom, it is now theorized that these sleep disorders may actually be the cause of the illness. Fibromyalgia patients don’t seem to get enough deep sleep, which prevents injured muscles and nerves from being repaired. This can result in serious pain.
Injury and Muscle Trauma
A large number of fibromyalgia patients do seem to have suffered from serious injury or muscle trauma, such as that caused by a car accident, prior to the onset of their fibromyalgia. Injury to the central nervous system can affect the way the brain operates, increasing sensitivity to pain as well as complicating sleep patterns and cognitive thought processes. Muscle injuries can also become chronic and widespread.
Other Possible Causes of Fibromyalgia*
Other possible causes of fibromyalgia syndrome have been investigated.
Genetic Predisposition
Many fibromyalgia sufferers have close family members with the disorder. This may indicate that fibromyalgia has a genetic component. Fibromyalgia also tends to affect more women, which also supports the theory that fibromyalgia is a genetic illness.
Infectious Agents
Infectious illnesses, including certain viruses, may be at the root of fibromyalgia. Certain infections attack the central nervous system, inhibiting the production of neurotransmitters. This could cause fibromyalgia pain. Infections can also cause muscle trauma and injury, which may develop into chronic and widespread pain.
Immune System Abnormalities
Fibromyalgia could be the result of an over-active immune system. Your immune system works to protect your body by attacking bacteria, viruses, and other foreign cells. When over-active, the immune system can cause severe inflammation and pain. (www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org)
An understanding of "Fibro Fog"
Difficulty concentrating - example- having a conversation and trying very hard to stay with it.
Making constant spelling mistakes of words you know how to spell.
Knowing information but not being able to recall it easily.
Not being able to come up with a word for something, but are somehow able to describe it. -example- trying to think of the word fork, but instead saying, "You know that thing, that's pointy that you eat with...".
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