Fibromyalgia Facts

Although doctors are unclear about the causes of fibromyalgia it has been recognised as an illness for a good many years. Researchers have undertaken many studies to try and understand why fibromyalgia occurs in around 20% of the population, why certain chemical imbalances may occur, and what can be done to ease the life of sufferers.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that engenders chronic fatigue and chronic pain in those who have it. The pain and tiredness can be so severe that the patient finds it hard to live a normal life and cannot work. In theory people in the US and the UK are eligible for disability benefits when they suffer from fibromyalgia but because doctors can only give a clinical diagnosis they are often refused these benefits and may have to go through a long process of appeals regarding welfare decisions.

People who have fibromyalgia need to rest and sleep a lot more than is normal, however, they are often still tired even when they wake up because they do not sleep properly. Lack of health giving sleep has a further effect on muscles and tendons that are already weak and painful. Fibromyalgia is not easy to diagnose but medics have characterised it by the symptoms mentioned above. When a patient presents with chronic fatigue, chronic pain in various parts of the body, sore and aching tendons and muscles then it is generally accepted that they have fibromyalgia.



Treatments tend to consist of a variety of medications such as Tramadol for pain, amitriptylene to assist with sleeping patterns and pain in the nerve endings and Gabapentin. The last two tablets are used to treat depression but low doses of amitriptylene can be helpful when a person has sleeping problems and pain in the nerve endings. Gabapentin is useful because it can help with the tremors or seizures that sometimes occur.

In addition to medication doctors may also prescribe a regime of physiotherapy and gentle exercise. Studies have found that short periods of gentle exercise help to reduce pain by the production of adrenalin and serotonin, both natural pain killers. Studies also suggest that certain forms of exercise such as yoga and water aerobics tend to be more beneficial than others. Sufferers may be ill for years or they may experience periods of respite or even a complete cessation of symptoms. Exercising certainly makes the fatigue more manageable as it promotes healthier sleep - because no organic cause has been found for fibromyalgia there is no cure, sufferers either get better or they don't.