Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a common and chronic condition that causes pain and
tenderness in your joints, muscles and tendons in various parts of
your body. There are 18 places - or tender points - where the pain
typically occurs, and you will probably have... More
Fibromyalgia is a common and chronic condition that causes pain and tenderness in your joints, muscles and tendons in various parts of your body. There are 18 places - or tender points - where the pain typically occurs, and you will probably have pain in at least 11 of these tender points. Symptoms of fibromyalgia are aching, radiating, shooting or burning pain and stiffness. Many people who have this condition have trouble sleeping so they are constantly tired. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, so the goal of treatment is pain relief. Talk to your doctor if you think you may have it. Less
Recently Answered
- Q Are there natural treatments for fibromyalgia?
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Some practitioners of alternative medicine recommend various natural treatments, such as herbs and nutritional supplements, for treating fibromyalgia symptoms. Some of these natural products may hold promise. For instance, there is some evidence... More
There are many natural treatments for fibromyalgia. Common natural treatments for fibromyalgia include acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic, hypnosis, magnesium supplements, magnet therapy, massage therapy, SAMe (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine), and... More
- Q What are tender points?
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The 18 tender points or trigger points used to diagnose fibromyalgia are scattered all over the body. Tender points are found on the neck, shoulder blades, lower back, elbows, buttocks, knees, and other areas. These tender points are quite small, but... More
The 18 tender points were developed by the American Academy of Rheumatology (AAR) to help identify people with fibromyalgia. These are 18 spots on the body, including the back of your head, elbows, shoulders, knees, hip joints and around your... More
There are guidelines that can be very helpful in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology published the following criteria: Widespread pain above and below the waist, on both the right and left sides of your... More
- Q How does fibromyalgia differ from arthritis?
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Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that mainly affects joints. Fibromyalgia is NOT an inflammatory condition and is a central nervous system disorder that affects muscle, causing pain. The presence of myofascial trigger points in FM shortens the... More
The feelings of pain and stiffness in fibromyalgia are very widespread, unlike the usual osteoarthritis, bursitis or tendinitis that is localized to a single area. In fact, if there are not many areas involved, then it does not fit the typical picture of... More
Fibromyalgia and arthritis may both be associated with fatigue, pain and tenderness. However, fibromyalgia is not associated with joint inflammation and swelling while arthritis is. People with fibromyalgia are also more likely to complain of... More
- Q What is fibromyalgia?
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Fibromyalgia is a painful medical disorder that affects your muscles, joints, and tendons. The pain is especially bad when pressure is applied to the "18 tender points." These may be on the back of your head, elbows, shoulders, knees, hip joints... More
Fibromyalgia is a common, but misunderstood, syndrome that affects millions of people. Many people who have fibromyalgia suffer from constant deep muscle pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep problems. Others have muscle pain, irritable bowel syndrome,... More
Fibromyalgia is an exaggerated sensitivity to pain throughout the body due to changes in the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves). This can occur as a result of a disease (infection), an emotional or physical trauma, or due to... More
- Q What kind of medical specialists diagnose and treat fibromyalgia?
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Trying to find the right specialist to diagnose and treat your fibromyalgia can be like trying to get hold of a helpful supervisor at a big corporation's call center. But in the end, your search will be worth it when you find the best doctor for... More
Many different types of doctors can diagnose and treat fibromyalgia. Sometimes a rheumatologist, a doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating arthritis and other joint, muscle, and bone diseases, can make the correct medical diagnosis of... More
Although fibromyalgia is not a rare condition, some doctors are more experienced with it than others. So it is important to find a doctor with experience making the fibromyalgia diagnosis and treating the condition. Rheumatologists, neurologists,... More
- Q What fibromyalgia symptoms are serious enough for me to see a doctor?
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If you suffer from deep muscle pain and think you might have fibromyalgia, call your doctor and get it checked out. Many people live for years with symptoms of pain, fatigue, and sleeping problems without knowing that they have fibromyalgia. Along with... More
Check with your doctor if you have widespread muscle pain, achiness, poor sleep, fatigue, depression, and an inability to concentrate (fibro fog). Still, a fibromyalgia diagnosis is not an easy one to make. You may look like a million bucks,... More
When you have fibromyalgia, symptoms may include chronic widespread pain, chronic fatigue, unrefreshed sleep, tenderness, and concentration or memory problems (“fibro fog”), and they can vary from person to person. These symptoms can... More
