Fibromyalgia

Ailments, illnesses, and syndromes of unknown etiologies.

Information about Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a debilitating chronic syndrome (constellation of signs and symptoms) characterized by diffuse pain , fatigue , and a wide range of other symptoms. It is not contagious , and recent studies suggest that people with fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed ( http://fmaware.org/fminfo/brochure.htm ) . It affects more women than men, with a ratio globally of 3-5:1. Fibromyalgia is seen in 3-10% of the general population, and is mostly found between the ages 20 and 50. The nature of fibromyalgia is not well understood, and there is no cure, though it can be managed.

History

Fibromyalgia has been studied since the early 1800s and referred to by a variety of former names, including muscular rheumatism , neurasthenia and fibrositis . The term fibromyalgia was coined in 1976 to more accurately describe the symptoms, from the Greek my- , meaning muscle, and algia , meaning pain.

Fibromyalgia was once considered an autoimmune disorder , but laboratory results reveal no disturbance of the immune system . It was also once classified as a psychosomatic disorder, although few specialists currently would classify it as such. Because the understanding of this disorder has grown so rapidly in the 1990s and 2000s , many texts on the subject are out of date.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Treatment

Cause of Fibromylagia

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