Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is chronic pain within the soft, fibrous tissues in the body including muscles, ligaments and tendons.  There are many fibromyalgia symptoms including:

? Sleep Disorders - Insomnia or waking up and feeling as if you haven't slept

? Dizziness and painful headaches - Migraine or tension-like headaches are a very common fibromyalgia symptom and occur in about 70% of patients.

? Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Increase in urgency or frequency of urination. May also include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and GERD or acid reflux.

? Sensitivity - A fibromyalgia symptom that includes sensitivity to odors, bright lights, temperature, medications or certain foods.

? Severe joint pain - Joint pain related to the jaw, called Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome. Causes face and head pain.

? Fatigue - Fibromyalgia symptom that makes the patient mentally unable to perform daily tasks. Called 'brain fatigue.'

? Difficulty concentrating - Also difficulty remembering or performing simple mental tasks.

? Swelling - With this fibromyalgia symptom the patient feels as if they have swelling in their hands and feet without swelling being present.

? Anxiety or depression - a prominent fibromyalgia symptom

? Numbness - A tingling or numbness may be felt at times in the arms,  hands, legs, feet, and face.

? Painful menstruation

The most common complaint of fibromyalgia is pain.  Many patients describe the pain as throbbing, shooting, stabbing and aching. A feeling as if every muscle in your body has been overworked. Very well comparable to the flu. Patients also feel as if they have no energy.  Many factors can contribute to these fibromyalgia symptoms including weather, hormonal changes, infections, allergies, tension , inactivity, depression, stress or other emotional factors.  If not treated early the symptoms of fibromyalgia can go on indefinitely or for months at a time with many reoccurences.