Fibromylgia What? How?

TODAY IS HEALTH DAY! I decided to talk about a subject that seems to be on a lot of people's lips. In fact, I deal with it every day because I have "it."

You hear all this talk about Fibromylgia and it seems that everybody has it or knows someone that does. You ask questions like, what is it?  OR do I have it? Maybe you do know that you have it. How do you handle it? Following is some information that I think might help you out.

The follow info was taken from U.S National Library of Medicine...

So, what is it?

Fibromyalgia is a common syndrome in which a person has long-term, body-wide pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues.
Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, depression, and anxiety.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The cause is unknown. Possible causes or triggers of fibromyalgia include:

• Physical or emotional trauma
• Abnormal pain response - areas in the brain that are responsible for pain may react differently in fibromyalgia patients
• Sleep disturbances
• Infection, such as a virus, although none has been identified

Fibromyalgia is most common among women aged 20 to 50.
The following conditions may be seen with fibromyalgia or mimic its symptoms:

• Chronic neck or back pain
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Depression
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Lyme disease
• Sleep disorders

Symptoms

Pain is the main symptom of fibromyalgia. It may be mild to severe.

• Painful areas are called tender points. Tender points are found in the soft tissue on the back of the neck, shoulders, chest, lower back, hips, shins, elbows, and knees. The pain then spreads out from these areas.
• The pain may feel like a deep ache, or a shooting, burning pain.
• The joints are not affected, although the pain may feel like it is coming from the joints.

People with fibromyalgia tend to wake up with body aches and stiffness. For some patients, pain improves during the day and gets worse at night. Some patients have pain all day long.
Pain may get worse with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety, and stress.
Fatigue, depressed mood, and sleep problems are seen in almost all patients with fibromyalgia. Many say that they can't get to sleep or stay asleep, and they feel tired when they wake up.
Other symptoms of fibromyalgia may include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Memory and concentration problems
• Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
• Palpitations
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Tension or migraine headaches

I have it...How do I deal with it?

I  know there are drugs for this disease, however, I always use that as a last resort. I have dealt with "Fibro" for nearly 10 years and these alternative things were suggested to me. I have used them and THEY WORK! 

1. Massage! This is huge!!! If you click the link, it will tell you all the why's of massage working. The Cliff Notes: massage gets oxygen to your starving cells and gets the blood flowing, thus it helps and heals your soreness.

2. SLEEP.  This is extremely hard if you have children, especially babies, but crucial for your survival. You need at least 8-10 hours a night. This too will really make a difference in your pain level

3. Healthy Eating. The biggest difference is SUGAR. I was told to cut out all sugars and I did and it worked. In fact I can usually see a HUGE difference in my pain level when I eat something that has any type of sugar in it. This also includes carbs like wheat.

Soooooooooooo, you can take a drug to help the pain, with whatever side effects that comes with, OR you can try to change your lifestyle. If nothing else, GIVE IT A TRY! I praise the Lord that he gives us HOPE, in so many ways! - rejoicing in the present!!!