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FIBROMYALGIA
The word
fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for
fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek ones
for muscle (myo) and pain (algia).
Fibromyalgia syndrome is chronic disorder of
widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and
multiple tender points that affects 3-6
million people in the United States. For
reasons that are yet unclear, more than 90%
of those who develop fibromyalgia are women.
It is not currently known whether the
predominance of women who suffer from
fibromyalgia is a phenomenon of the
socialization of women in the American
culture or whether it is some combination of
the female reproductive hormones and other
genetic predispositions. According to the
American College of Rheumatology (ACR),
fibromyalgia is defined as a history of pain
in all four quadrants of the body lasting
more than 3 months. Pain in all four
quadrants means that you have pain in both
your right and left sides, as well as above
and below the waist. The ACR also described
18 characteristic tender points on the body
that are associated with fibromyalgia. In
order to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a
person must have 11 or more tender points.
In addition to pain and fatigue, people who
have fibromyalgia may experience:
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sleep
disturbances
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morning stiffness
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headaches
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irritable bowel syndrome
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painful menstrual periods
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numbness or tingling of the extremities
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restless legs syndrome
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temperature sensitivity
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cognitive and memory problems (sometimes
referred to as "fibro fog")
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