Fibromyalgia is a baffling illness. No one is sure what causes it. Until recently many doctors didn’t even recognize it as a real condition. It is considered an arthritis-related condition, however, it is not a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) since it does not cause inflammation in the joints, muscles, or other tissues or damage them.

It is a soft-tissue rheumatism which involves pain and stiffness around the joints and in the muscles. Fibromyalgia is typically diagnosed by pain in at least 11 out of 18 soft tissue areas known as "trigger points” and they suffer with the symptoms for over three months. When these trigger points are pressed, people with Fibromyalgia feel intense pain.

People with other rheumatic conditions feel no pain or only a slight tenderness when these trigger points are pressed. Fibromyalgia is a disease that affects 7 to 10 million Americans. It is more common in women than in men, and more so in middle aged patients. Fibromyalgia is closely linked to, and sometimes mistaken for, chronic fatigue syndrome.

Many of the symptoms associated with this condition are chronic pain in fibrous tissues such as muscles and connective tissues, fatigue, multiple tender points, abnormal sleep patterns, stiffness, irritable bowels numbness, headaches and facial pain, flu-like malaise, irritable bowel syndrome, TMJ, anxiety, depression, and dry eyes, skin, and mouth, among other symptoms. Pain can increase with activity; cold, damp weather; anxiety; and stress.

Diagnosing fibromyalgia has been controversial because there are no specific laboratory tests to identify the disorder. Until recently, many health care professionals thought fibromyalgia was primarily caused by psychological factors, “it’s all in your head.” Diagnosis is difficult and frequently missed because symptoms of fibromyalgia are vague and generalized.

The best thing to do if you are suffering from these symptoms is to keep a diary of your symptoms, treatments tried, conditions like activity, stress, anxiety and weather when your flares occur so that when you go to your doctor you can look at the diary together and see if there is a pattern consistent with Fibromyalgia or possibly something else.

Having a doctor who believes you and also knows of the affects of Fibromyalgia is very important when getting help. It may take some time to work through different treatments plans, but there is help for Fibromyalgia sufferers.