by Alaina M. Coyle

Created on: June 18, 2010

According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, approximately 10 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia. (The book “Fibromyalgia” by Kim D. Jones estimates as many as 15 million.) Although fibromyalgia is the most common arthritis-related illness after osteoarthritis, it is often misdiagnosed and widely misunderstood. This complex condition is characterized by chronic, widespread pain and commonly affects women between the ages of 25 and 60.

Fibromyalgia Defined

The term fibromyalgia literally means “pain of the muscles and other fibrous tissues.” Fibromyalgia syndrome, or FMS, is a complex chronic pain disorder that affects people mentally, physically, and socially. Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic condition or syndrome, not a disease.  A syndrome is a collection of symptoms that occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

The foundation of fibromyalgia is the presence of multiple tender points at specific locations on the body, combined with widespread musculoskeletal pain. This pain may vary in intensity from sharp, burning stabs to deep, throbbing aches. Most commonly, pain is felt in the neck, shoulders, upper back, chest, rib cage, lower back, and thighs. Symptoms may also include:

Abdominal pain
Anxiety
Decreased pain threshold
Depression
Dizziness
Dryness of mouth, nose, and eyes
Extreme fatigue (profound exhaustion, even upon arising)
Headaches or migraines
Hypersensitivity to heat or cold
Inability to concentrate, cognitive lapses (“fibro fog”)
Incontinence
Insomnia
Irritable Bowel (or bladder) Syndrome
Joint pain
Lack of deep, restful sleep
Numbness or tingling of hands and feet
Painful menstrual cramps
Raynaud’s Phenomenon (discoloration of fingers and toes)
Restless leg syndrome
Sensitive skin (“sunburned” feeling)
Stiffness
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (jaw pain)

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia

The National Fibromyalgia Association estimates that it takes an average of 5 years to get an accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Why is it so difficult to diagnose? Unlike other illnesses, there are no specific laboratory tests that can diagnose fibromyalgia. In addition, many doctors are not adequately educated when it comes to this complicated condition.

The American College of Rheumatology outlines 18 tender points of the body, and you must experience pain in 11 of the 18 points to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Doctors will also want to

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