| Fibromyalgia, is at best, a poorly understood medical | | | | exertion and environmental factors (such as loud |
| condition and its proper name, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, | | | | noises, odors, and bright lights), as well as emtional and |
| or FMS, connotes this fact. A syndrome, of course is a | | | | psychological stress. |
| set of symptoms that occur together and seem | | | | Furthermore, though fibromyalgia causes a significant |
| interrelated, but whose origin is not entirely known. | | | | amount of musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the back, |
| What are the characteristics of Fibromyalgia? There | | | | neck, and hip areas, it does not result in damage to |
| are many. Chiefly, however, fibromyalgia is a disorder | | | | muscle tissue and connective tissue (tendons and |
| that results in the following: sleep difficulties and sleep | | | | ligaments). |
| disturbances; chronic and ongoing pain that is not | | | | Though poorly understood, and often poorly treated, |
| confined to one localized area but, instead, is | | | | fibromyalgia can be a debilitating condition that |
| generalized throughout the human body; tender points | | | | genuinely impairs an individual. What should you do if |
| at the epidermal level that are painful to the touch; | | | | you have some, or all, of the symptoms of |
| persistent and chronic low energy levels and fatigue; | | | | fibromyalgia syndrome? Visit your treating physician |
| headaches of varying intensity; stiffness that generally | | | | and possibly a pain specialist or orthopedist. Having the |
| seems at its worst in the mornings but which can last | | | | condition properly diagnosed is the first step to |
| for several hours afer waking up; and intermittent | | | | understanding the condition, and, hopefully, gaining a |
| periods of confusion and memory loss (referred to as | | | | foothold against it. Having the condition properly |
| a a fibro fog). | | | | diagnosed and treated can also be important from the |
| And these are not the only characteristics of | | | | standpoint of social security disability benefits which |
| fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia sufferers often suffer from | | | | can be difficult to win on the basis of many |
| dizziness, nausea, restless leg syndrome, swelling in the | | | | impairments, but may be particularly difficult for an |
| extremities, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, mood | | | | FMS patient due to the uncertain etiology of the |
| swings, and anxiety. | | | | condition. |
| Other characteristics worth noting include the fact that | | | | The author of this article is Tim Moore, who, in addition |
| the symptoms of fibromyalgia can be exacerbated by | | | | to being a former food stamp caseworker, medicaid |
| external stress, both physical and non-physical. This | | | | caseworker and AFDC caseworker, is a former |
| would include stress brought about by physical | | | | disability claims examiner. |