Fibromyalgia: A Common But Incurable Condition

fibromyalgia, a mysterious disorder that affects the soft tissue and muscle. It is a chronic pain condition characterized by aches and pain all over the body, usually resulting to constant fatigue and sleep problems. According to a 2011 report by the Institute of Medicine, there are approximately 100 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain.

 fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), this long-term disease causes heightened sensitivity to pain, muscle stiffness, extreme tiredness, sleeping difficulties, headaches, and problems with mental processing, known as fibro-fog. The exact cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown. However, industry professionals think that the disorder is related to irregular levels of particular chemicals in the brain and changes in the processing of pain messages transmitted throughout the body.

Medical professionals also suggest fibromyalgia may be triggered by events that cause a significant level of stress to the person such as an injury or an infection, undergoing an operation, giving birth as well as certain life events that bring about extreme sadness such as end of a relationship or the death of a loved one. While anybody can develop the disorder, it affects approximately 7 times as many women as men. Although the onset of fibromyalgia is between the ages of 30 and 50, industry experts say that it can occur in children, adults, and the elderly.

Diagnosing fibromyalgia is typically regarded as extremely challenging for many doctors. In many cases, it takes a long period of time before such a diagnosis is made. There is no specific test to identify the illness and the symptoms that a patient exhibits can be similar to a host of other medical disorders. Generally, fibromyalgia is undetected nearly 7 years from the start of the symptoms to diagnosis. The reason is that doctors know little about the condition and others do not believe it is real, says Christopher L. Edwards, a medical director at Duke Pain Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.

While fibromyalgia is a common medical problem, it has no cure. Often, doctors and therapists can only recommend pain management to help sufferers go through their daily routines. Still, patients have choices that will help them cope with the condition. These include getting sufficient sleep, exercising regularly, and taking medications that can help them ease the pain. Using pain creams can also aid in relieving the pain. Topical solutions such as MAXX Relief cream contain ingredients that provide immediate and long-lasting relief to sore muscles.

In addition, fibromyalgia sufferers can connect with a support group in their area to help them cope with the chronic ailment. Such groups assist affected individuals deal with their condition and provide them the needed encouragement to go about their daily life as normally as possible. As fibromyalgia is a long-term condition, it is very critical for patients to have the choices that help to ease their pain as well as access to a support group that will motivate them to do what is best in order for them to continue living their lives with as less distress as possible.