Fibromyalgia Syndrome - A Rheumatic Condition Like Osteoarthritis

Fibromyalgia syndrome is thought to be the most common rheumatic conditions like osteoarthritis. Fifteen percent to around twenty percent of visits are made to the rheumatologists. Arthritis affects the joints where fibromyalgia does not. It does produce pain called algia in the body's fibrous or fibro, tendons and ligaments and in the muscles which are called my. The ones who have fibromyalgia have achiness and stiffness all over and generalized pain. Pain may come from different sites that can be painful when touched. These tender spots are very painful, even though these people who have fibromyalgia may not know these areas hurt until pressure is applied. The other characteristic is chronic fatigue, due to disturbed sleep patterns. The ones suffering complain of waking up tired as they were when they went to sleep and stay fatigued all day.

Fibromyalgia mainly affects women and first occurs around 20 years to 60 years old. Fibromyalgia does not damage the joints and doesn't cause inflammation. This disorder cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed. Improvements do show up once they are diagnosed and are treated correctly. There are only theories, not causes for fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia might have been brought on by illness of the flu or after emotional stress. Researchers think that fibromyalgia results from repeated trauma to the muscles that decrease blood flow and causes fatigue. They even think that maybe sleep disturbance associated with fibromyalgia is the cause of the syndrome.