by Lee Berlemann

According to the American College of Rheumatology, Fibromyalgia affects 3 to 6 million Americans. Other sources say the total number affected could be 8 million people. It primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, but children, the elderly, and men can also be affected. (Approximately 80 percent to 90 percent of affected people are women.)

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by fatigue and widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons. At first, it was not considered an illness at all. Doctors could not find any thing wrong with patients so they believed it to be psychosomatic.

Slowly that dismissive view is changing. Published research at Johns Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania and other top research facilities points to immune dysfunction and cardiac abnormalities in
these illnesses. It is difficult to believe that some doctors still regard people with Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome as nothing more than ‘extremely worried well

» Continue reading: 4 Simple Changes to Regain Your Life from FMS

By Raymond Attebery

For years, men and women with chronic generalized pain were thought to suffer from mental health disorders. Ironically, researchers eventually discovered that for some the problem was in their heads, but Fibromyalgia is not a mental health issue.

Unfortunately there is no specific test for Fibromyalgia, so expect a variety of tests to rule out other conditions. Since FM only gained recognition by the American College of Rheumatology in 1990, experts stress the importance of being diagnosed by a qualified rheumatologist or pain specialist. But keep in mind that to date, there is no cure.

If you are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, treatment will generally focus on relieving symptoms for your pain condition consisting of among other things, drugs that regulate neurotransmitters, including certain anti-seizure medications and antidepressants that serve as analgesics for FM sufferers by reducing their pain intensity.

Not surprisingly, to avoid pain many with FM become sedentary. So, slowly

» Continue reading: Fibromyalgia – How to Live With It