Now, however, there has been enough research to back up the theory that it is not a ‘pain syndrome’ of the joints and fibrous tissues but a central nervous system disorder.  Research for the past few years has begun to reveal that, although pain may be felt in the muscles, the problem actually originates in the central nervous system(CNS).  There is a malfunction in the CNS, which causes abnormal pain processing.  The result is pain amplification.  Something that would cause little to no pain in a healthy person can be extremely painful in someone with fibromyalgia(FM).

There are 18 tender points on the body for people with FM.  They are in all four quadrants of the body (right and left sides, above and below the waist)  You must have at least 11 of the 18 tender points to be diagnosed with FM.

Pain and fatigue are the main symptoms that people know about FM, however, if you get it you realize soon enough that there is so much more to the disease than just pain in your fibrous tissues and the debilitating fatigue. They include:

Sleep Problems
Fibro Fog/Cognitive Problems
Restless Leg Syndrome
Digestion Issues/Irritable Bowel
Depression & Anxiety
Cold/Heat Intolerance
Fibro Headaches/ Migraines

Stress is one the the biggest triggers for FM. You will probably benefit greatly from a total lifestyle change as the high stress of the corporate world might be out now…   Meditating, healthy eating, rest, fresh air and moderate exercise will be put in its place.

I will be going over the symptoms, research, and lifestyle benefits that I found beneficial in other posts as each one merits a discussion to understanding the pros and cons of the widely misunderstood disease.