You are constantly sore and tired. You think you might have a bug. But maybe you have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia, also referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome, is a complex pain disorder. Because there is no identifiable cause for fibromyalgia, it is considered a symptom rather than a disease. Regardless of its classification, those who suffer from fibromyalgia live life in pain. The pain is chronic, often throughout the body (the muscles, ligaments and tendons), with multiple tender points. Fibromyalgia can also cause sleep disturbance, irregular pain processing, fatigue and mental distress. Fibromyalgia occurs in a very small percentage of the population (2 percent in the United States), mostly in women and more likely to affect the elderly.
Pain
The pain associated with fibromyalgia is widespread (meaning it must occur on both sides of the body and both above and below the waist) and often feels like a dull ache in the muscles. Additionally, fibromyalgia causes sensitivity in the body that results in pain when touched in the affected areas. These tender points are located throughout the body and include the back of the head, the chest, neck, inner knee and shoulders.
Sleep Disruption and Fatigue
According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, sleep disorder is a common symptom of the syndrome. Medical research has discovered that those affected by fibromyalgia show abnormality in their stage 4 sleep patterns. In more common terms, that means the sleep of those with fibromyalgia is often interrupted by moments of rapid brain activity, thus depriving them of consistent deep sleep.
Other Symptoms
There's a laundry list of other symptoms and conditions that commonly affect those with fibromyalgia. These symptoms, while just as severe, are not as widely spread over the entire population of people with the disease. Other common conditions include depression, irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, restless leg syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.
