What exactly is fibromyalgia? What does it affect?

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia several years ago. I have read all the different ways they think this horrible condition could be caused from. Maybe I misunderstood the last person who posted but it seemed like he was supporting the theory that it came from some sort of trauma etc. I think no one really knows yet.I was adopted and I was diagnosed a few years before I was introduced to some of my cousins on my biological mothers side. After meeting them i found that two of my cousins (female) also had severe cases of fibromyalgia just like mine. Now, call me stupid but I just don't think that is coincidental. I think it HAS to have something to do with genetics. Just my input.

Fibromyalgia usually occurs after a traumatic event.....accident, or child birth. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 4 years ago. It started with Depression, and then I started only sleeping 2 hours at a time, and then my body started aching all over like I had the flu. After being sent to a rheumatologist and many blood tests came back negative and many pressure points were painful to touch, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I currently take Effexor, Relafen, Flexaril, Ultram, and Ambien daily for the symtoms. I am a RN and work a full-time and part-time job. With my medications, I only ache at times. I am tired most of the time, especially after working a 12 hour day. Usually fibromyagia affects both sides of the body at the same time. If one ankle hurts, they both hurt, etc. I hope this information is helpful to you. Fibromyagia is real and can be disabling for many individuals.

Fibromyalgis is beleived to be a disorder of teh CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM which manifests itself as pianful muscles/soft tissue. It is not actually a disorder of teh soft tissue--it is a neurological disorder.

It is beleived to be due to a problem witrh brain chemicals and teh way they are processed

It was wriongly beleived to be a form of arthrits 10 years ago.

It is not a form of arthritis
it is not autoimmune
it is not pyschological

it does seem to start after a triggering event whcih could be illness, injury, or emotional stress

In addition to pain. there is fatigue, stiffness, cognitive difficulties, among many other concerns

According to the insurance companies, it is a fictitious disease! Although a close friend of mine, will tell you it is real, excruciating and debilitating. Unexplained fatigue, joint pain, lethargy, headaches, aching muscles, sensitivity to light, loss of appetite, memory loss and general inability to function.

However, even today, doctors blame these symptoms on auto immune disease and depression. They tell you it is all in your head, as you continue to lose weight and perhaps your employment too.

Social Security recognise it as a disease, but most insurance companies, will disallow any claims based on this diagnosis. They usually win, because they have their own paid experts to help them beat you in court.

Fibromyalgia is a form of arthritis that affects a persons soft tissue rather than joints. It's a very painful chronic disorder that's difficult to diagnose. It affects a patients ability to sleep well, and leaves people in chronic pain all the time. There are specific trigger points on a persons body that are affected by fibromyalgia.

Here's one website that gives a great explanation - there are many more that will help with info.

http://www.fibrocenter.com/content/about...

Have both fibro & cfids/chronic fatigue immune defiency syndrome for over 13 years..Only mentioning cfids since many have both & somewhat similar..Some Dr's call both sister syndromes..

Syndrome as fibro is only dx'd after undergoing many tests which shows nothing wrong so therefore dx'd by exclusion..In order to have fibro there's 11 of 18 trigger points & the person had this condition for at least 3 months..

FMS is a chronic non-imflammatory disorder of the muscles & soft tissue causing muscle pain similiar to that of arthritis.Particulary hitting the lower back,neck,chest,ribs ie..

We also have severe sleep disturbances,headaches,feeling fatigued for no reason as well as other 'weird' symptoms..Brain/fibro fog when you can't recall barely anything so we tend using 'thingie' instead of the correct word LoL So,if this happens you're not losing it :-)

Dr's in the US say appx 3-6 million people have fibro,80% women. It usually occurs at age 40 tho' even children have this..May be due to a gene so can run in families..Not always the case..Forgot,fibro can be caused by stress,such as an auto-accident...

The pain level varies from intense to mild so many have to take pain meds along w' other meds..There are treatments so if you want to know ask & will gladly answer..

A good site for info is http://webmd.com just go their fibro support message board to find out more info..

Btw,most dx w' fibro look well so fibro's called 'an invisibile disease' cfids too.. Have had many dirty looks when using my disabled sign from so many..Just keep your sense of humour & ignore them..Life goes on...

My very best wishes!