Do you feel like you have walked a thousand miles and that you no longer have enough energy even to pull out a chair? Do you experience pain and stiffness all over, especially in the morning? Do you find it hard to sleep even when you feel exhausted? If your answer is yes to all the questions, then you may have Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by pain, fatigue, sleeping disorder, and headache among others. It's not progressive, so it's not life-threatening. However, the symptoms are chronic, which means that they last for a long time or frequently recur. Below are the three major symptoms of Fibromyalgia: Pain. Pain is the most prominent symptom of Fibromyalgia. It's widespread"you can feel it from the head down to the knees"and pain becomes more severe when pressure is applied. In some patients, the painful body part becomes stiff and difficult to move. Fatigue. The second most prominent symptom is fatigue. The person feels so exhausted even when he has not engaged in a tiring activity. This kind of fatigue is commonly called "brain fatigue" since the person feels like he has completely lost his energy and is incapable of doing anything. This consequently results in lack of concentration as well; thus, some patients are unable to keep full-time jobs. Sleeping disturbances. People with Fibromyalgia find it hard to get a good night's sleep. And even when the patient has slept for an adequate period of time, he still feels tired when he wakes up. This happens when deep sleep is disrupted by several brain activities. Other common symptoms of Fibromyalgia are Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which includes diarrhea and constipation; migraine; facial pain; painful menstrual periods; tingling sensations; chest pain; increase in sensitivity and dizziness. The signs and symptoms of Fibromyalgia generally vary from one person to another. Their severity is often affected by factors such as the weather, the patient's physical activities, and stress. No matter how severe or minor your symptoms are, however, you must be careful not to over-strain yourself. Observe and know the factors that intensify the symptoms and avoid them as much as possible. |
