Did you ever stop to wonder how this even started in the first place? Why IT chose us? What made it surface and why it seems to never go away? There are many speculations on how and why this had happened. We may ponder some on it and think we really know for sure. But this illness is a mysterious one and has no predjudice on who IT selects.
To to diagnosed in the first place you have to possess pain and or severe sensitivity in at least 11 of the 18 tenderpoints described in this Diagram below.
Now remember, this may be a photo of a female body but let us not forget that MEN TOO SUFFER.
Usually pain is not the only problem we carry with this illness , but it is the main factor in our diagnosis. Other symptoms may include: Nausea, fatigue, dizziness, irritable bowell, leaky gut, achiness, sensitivity to sounds or smells, "frozen muscles", cramps, numbness in limbs of the body, weakness in arms and legs, skin itchiness, cognitive difficulties, extreme weight gain or loss, tingling sensations, clumsiness, coordination troubles, headaches, esophagal reflux, sharp pains and or knife stabbing sensations. . .
This is just the tip of the iceberg for most of us. There are over 50 symptoms and the count seems to rise depending on the person who is suffering from all this. There are so many people out there who don't even know that there is a name for all the feelings and pain they are dealing with on a daily basis. They are being told that it is "All in their heads". We are familiar with this because we all too have heard this at one time or another. Either by a doctor or family and friends.
Chronic pain can become a debilitating problem for most if left untreated. Some of us are fortunate to be able to find ways to deal with or cope in some way , but for millions , there seems to be nothing to help relieve them from the pain.
Different ways of management may include: Accupuncture, a stricked structured diet, massage, pain medicines, and theropy. But for many these options do not only create dissappointing results , but also exhaust not only their physical being , but their pocket books as well. There are some who are able to still work and supply some means of financial support to these efforts , and then there are many who cannot do this, resulting in no money or insurance. That is when the fight for our Social Security becomes essential. Be advised that fighting for S.S is not an easy solution. It takes a long time for the government to reply and acknowledge this as a real problem for us. But keep fighting. Hire a lawyer who only gets paid when you win. The results may be better for you in the long run than to fight on your own.
The cause of FMS is unknown , but there are speculations on how it all manifested. It could be from long term stress , car accident, a long painful child birth, severe illness, even Mononucleosis. There are so many more but once it has surfaced , there really is no need to try to figure out how. Instead it becomes important to research the illness itself and work on finding ways to help you get thru the rough days ahead. Being educated about FMS is the best fight you have against it. Since it is here , living in us , we might as well know what it is. Study everything you can about it , try different ways to manage it . You never know if they will work for you or not till you try. Everyone with FMS suffers differently with it , so treatments vary. Use your own disgretion on treatment. But read and know what is safe , what is less painful and find someone to help you . Find support from a group or an online sponser. This makes it all a bit easier on you.
THE EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF FIBROMYALGIA ~ CLICK HERE!
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ??
So you may be wondering or may even know what this is. . . but do you know what really causes it for people with FMS?
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(CFS) or Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome(CFIDS) is not catagorized as the same condition. There is a slight difference. CFS, according to the medical world, can be from an onset of vast proportions. CFIDS is explained by a history (this being the KEY WORD) of extreme exhaustion lasting at least 6 months or more. This usually is coexisting with other biochemical abnormalities. This extreme exhaustion can be brought on by the slightest of efforts. Some of the other problems associated with this are: Sore throat, cognitive difficulties, and fever. Of course it makes sense why so many of us have this too besides the FMS! When pain has been with us day in and day out for so long , it weakens our bodies . You become very tired from your body trying to fight the pain. Eventually your body says it has had enough and tends to wear down. This is how my CFIDS came about. Years of pain and no one to tell me how to manage it. No one to help me cope. My body was so tired of being sick , it gave up. Now any little bit of activity can make me tired. Somedays activity wears me down so much that getting up to use the bathroom is a chore.
MORE INFO ON THIS SUBJECT !
CHRONIC ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP OF WEST MICHIGAN
