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A number of our readers have written in to ask about fibromyalgia – a confusing and often misdiagnosed condition that shares many similarities with osteoarthritis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). In fact, some experts believe that fibromyalgia and CFS may be one in the same. Heidi’s experience is frustratingly typical. She suffered from muscle and joint pain that just kept getting worse and was having trouble sleeping at night. But her doctor couldn’t seem to find anything physically wrong with her. So he insisted that it must be stress and treated her with pain pills and sleeping pills. A visit to a specialist finally provided her with the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Chronic muscle pain
Fibromyalgia means literally pain in the muscle. The most prominent symptom is chronic pain in 18 specific sites on the body. Sufferers also have trouble sleeping, fatigue, chronic headaches, jaw pain, memory impairment, numbness and tingling sensations, dizziness and depression, as well as skin and chemical sensitivities. It’s a surprisingly common syndrome, affecting 900,000 Canadians (3 in 100 people). Women are much more likely to develop fibromyalgia than men (by a ratio of 4 to 1) and it usually occurs in people over age 50. The exact cause is not known, but many different factors are suspected such as accidents and injuries, surgery, other illnesses or infections, emotional trauma and stress, particularly depression.
It can be treated
Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, experts view the condition as quite treatable. Your doctor is your best resource for medications, such as pain relievers and antidepressants, to help you manage your pain and improve the quality of your sleep. Many people with fibromyalgia report relief with over-the-counter pain relievers such as long-lasting TYLENOL* ARTHRITIS PAIN, a popular choice with arthritis sufferers. Other treatment options that have proven successful include regular aerobic exercise, relaxation techniques, acupuncture and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. If you suspect that you have fibromyalgia, be sure to see your doctor. If you’d like to find out more about this confusing syndrome, please visit www.ncf.carleton.ca/fibromyalgia, www.fibronorth.com/ and www.arthritis.org
*Trademark
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