Fibromyalgia syndrome (also called "FMS" or "FM") is a complex, chronic condition which causes widespread pain and fatigue, as well as a variety of other symptoms. The name fibromyalgia comes from "fibro" meaning fibrous tissues (such as tendons and ligaments), "my" meaning muscles, and "algia" meaning pain. Unlike arthritis, fibromyalgia does not cause pain or swelling in the joints themselves; rather, it produces pain in the soft tissues located around joints, skin, and organs throughout the body. Because fibromyalgia produces few symptoms that are outwardly noticeable, it has been nicknamed "the invisible disability" or the "irritable everything" syndrome.
The pain of fibromyalgia usually consists of diffuse aching or burning described as "head-to-toe", and it is often accompanied by muscle spasm. Its severity varies from day to day and can change location, becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used the most (i.e., the neck, shoulders, and feet). In some people, the pain can be intense enough to interfere greatly with work and ordinary, daily tasks, while in others it causes only mild discomfort. Likewise, the fatigue of fibromyalgia also varies from person to person ranging from a mild, tired feeling to the exhaustion of a flu-like illness. The good news is that FMS is neither crippling nor fatal.
Although the exact prevalence of FMS in the general population is difficult to ascertain, up to 10 million Americans have been estimated to have fibromyalgia
syndrome, and the condition exists around the world. While most prevalent in adult women, fibromyalgia also occurs in children, the elderly, and men.
In addition to pain and fatigue, a number of allied symptoms/syndromes are currently associated with FMS. Patients typically experience one or more of the following:
Cognitive Disorders: Persons with FMS report a number of cognitive symptoms which tend to vary from day to day. These include difficulty concentrating, "spaciness," short-term memory lapses, and being overwhelmed easily. Many fibromyalgia patients refer to such symptoms as "fibro-fog".
Depression And Anxiety: Although FMS patients are frequently misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety disorders ("it's all in your head"), research has repeatedly shown that fibromyalgia is not a form of depression or hypochondriasis. However, where depression or anxiety exist concomitant to fibromyalgia, their treatment is important as both can exacerbate FMS and interfere with successful symptom management.
At the Neurotherapy Centers, we treat Fibromyalgia with a
complementary treatment plan, designed individually to suite the
patient's needs and their presenting symptoms. No two
people suffering from Fibromyalgia present the same set of
symptoms, which is why we are a unique treatment facility.
An article appeared in the May/June 2001 Practical Pain Management magazine titled The Neural Plasticity Model of Fibromyalgia: Theory, Assessment and Treatment.
Please see the description
of our treatment modalities for more information.
Also, please see information about fibromyalgia under the Closed
Head Injury/TBI information.
