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Hug me but don't touch me. That is life for those with fibromyalgia. Best referred to as "arthritis of the muscles," fibromyalgia is a disease of imbalance, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Physically, the pain is similar to having a constant flu. The diagnosis for FMS was originally an 11-point tender test but today encompasses 16 tender points all over the torso. The pain from FMS depletes the endocrine systems endorphins beginning a cycle of decay that is virtually irreversible. Pain gates remain open changing the actual chemical function of pain receptors to the brain.

The physical symptoms vary from person to person. FMS is an extremely individual disease. Although there are similarities it is extremely difficult to manage the pain across a broad spectrum. Many FMS patients are not able to tolerate medications therefore require treatment from varied perspectives.

Due to the variety of physical imbalances, one of the first lines of treatments is a seretonin re-uptake inhibitor known as SSRI's. Seretonin is a pivotal chemical produced by the brain to control pain and is usually severely lacking in FMS and chronic pain patients. SSRI's are antidepressants. Zoloft and Prozac are the most well known of the SSRI's with Cymbalta being the newest.

Sleep disturbance is another commonality with FMS. The fatigue that is often reported with FMS is because the patient does not reach the deep restorative sleep level required by the body to repair and recharge itself. Studies have shown that an FMS patient doesn't reach the level four deep sleep and tends to stay in stages one and two, like cat napping. This is why the patient wakes after eight hours of sleep feeling like she ran a marathon uphill in six feet of snow pulling a tractor behind her.

During the deep sleep cycle the body repairs the small tears and bruises to the muscles that happen during every day normal life. Sleep also recharges the immune system that also is dysfunctional in FMS, thus it is classified as an autoimmune disorder. Hormones such as thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, etc. are all thrown out of balance, either from lack of quality sleep or the disease itself.

The pain of FMS is difficult to manage. The disease leaves the patient in an imbalanced state at all times. Too much exercise or not enough can cause flares, extreme periods of acute pain. Something as simple as a change in weather can cause flares. Some FMS patients are able to relate flares to their diet. Often there is no rhyme or

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