Symptoms and associated syndromes
Pain - The pain of FMS has no boundaries. People describe the pain as deep muscular aching, throbbing, shooting, and stabbing. Intense burning may also be present. Quite often, the pain and stiffness are worse in the morning and you may hurt more in muscle groups that are used repetitively.

Fatigue - This symptom can be mild in some patients and yet incapacitating in others. The fatigue has been described as “brain fatigue” in which patients feel totally drained of energy. Many patients depict this situation by saying that they feel as though their arms and legs are tied to concrete blocks, and they have difficulty concentrating, e.g., brain fog.

Sleep disorder - Most FMS patients have an associated sleep disorder called the alpha-EEG anomaly. This condition was uncovered in a sleep lab with the aid of a machine which recorded the brain waves of patients during sleep. Researchers found that most FMS patients could fall asleep without much trouble, but their deep level (or stage 4) sleep was constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity. Patients appeared to spend the night with one foot in sleep and the other one out of it.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, abdominal gas, and nausea represent symptoms frequently found in roughly 40 to 70% of FMS patients.

Chronic headaches - Recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches are seen in about 50% of FMS patients and can pose a major problem in coping for this patient group.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome - This syndrome, sometimes referred to as TMJ or TMD, causes tremendous jaw-related face and head pain in one quarter of FMS patients. However, a 1997 published report indicated that close to 75% of FMS patients have a varying degree of jaw discomfort. Typically, the problems are related to the muscles and ligaments surrounding the jaw joint and not necessarily the joint itself.

Other common symptoms - Premenstrual syndrome and painful periods, chest pain, morning stiffness, cognitive or memory impairment, numbness and tingling sensations, muscle twitching, irritable bladder, the feeling of swollen extremities, skin sensitivities, dry eyes and mouth, dizziness, and impaired coordination can occur. Patients are often sensitive to odors, loud noises, bright lights, and sometimes even the medications that they are prescribed.

Aggravating factors - Changes in weather, cold or drafty environments, infections, allergies, hormonal fluctuations (premenstrual and menopausal states), stress, depression, anxiety and over-exertion may all contribute to symptom flare-ups. (From Fibromyalgia Network)

Research 2007-2008

Pain In Fibromyalgia Is Linked To Changes In Brain Molecule

March 13, 2008 — Researchers have found a key linkage between pain and a specific brain molecule, a discovery that lends new insight into fibromyalgia, an often-baffling chronic pain … > full story

A Regular Dip In The Pool Could Benefit Fibromyalgia Sufferers February 25, 2008 — Patients suffering from fibromyalgia could benefit significantly from regular exercise in a heated swimming pool, a study in Arthritis Research & Therapy shows. The findings suggest a cost … > full story

Marijuana-based Drug Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain, Study Suggests February 18, 2008 — Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study. Fibromyalgia syndrome has no cure, is … > full story

Brain Response Differences In The Way Women With IBS Anticipate And React To Pain January 12, 2008 — Researchers found that women with irritable bowel syndrome cannot effectively turn-off a pain modulation mechanism in the brain, which causes them to be more sensitive to abdominal pain, compared to … > full story

Prevalence And Impact Of Arthritis And Other Rheumatic Conditions In The United States January 2, 2008 — Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States. Over the next 25 years as the Baby Boom generation continues to age, the toll of this disease will escalate. To have a clear … > full story

Altered Sex Hormone Levels, Higher Body Temp Affects Sleep Quality In Postmenopausal Women December 3, 2007 — In an examination of potential relationships between objective sleep measures, nocturnal sex hormone levels, and the nocturnal course of body temperature of older postmenopausal women, a new study … > full story

MRE Could Provide A Definitive Diagnosis For People With Muscle Pain, Study Shows November 30, 2007 — An estimated nine million men and women in the United States live with myofascial pain syndrome, a condition marked by pain that permeates muscles in the neck, back and shoulders. The condition is … > full story

Floating Effective For Stress And Pain, Research Suggests November 6, 2007 — Relaxation in large, sound- and light-proof tanks with high-salt water — floating — is an effective way to alleviate long-term stress-related pain. Sleep was improved, patients felt more … > full story

Exercise And Education Helps Women With Fibromyalgia November 13, 2007 — An exercise program that incorporates walking, strength training and stretching may improve daily function and alleviate symptoms in women with fibromyalgia, according to a new article. These … > full story

Fibromyalgia Pain Caused By Neuron Mismatch, Suggests Study November 2, 2007 — The unexplained pain experienced by patients with fibromyalgia is the result of a mismatch between sensory and motor systems, new research suggests. Scientists note that this finding adds to a … > full story

Why Don’t Painkillers Work For People With Fibromyalgia?October 3, 2007 — New research shows that people with fibromyalgia were found to have reduced binding ability of a type of receptor in the brain that is the target of opioid painkiller drugs such as … > full story

Meditation Therapy For Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients October 2, 2007 — A revered contemplative practice for centuries, meditation has recently inspired research into its therapeutic value for everything from anxiety disorders to heart attack prevention. A painful, … > full story

Crossing The Line Between Tired And Fatigued September 10, 2007 — Jennifer Sieck knew something had to be done when she would lie in bed most of the day and night. “It would be a big deal and everyone would get excited if I’d come down to the living room and could … > full story

Mindfulness Meditation: A New Treatment For Fibromyalgia? August 6, 2007 — Fibromyalgia has emerged as a common, yet difficult to treat disorder. A group of investigators has proposed a new modality of treatment. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) proposes a … > full story

Further Legitimization Of Fibromyalgia As A True Medical Condition June 25, 2007 — Fibromyalgia, a chronic, widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues accompanied by fatigue, is a fairly common condition that does not manifest any structural damage in an organ. Fibromyalgia, … > full story

FDA Approves First Drug For Treating Fibromyalgia June 22, 2007 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Lyrica (pregabalin), the first drug to treat fibromyalgia, a disorder characterized by pain, fatigue and sleep problems. Lyrica reduces pain and … > full story

Gabapentin Shown Effective For Fibromyalgia Pain June 12, 2007 — New research shows that the anticonvulsant medication gabapentin, which is used for certain types of seizures, can be an effective treatment for the pain and other symptoms associated with the … > full story

Fibromyalgia: The Misunderstood Disease June 2, 2007 — Fourteen years ago, Josephine began to experience severe pain throughout her body. As her symptoms became worse, she sought help from a variety of specialists, but no one could diagnose her … > full story

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