Fibromyalgia Support Net, everything you need to know about Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia has been studied since the early 1800s and referred to by a variety of former names, including muscular rheumatism and fibrositis. The term fibromyalgia was given in 1976 to more accurately describe the symptoms, from the Latin word fibra, meaning fiber, myo, meaning muscle, and the Greek word algos, meaning pain.

Fibromyalgia was first recognized by the American Medical Association as a "true" illness and the cause of disability in 1987. In an article the same year, in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a physician named Don L. Goldenberg called the syndrome fibromyalgia.

There are a wide range of definitions, so we have listed a few of the more popular ones, you will get some tips and ideas of where these symptoms apply to you.

Fibromyalgia has been known by many other names, including chronic rheumatism, myalgia, muscular rheumatism, fibrositis, myofibrositis, and spinal irritation. Some of the terms once used to describe fibromyalgia, such as "morbid affectation" and "Charcot's hysteria," reflect an unfortunate tendency of the medical community to dismiss FMS as a form of hypochondria or mental illness. Before the development of sensitive, technologically advanced tests, fibromyalgia sufferers seemed to present no obvious measurable physiological changes.

We are sure you have your own way of describing the condition dependent upon the time you have had it and the level of symptoms!

chronic, widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues surrounding joints, accompanied by fatigue.
www.goldshieldusa.coml

a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points that occurs in precise, localized areas, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. www.umm.edu

A syndrome involving diffuse systemic muscle pain. The diagnostic criteria has been defined by the American College of Rheumatology as pain at 11of 18 tender point sites, presence of subcutaneous nodules, and a history of widespread pain for more than three months. personalinjuryterms.com

Any of a group of nonarticular (affecting or involving soft tissues, as muscles and connective tissues, rather than joints) rheumatic disorders characterized by pain, tenderness, and stiffness of muscles and associated connective tissue structures -- called also fibromyositis.
www.virtualtrials.com

is a condition in which pain at trigger points is associated with sleep disturbances and decreased exercise. Helped by improved sleep, increased exercise and often by low does tricyclic anti-depressant medications.
www.cemcor.ubc.ca

A complex chronic painful condition, primarily occurring in women, characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, and fatigue, and accompanied by tender points at defined locations, often associated with a non-restorative sleep pattern.
www.spondylitis.org

A painful condition of the muscles which can occur as a result of stress, muscle injury, or muscle overuse. Tender areas in the muscles commonly called "knots" but in medical terminology called "trigger points" create muscle spasm and tightness. ...
www.orthopaedics.iu.edu

is when widespread pain affects the muscles and attachments to the bone. It affects mostly women. (Source: Arthritis Foundation)
www.inmotionmemphis.org

The Fibromyalgia syndromes (myofascial pain syndromes, fibromyositis) are a group of disorders characterized by achy pain and stiffness in soft tissues, including muscles, tendons (which attach muscles to bones) and ligaments (which attach bones to each other).
www.neurologicalresource.org

A complex chronic condition having multiple symptoms, including muscle pain, fatigue, and tenderness in precise, localized areas, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. ...
www.holisticwebworks.com

A disorder causing aching muscles, sleep disorders, and fatigue, associated with abnormal levels of the brain chemicals that transmit nerve signals (neurotransmitters) It is characterized by symptoms in several body systems:
www.blatmanpainclinic.com

fatigue, musculoskeletal pain
www.childrensmemorial.org

Rheumatic non-inflammatory, soft tissue rheumatism
www.metoject.com

A syndrome characterized by chronic pain in the muscles and soft tissues surrounding joints, fatigue, and tenderness at specific sites in the body
www.painaction.com

Syndromes associated with fibromyalgia are characterized by localized or general pain or stiffness in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. There is no known cause for fibromyalgia but stress, inadequate sleep, injury, infections, and other conditions have been associated.
health.enotes.com

often found effecting women who are complaining of both fatigue and generalized musculoskeletal pain. Pain must persist (both sides, above and below the waist) for longer than 3 months. Must also be tenderness at 11 of 18 tender spots. ...
www.streamlinelaser.com

Fibromyalgia (FM or FMS) is a chronic syndrome (constellation of signs and symptoms) characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia

A chronic disorder that causes pain and stiffness throughout the tissues that support and move the bones and joints. Pain and localized tender points occur in the muscles, particularly those that support the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. ...
www.womenshealthmatters.ca

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