Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disease that affects the musculoskeletal system. Symptoms vary widely among sufferers, but generally include muscle and joint aches, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and tenderness in several of eighteen specific areas, or “trigger points” on the body. Fibromyalgia is often overlooked by sufferers as the inevitable result of a busy schedule and everyday stress. When patients do seek treatment, doctors often misdiagnose fibromyalgia as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or another musculoskeletal condition. It affects women far more often than men, at a ratio of about ten to one. While some cases result from a specific trauma, more often the exact cause is unknown.

Fibromyalgia can affect every aspect of your life, including your relationships. It’s important to develop a strong network of support to help you cope with the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms of this condition. As part of this support group, you should seek out a Fibromyalgia network that can connect you with others who can empathize with your condition.

A Fibromyalgia network found at http://www.fibromyalgia-support.org can help improve your life in a number of ways:

Sometimes it follows an accident or illness. For others the onset is as mysterious as the syndrome itself. You suddenly realize the constant muscle ache in your back and legs doesn’t intend to go anywhere and you begin to worry that it may be more serious than over exercise.

After spending several sleepless nights pacing the floor you decide to seek out a doctor. Although Fibromyalgia, or FMS, as it is commonly called, is now recognized as a physical illness by leading physicians, some are hard to convince. If you’re lucky, you will find a doctor who is familiar with this type of muscle malady and knows exactly how to begin treatment.

Fibromyalgia means that a previously healthy person develops unexplained exhaustion, fatigue and muscle aches and pains that last for more than six months, all blood tests are normal and doctors can’t find a cause. One report shows that a large number of people who were diagnosed as having fibromyalgia really had polymyalgia rheumatica that does have an abnormal blood test. Another study shows that many sufferers have low spinal fluid levels of vitamin B12 and may be treated with 1000 mcg B12 pills each day.

Alleviate Pain and Inflammation Naturally

Fibromyalgia is a mysterious disease that is effecting more and more people, as increasing numbers of patients are being diagnosed with this disorder. What is fibromyalgia, and what are some alterative therapies and treatments for this often-times debilitating disease?

Fibromyalgia is defined as a chronic musculoskeletal disorder with symptoms of widespread and persistent muscle and soft tissue pain, fatigue, and tenderness in several key points of the body such as the neck, shoulders and hips. Fatigue is often present in the more severe cases of fibromyalgia, and the degree of pain also depends on the severity of the disorder in the individual.