More Than Just a Pain Syndrome
Fibromyalgia wreaks havoc in our lives not only because of the aching, shooting, burning pain in our body, but because of the associated symptoms and overlapping syndromes that come along with having FMS. So many doctors and websites fail to differentiate and lump all of them together into one category. Being in tune with your body and knowing your pain is imperative, as the more accurate you are able describe what your feeling, the easier your journey will be. Your appointments will be more productive, and treatment plan more tailored, if you are able to make some sort of sense out of this elusive illness and convey what you are feeling to your physician.
The more you understand how your body works, especially when it is misbehaving - being able to determine how and why your body is feeling a certain way - the more it will help you in your advocacy to find answers, the right medications for you, and being able to properly communicate with your physician.
More than Just a Pain Syndrome
FMS is extremely complex and affects sufferers physically, emotionally and in their social lives. Fibromyalgia produces a slew of Associated Symptoms in addition to the debilitating pain. What does this mean? In addition to the pain there are symptoms that occur in the patient that are associated to the Fibro, despite that they are not always pain-related in-and-of-themselves. These symptoms are commonly: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known as CFS occurring in 90% of patients) + muscle stiffness, spasms, twitching & severe muscle knots + joint tenderness + memory and concentration issues/mixing words known as Cognitive Impairment or Fibro Fog + chronic dry and itchy eyes + skin rashes + Sensitivity to Light, Sound and Smell
It is thought that this increased sensitivity may be due to an abnormality in sensory processing by the Central Nervous System.
Additionally, there are a number of Overlapping Syndromes that accompany somebody ill with FMS, including but not limited to:
Migraine, Sleep Issues (such as Sleep Terrors, Sleep Walking and Insomnia) + Irritable Bowel Disease + Anxiety, Depression + Reproductive Issues + Raynauds Syndrome.
In simplest terms: Fibro is a multi-symptomatic condition (Associated Symptoms) and common multiple illnesses (Overlapping Syndromes) occur in the sufferer.
Associated Symptoms
Although the most common symptoms are pain and fatigue, Fibro Folk suffer from a slew of associated symptoms as well.
Those without FMS can surely be affected with the following symptoms, however those with Fibromyalgia are affected with all or most. Symptoms are many and they vary widely from patient to patient, further perpetuating the mysteriousness of our illness. Below is a small sampling of some of the most common:
Stiffness in muscles/tissues/joints, general feeling of malaise (feeling sick, flu-like), Cognitive Impairment (confusion and mixing words, or lovingly called at times: Fibro Fog), sensitivity to light and sound (a loud tv or a dog barking may seem extremely loud, it can make your head swell, even cause pain).
Overlapping Syndromes
There are a number of Overlapping Syndromes, which are additional illnesses that occur in the patient with FMS. Much like with Associated Symptoms in the sense that they can occur in those without FMS but Fibro Fighters are afflicted with all or most, the same is true of Overlapping Syndromes.
Below is a sampling of some of the most common Overlapping Syndromes:
Migraines, Sleep Disturbances (Sleep Walking, Sleep Terrors and Insomnia), Irritable Bowel Disease, Anxiety, Reproductive Issues (including Endometriosis, Chronic Yeast also called Systemic Yeast....another very common conclusion is that FMS is in some way caused, made worse, or ), Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pelvic Pain, Interstitial Cystitis, and more.
Reporting everything that ails you is an important part of the puzzle for your doctor in diagnosing this notoriously elusive condition. It is so vital for anybody with Fibromyalgia to know that this is a muti-facted illness and everything is very connected. For example, you may have suffered from Migraines or Irritable Bowel for many years prior to being diagnosed and only after being diagnosed with FM will you realize that it is an underwriter to your condition. Family and friends need to know that we are afflicted with not only myofacial (muscle, joint and connective tissue) pain but Overlapping ailments as well, which require more rest at times. Keeping your doctor informed of everything that you are suffering from and being treated for is vital so that he or she can effectively manage your prescriptions.
The more you understand how your body works, especially when it is misbehaving - being able to determine how and why your body is feeling a certain way - the more it will help you in your advocacy to find answers, the right medications for you, and being able to properly communicate with your physician.
More than Just a Pain Syndrome
FMS is extremely complex and affects sufferers physically, emotionally and in their social lives. Fibromyalgia produces a slew of Associated Symptoms in addition to the debilitating pain. What does this mean? In addition to the pain there are symptoms that occur in the patient that are associated to the Fibro, despite that they are not always pain-related in-and-of-themselves. These symptoms are commonly: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (known as CFS occurring in 90% of patients) + muscle stiffness, spasms, twitching & severe muscle knots + joint tenderness + memory and concentration issues/mixing words known as Cognitive Impairment or Fibro Fog + chronic dry and itchy eyes + skin rashes + Sensitivity to Light, Sound and Smell
It is thought that this increased sensitivity may be due to an abnormality in sensory processing by the Central Nervous System.
Additionally, there are a number of Overlapping Syndromes that accompany somebody ill with FMS, including but not limited to:
Migraine, Sleep Issues (such as Sleep Terrors, Sleep Walking and Insomnia) + Irritable Bowel Disease + Anxiety, Depression + Reproductive Issues + Raynauds Syndrome.
In simplest terms: Fibro is a multi-symptomatic condition (Associated Symptoms) and common multiple illnesses (Overlapping Syndromes) occur in the sufferer.
Associated Symptoms
Although the most common symptoms are pain and fatigue, Fibro Folk suffer from a slew of associated symptoms as well.
Those without FMS can surely be affected with the following symptoms, however those with Fibromyalgia are affected with all or most. Symptoms are many and they vary widely from patient to patient, further perpetuating the mysteriousness of our illness. Below is a small sampling of some of the most common:
Stiffness in muscles/tissues/joints, general feeling of malaise (feeling sick, flu-like), Cognitive Impairment (confusion and mixing words, or lovingly called at times: Fibro Fog), sensitivity to light and sound (a loud tv or a dog barking may seem extremely loud, it can make your head swell, even cause pain).
Overlapping Syndromes
There are a number of Overlapping Syndromes, which are additional illnesses that occur in the patient with FMS. Much like with Associated Symptoms in the sense that they can occur in those without FMS but Fibro Fighters are afflicted with all or most, the same is true of Overlapping Syndromes.
Below is a sampling of some of the most common Overlapping Syndromes:
Migraines, Sleep Disturbances (Sleep Walking, Sleep Terrors and Insomnia), Irritable Bowel Disease, Anxiety, Reproductive Issues (including Endometriosis, Chronic Yeast also called Systemic Yeast....another very common conclusion is that FMS is in some way caused, made worse, or ), Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pelvic Pain, Interstitial Cystitis, and more.
Reporting everything that ails you is an important part of the puzzle for your doctor in diagnosing this notoriously elusive condition. It is so vital for anybody with Fibromyalgia to know that this is a muti-facted illness and everything is very connected. For example, you may have suffered from Migraines or Irritable Bowel for many years prior to being diagnosed and only after being diagnosed with FM will you realize that it is an underwriter to your condition. Family and friends need to know that we are afflicted with not only myofacial (muscle, joint and connective tissue) pain but Overlapping ailments as well, which require more rest at times. Keeping your doctor informed of everything that you are suffering from and being treated for is vital so that he or she can effectively manage your prescriptions.