"Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.
Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.
Women are much more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.
While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of medications can help control symptoms. Exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction measures also may help."
Though I suffer from this disorder I am not an expert I am only a sufferer. I have had known symptoms since I was in high school and am now in my mid 40's. Some days are mild and some days are really bad! I can honestly tell you that I have not had a pain free day for as long as I can remember.
For me....(and only for me) the pain is seldom the worst part of the disorder. Now do not get me wrong...the pain is bad! However, as someone who has suffered some serious injuries over the years, it is not real! (Just ask any number of the medical professionals who told me that there was nothing wrong...)
Let me explain....you see, this morning I woke up and my hands felt like all of the bones were broken. I looked down at my hand and opened and closed my fingers and rotated my wrist and everything worked just fine....my hands just hurt! As I go to get out of bed I go through the same routine with my feet, ankles, knees, and hips. they all hurt. It feels like there is no way that I should be able to stand up let alone walk....and yet I do. The pain is very real but the cause of the pain is not an injury....I am still able to get up and go....I just go in pain.
So, if the daily pain is not the worst part what is? Again, for me and only me, it is the fatigue! You see whether the pain is real (meaning that it is pain related to an injury) or not my body and brain register every pain as real...very real! So, in order for me to make it from getting up in the morning to making it back to bed at the end of the day it takes an enormous amount of energy! Everyday that I make it through I end up having a deficit of energy. I know...we have all had days like that and the solution is a good nights sleep. That my friend is the problem! I do not sleep well! Even when I am exhausted and nothing sounds better than going to sleep I find that my pain keeps me from sleeping at a rejuvenating level. I fall asleep and then about every 20 to 30 minutes I am awake readjusting pillows or changing positions hoping to find just the right combination of fluffed pillows to help me fall back asleep....it seldom works......The good news for many FM sufferers is that they have come out with several meds to treat these symptoms....unfortunately I am allergic to all of them!....so my doctor and I are working on the secondary symptoms....exhaustion and migraines....by using flexeral I am able to keep my headaches at bay or to shorten the duration of them however I am finding that I am pretty much worthless for the next 24 hours due to the effects of the meds....so I am very sparing with the use of this med....
Let me explain....you see, this morning I woke up and my hands felt like all of the bones were broken. I looked down at my hand and opened and closed my fingers and rotated my wrist and everything worked just fine....my hands just hurt! As I go to get out of bed I go through the same routine with my feet, ankles, knees, and hips. they all hurt. It feels like there is no way that I should be able to stand up let alone walk....and yet I do. The pain is very real but the cause of the pain is not an injury....I am still able to get up and go....I just go in pain.
So, if the daily pain is not the worst part what is? Again, for me and only me, it is the fatigue! You see whether the pain is real (meaning that it is pain related to an injury) or not my body and brain register every pain as real...very real! So, in order for me to make it from getting up in the morning to making it back to bed at the end of the day it takes an enormous amount of energy! Everyday that I make it through I end up having a deficit of energy. I know...we have all had days like that and the solution is a good nights sleep. That my friend is the problem! I do not sleep well! Even when I am exhausted and nothing sounds better than going to sleep I find that my pain keeps me from sleeping at a rejuvenating level. I fall asleep and then about every 20 to 30 minutes I am awake readjusting pillows or changing positions hoping to find just the right combination of fluffed pillows to help me fall back asleep....it seldom works......The good news for many FM sufferers is that they have come out with several meds to treat these symptoms....unfortunately I am allergic to all of them!....so my doctor and I are working on the secondary symptoms....exhaustion and migraines....by using flexeral I am able to keep my headaches at bay or to shorten the duration of them however I am finding that I am pretty much worthless for the next 24 hours due to the effects of the meds....so I am very sparing with the use of this med....
In the end....I am just one man who wakes up everyday to a family and a job. Whether it is a good day or a bad day I try hard to put a smile on my face and enjoy what life has given me. I know there are times when I am betrayed by my grumpiness and my smile gives way to a foul mood. In these moments I try hard to remove myself from family and friends and seek out some quiet in order to regain who I am. IT TAKES ENERGY AND LOTS OF MIND OVER MATTER....but when I am able to over come everyone wins. Of course, this is not just my journey...it is one that my family must travel also...I will save that for another time!
