Teens and Fibromyalgia

There is no completely understood reason for fibromyalgia in teens or anyone else and there is no cure. It causes pain in the body's fibrous tissues and extreme fatigue. It is suspected to be caused by stress from infections or mental or emotional problems. Pediatricians commonly call it chronic pain syndrome.

The condition is chronic and those who have it complain of stabbing, shooting or throbbing pain usually in the back, shoulders and neck. The pain can also be felt in the joints. Those who suffer from fibromyalgia sometimes have sleep disorders where deep sleep is often interrupted, which is one cause of the extreme fatigue.

Fibromyalgia doesn't shorten the life span, but it does affect the quality of life. For the teenager going to school and trying to participate in activities, it can be quite disabling. There have been reports of teenagers falling asleep in the classroom. The teacher has to be made aware of the problem so that they will not think it is just a matter of the student not paying attention. It can be so disabling, the teenager cannot participate in school sports.

It can be managed by treatment and medicines to ease the symptoms. Some of the treatments are massages and acupuncture. Exercise can help relieve muscle pain and muscle weakness, but you should check with the doctor regarding the correct exercises to do. Fibromyalgia is sometimes not diagnosed properly and this delays treatment. However, more is known about the condition now, so that doesn't happen as frequently as it did a few years ago.