fibromyalgia symptoms

January 21, 2003

In a message dated 1/21/2003 11:15:19 PM Eastern Standard Time, AngelBear1129 writes:

FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS

This list of major symptoms of Fibromyalgia is for your reference-it is not intended to diagnose fibromyalgia, which should be left to a doctor familiar with the disorder. Because most of Fibromyalgia's symptoms can mimic other diseases, such as arthritis, it is important that you seek an informed professional before jumping to conclusions. Following the list of symptoms is a brief explanation of how a specialist will be able to determine if you have Fibromyalgia.

Pain: The pain of fibromyalgia can be wide and varying. One patient may experience a deep muscular aching or burning, while another may complain of throbbing, shooting or stabbing pain, either mild and intermittent or deep and constant. Quite often the pain and stiffness are at their worst in the morning and in the muscles used most commonly, like the neck and shoulders. Unlike the pain commonly associated with arthritis, the pain can move from one body part to another, affecting the back one day or hour and the feet the next. It is important to note that in order to be considered pain associated with Fibromyalgia, it must occur both above and below the waist, on both sides of the body, cause tenderness in key areas (which we will discuss in a coming section), and it must be present 3 months or longer.

Fatigue: Again, this symptom varies widely from patient to patient. Some experience mild fatigue (often associated simply with the poor sleep that accompanies Fibromyalgia) and others are so exhausted they have trouble getting through the day, as if they had the flu. The fatigue of Fibromyalgia is sometimes called "brain fatigue," leaving its sufferers completely drained of energy. This exhaustion may make some people feel lethargic and as if their limbs are too heavy to move. Similarly, they may have trouble concentrating as of they are sleep-deprived, even if they have had plenty of sleep.

Sleep disorders: Research has suggested that fibromyalgia sufferers usually have an accompanying sleep disorder called the alpha-EEG anomaly (the same anomaly associated with chronic fatigue syndrome). The research found that Fibromyalgia patients typically fell asleep without much trouble, but their deep sleep was regularly interrupted by atypical rapid brain activity. Patients appeared to spend much the night in "half sleep," as if they were somehow fully asleep and yet wide awake at the same time. This causes Fibromyalgia patients to wake up unrefreshed in spite of having slept the whole night through. Fibromyalgia patients may also have other sleep disorders, such as teeth grinding (bruxism), sudden nighttime jerking of the arms and legs (myoclonus), periodic leg movement (PLMS), and restless leg syndrome (RLS), which is characterized by a "creepy crawly" sensation in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them when at rest or when lying down. Needless to say, any of these can be very disruptive to the patient as well as to his or her sleeping partner and can contribute to feelings of exhaustion.

Gastrointestinal Problems: Irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea are common complaints associated with Fibromyalgia.

Headaches: Roughly half of Fibromyalgia patients also report migraine or tension headaches. While the association is not clearly understood, it clearly adds to the suffering of the patient.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome (TMJ): TMJ produces mild to severe face and head pain in one quarter of Fibromyalgia patients-in most Fibromyalgia patients, however, the discomfort is thought to be related to the muscles and ligaments surrounding the joint and not necessarily the joint itself, as with true TMJ.

Increased Headaches, Facial, Shoulder Pain: Roughly half of Fibromyalgia patients also experience head, facial and/or shoulder pain (myofascial pain syndrome or MPS), often as a result of very stiff or sore neck and/or shoulder muscles. MPS produces "trigger points" in the neck, shoulders and jaw that can be very painful and radiate pain to related areas of the body.

Chemical Sensitivity: About half of Fibromyalgia patients report increased sensitivity to chemicals including fragrances and cosmetics as well as household cleaners and products. They may also have reactions that mimic allergies, like itching, rash, nasal congestion or runny nose or sinus pain (but do not produce measurable immune responses that allergies do) to a variety of substances that won't bother most people.

Sensory Sensitivity: Some patients report being abnormally sensitive to light, sound, touch, and odors, which some medical professionals attribute to hyperactivity of the nervous system. Some people with Fibromyalgia say they feel chilled or hot when others around them are comfortable.

Dysmenorrhea: Many women suffering from Fibromyalgia complain of painful periods, including menstrual cramps and abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation.

Cognitive Disorders: Fibromyalgia patients may experience feeling "spacey" or as if they are "in a fog." They often report having problems remembering simple nouns or people's names and may feel overwhelmed by engaging in more than one task at the same time.

Genito-Urinary Problems: Fibromyalgia patients may experience an increased need to urinate, or a false sense of urgency, a symptom that mimics that of a bladder infection. Some women with Fibromyalgia may also suffer from conditions such as vulvar vestibulitis or vulvodynia, characterized by a painful vulvar region and/or pain during sexual intercourse.

Paresthesia: This term refers to the numbness, tingling, prickly feeling or burning that occurs in some Fibromyalgia patients.

Chest Pain: Individuals with Fibromyalgia who engage in certain activities like typing, sitting at a desk or doing anything that requires long stretches of forward body posture, often have complaints about chest and upper body (thoracic) pain, shallow breathing and/or posture problems. They may also develop a condition known as costochondralgia (also known as costochondritis), which is pain where the ribs and the chest bone meet. Costochongrralgia is often mistaken for heart disease because of the location of the pain. However, if you are an Fibromyalgia patient and you have chest pain, please never presume it is the Fibromyalgia causing it-contact your physician immediately to rule out more serious causes.

Problems with Equilibrium: Because fibromyalgia may affect the tracking muscles of the eyes, you may experience blurred vision, dizziness and nausea whenever you are visually tracking anything, as with driving a car, reading or watching a ballgame, for example. In addition, trigger points in the head or neck may cause dizziness or loss of equilibrium. Research conducted at s Hopkins Medical Center also suggests that some Fibromyalgia patients may have "neurally mediated hypotension" which causes a drop in blood pressure and heart rate when they stand up, resulting in light-headedness, nausea, and difficulty thinking.

Skin Complaints: Some Fibromyalgia patients experience itchy, dry, or blotchy skin. Others may experience the sensation of swollen limbs, fingers or toes, even though swelling itself is not a symptom of Fibromyalgia. These strange feelings may also belong to the theory that Fibromyalgia involves a hyperactive nervous system, but for now the distinct cause is unknown.

Depression And Anxiety: Because Fibromyalgia can be difficult to recognize and diagnose (it produces no "evidence" that will show up in an X-ray or blood test), many Fibromyalgia patients are told that their symptoms are caused by depression or anxiety disorders or even hypochondria. While it is true that stress can exacerbate symptoms of Fibromyalgia, there is no evidence to suggest that it is its cause. (Its possible causes are explored at greater length later in this document.). It is important to note that Fibromyalgia's symptoms may by their nature produce feelings of depression or anxiety (as is true with any health concern), and that it is vitally important for people suffering from Fibromyalgia to monitor and treat these conditions, as they can interfere with successful symptom management.

There are such varied symptoms of fibromyalgia (and so many that are common symptoms caused by other things) that yours may not have been addressed. Herein is a list of symptoms reported by Fibromyalgia patients. You may have experienced only one or two, or even many of the following:

body pain (in all 4 quadrants)

fatigue

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (diarrhea, constipation, etc.)

morning exhaustion

insomnia

morning stiffness

chronic headaches (tension or migraine)

skin and chemical sensitivities

allergic symptoms

restless legs, twitching muscles

itchy skin or rashes

Interstital Cystitis (urinary frequency or urgency)

facial or jaw pain (including TMJ dysfunction)

cognitive or memory impairment

weakness and muscle pain after exertion

dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Cramps)

numbness and tingling sensations

dizziness or lightheadedness

swollen feeling in extremities

dry mouth

chest pain/shortness of breath

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