Fibromyalgia

A friend of mine suffers from a condition called fibromyalgia. When she told me about it, I really didn't understand what it was; her hands were hurting. I thought it was something like carpal tunnel syndrome. So I thought, maybe I should learn a little more about this.

Fibromyalgia doesn't seem to get a lot of attention. Because people don't show any outward signs of their condition, it's difficult to raise any awareness. Nobody seems to understand what the disorder is all about. Put very simply, if you touch a person with fibromyalgia it hurts. Jewelry touching the skin can burn, sleeping on cotton sheets can irritate the skin; just hugging a loved one can be a painful experience.

Nobody seems to know what causes primary fibromyalgia, but scientists now believe that secondary fibromyalgia can be caused by a trauma, such as an automobile accident, or an untreated systemic inflammation. Scientists think that it may be a problem with the brain processing sensation information. It's interesting to note that most fibromyalgia patients also have chronic fatigue syndrome.

Since there are no medications for the treatment of fibromyalgia, many people have turned to alternative medicine. Some engage in yoga, while others find acupuncture eases their pain. Also a good diet and mild exercise seem to help. Of course, the pharmaceutical companies are rushing to find a drug that will help fibromyalgia. But at present, most doctors offer a cocktail of drugs to help their patients. It's also imperative that people suffering from fibromyalgia get a good night's sleep, try to eliminate stress in their lives and eat a healthy diet.

If you Google "fibromyalgia", you'll find there's lots of information about the disorder on the Internet, but an excellent place to start is at Lynn Matallana's web site. Lynne Matallana, a longtime sufferer of fibromyalgia, and now director of the National Fibromyalgia Association has her web site at http://www.fmaware.org/