Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a disorder causing pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the muscles. Almost all people with this condition experience some form of sleep disorder and a wide range of problems referred to as "associated symptoms."
Symptoms linked to the sleep disorder include fatigue, increased sensitivity to pain, impaired memory, increased anxiety, depression, irritability, and a negative mood. Others may include nerve sensitivity, stomach and bowel problems, allergies, changes in circulation and the ability to regulate body temperature, urinary frequency, vision problems, skin rashes, and skin sensitivity.
Current official diagnostic criteria are: (1) widespread pain or tenderness in the trunk and limb muscles present at least 3 months, and (2) excessive tenderness in 11 out of 18 tender points (areas on the body particularly sensitive to pressure).
Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a condition, not a disease. It involves a biochemical imbalance in the brain and does not cause the body to deteriorate or become permanently damaged.
Everyone with fibromyalgia can get better and have fewer symptoms by becoming as healthy as possible with restorative sleep, good nutrition, exercise, and stress management.
