Arm Yourself with Knowledge
Welcome to module one of You vs Fibromyalgia: Arm Yourself with Knowledge.
This is a condensed version what Fibromyalgia is along with a summary of my research.
- What is Fibromyalgia?
- My Six Tips for Fighting Fibromyalgia (video and text lesson)
- Diagnosis
- Further reading
- Make some goals
What is Fibromyalgia?
On the University of Maryland Medical Center website,Fibromyalgia is explained in this way:
“Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons; fatigue; and multiple tender points on the body.”
And on the same page, they list the signs and symptoms of Fibromyalgia:
Widespread pain and stiffness Fatigue [and]/or trouble sleeping Paresthesia (tingling) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Skin sensitivity Heightened sensitivity to noises, bright lights, smells Depression |
Headaches Pain after exertion Memory lapses/difficulty concentrating Restless leg syndrome (RLS) Dizziness Anxiety Hemorrhoids |
However, the trouble is that Fibromyalgia seems to be very unique to each person: how it comes on, what symptoms are present, what helps said symptoms.
For me, the pain came on slowly for a long time. The fatigue came with a bang after a severe bug that I caught in my last trimester of university. The insomnia seems to have been present for a lot longer than I knew that not sleeping well was not normal.
There is also a debate as to whether trigger points are present in Fibromyalgia or part of a separate issue called Myofascial Pain Syndrome. A lot of the above symptoms overlap with a lot of different conditions.
Please feel free to introduce yourself in the comments below and let us know what conditions you have.
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