1
1
Fibromyalgia is an illness defined by muscle pain and tenderness that is spread throughout the body. Today somewhere between 6 to 10 million Americans are affected by Fibromyalgia. If there was a wider spread knowledge of the illness then people might be willing to be more accepting, and not accuse patients of being a hypochondriac. Fibromyalgia patients usually have eleven of the eighteen tender points, also known as pressure points. They are considered a defining characteristic of Fibromyalgia.
1
Fibromyalgia is an illness defined by muscle pain and tenderness that is spread throughout the body. Today somewhere between 6 to 10 million Americans are affected by Fibromyalgia. If there was a wider spread knowledge of the illness then people might be willing to be more accepting, and not accuse patients of being a hypochondriac. Fibromyalgia patients usually have eleven of the eighteen tender points, also known as pressure points. They are considered a defining characteristic of Fibromyalgia.2
Some of the most common symptoms of Fibromyalgia are: pain, fatigue, memory impairment (“fibro fog”), sleep disorder, chronic headaches, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), TMJ disorder, Restless Leg Syndrome, anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to loud noises. The aggravating factors, such as a change in the weather, and a switch to cold environments can cause pain to flare up around pressure points. The pain related to Fibromyalgia can change location and intensity on the body from day to day. Fibromyalgia is a majority of these symptoms combined. Which is one of the reasons why doctors refuse to acknowledge it as an actual illness. Instead, they try to treat each symptom individually.
Some of the most common symptoms of Fibromyalgia are: pain, fatigue, memory impairment (“fibro fog”), sleep disorder, chronic headaches, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), TMJ disorder, Restless Leg Syndrome, anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to loud noises. The aggravating factors, such as a change in the weather, and a switch to cold environments can cause pain to flare up around pressure points. The pain related to Fibromyalgia can change location and intensity on the body from day to day. Fibromyalgia is a majority of these symptoms combined. Which is one of the reasons why doctors refuse to acknowledge it as an actual illness. Instead, they try to treat each symptom individually.3
Many people are accused of the pain being just their imagination by both doctors and their family members. The family’s non-belief is considered to be emotionally damaging on Fibromyalgia suffers. The fact that most of the symptoms are “invisible” is one the reason the families are non-supportive. There is no evidence on blood test, or X-rays and most people have a hard time believing without actual medical proof. Another reason might be that they can not relate to the pain of the patient or even imagine what they might be feeling. The support of a family member is needed due to the fact that the pain and other symptoms can vary from day to day life.
Many people are accused of the pain being just their imagination by both doctors and their family members. The family’s non-belief is considered to be emotionally damaging on Fibromyalgia suffers. The fact that most of the symptoms are “invisible” is one the reason the families are non-supportive. There is no evidence on blood test, or X-rays and most people have a hard time believing without actual medical proof. Another reason might be that they can not relate to the pain of the patient or even imagine what they might be feeling. The support of a family member is needed due to the fact that the pain and other symptoms can vary from day to day life.4
Although, most doctors have always seemed to be less than accepting of the idea of Fibromyalgia. Instead of just accepting it, most doctors only seem to be going out of their way to not diagnose it. They will jump back and forth between illnesses that have some of the same symptoms before they even consider diagnosing someone with Fibromyalgia. Once they run out of other illnesses most doctors start trying to treat the pain with pain killers and muscle relaxes.
Although, most doctors have always seemed to be less than accepting of the idea of Fibromyalgia. Instead of just accepting it, most doctors only seem to be going out of their way to not diagnose it. They will jump back and forth between illnesses that have some of the same symptoms before they even consider diagnosing someone with Fibromyalgia. Once they run out of other illnesses most doctors start trying to treat the pain with pain killers and muscle relaxes.5
If there was more of an acceptance of the illness more research might go into it and thus possibly bring to light something that we have overlooked. Even though most doctors refuse to diagnose or treat it for what is an actual illness. It still effects a patient either way. Because, whether or not doctors refuse to acknowledge it the pain is there for patients not just in their heads. If more doctors were willing to accept Fibromyalgia then more skeptical people or family members would more supportive of people that had it.
If there was more of an acceptance of the illness more research might go into it and thus possibly bring to light something that we have overlooked. Even though most doctors refuse to diagnose or treat it for what is an actual illness. It still effects a patient either way. Because, whether or not doctors refuse to acknowledge it the pain is there for patients not just in their heads. If more doctors were willing to accept Fibromyalgia then more skeptical people or family members would more supportive of people that had it.6
Some people believe that the reasons doctors had refused to acknowledge the disorder. Is because, it mostly effected women so they related that pain to women being a wimp or its simply in their heads. To the women saying they are fatigued, because they were worn out due to doing their household duties and taking care of the children all day. Another reason that people think doctors do not believe in Fibromyalgia as an illness is, because there is no known cause for it. Some possible causes of it could be a physically traumatic or stressful event. Even an illness could be the onset of Fibromyalgia.
Some people believe that the reasons doctors had refused to acknowledge the disorder. Is because, it mostly effected women so they related that pain to women being a wimp or its simply in their heads. To the women saying they are fatigued, because they were worn out due to doing their household duties and taking care of the children all day. Another reason that people think doctors do not believe in Fibromyalgia as an illness is, because there is no known cause for it. Some possible causes of it could be a physically traumatic or stressful event. Even an illness could be the onset of Fibromyalgia.7
Some of the questions physicians had in response to the word Fibromyalgia were. Why there seemed to be no physical evidence on the X-rays or in the blood test? Why people’s symptoms varied so dramatically from other patients, if they all had the same supposed illness? Doctors have argued that there is no probable cause for the “pain.” That the patients were all just hypochondriacs telling them that it was all in their heads.
Some of the questions physicians had in response to the word Fibromyalgia were. Why there seemed to be no physical evidence on the X-rays or in the blood test? Why people’s symptoms varied so dramatically from other patients, if they all had the same supposed illness? Doctors have argued that there is no probable cause for the “pain.” That the patients were all just hypochondriacs telling them that it was all in their heads.8
Fibromyalgia is not just in your head, however, it is in your central nervous system and your brain. It is a stress related illness that disrupts the way the body perceives and communicates pain. An abnormality in the central nervous system where pain signals are amplified. The neurons that send signal get hyper active in a sense and over exaggerate the pain sensation. However, if it is all just in the patient’s head then why are there FDA approved drugs for Fibromyalgia. Pharmaceutical companies are constantly developing new medicines to try and help improve life with the illness.
Fibromyalgia is not just in your head, however, it is in your central nervous system and your brain. It is a stress related illness that disrupts the way the body perceives and communicates pain. An abnormality in the central nervous system where pain signals are amplified. The neurons that send signal get hyper active in a sense and over exaggerate the pain sensation. However, if it is all just in the patient’s head then why are there FDA approved drugs for Fibromyalgia. Pharmaceutical companies are constantly developing new medicines to try and help improve life with the illness.9
There is no specific way to treat Fibromyalgia, Although, if more doctors would acknowledge Fibromyalgia as an illness people might be accepting. That, itself could be helpful to relieve patients of unnecessary stress from being considered a hypochondriac.
There is no specific way to treat Fibromyalgia, Although, if more doctors would acknowledge Fibromyalgia as an illness people might be accepting. That, itself could be helpful to relieve patients of unnecessary stress from being considered a hypochondriac.10
We might actually be able to create a greater understanding of the illness. Possibly might be able to move forward and start searching for a way to reverse the effects instead of moving in a never ending circle.
We might actually be able to create a greater understanding of the illness. Possibly might be able to move forward and start searching for a way to reverse the effects instead of moving in a never ending circle.
Table of Contents
Comments
Commenters
this was only the first draft it wouldn’t let me add the latest so there have been some changes to it