Sufferers of Fibromyalgia

What is Fibromyalgia and how many people suffer from this condition? Fibromyalgia is considered a form of arthritis and approximately six million people suffer from this condition in North America alone. Doctors are unable to find a cause for this condition, nor is there a cure for it. They are only able to treat the symptoms of the condition and not the disease itself. There are some medications available to treat the symptoms, but they do not work for everyone, and some of them do not work the same for all individuals.

Some symptoms of Fibromyalgia are chronic fatigue, acute pain all over the body, difficulty sleeping, and headaches. The pain is not only in the bones, but can also be felt in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments as well. With headaches, there are three different types caused by this condition. The first two are migraine headaches and muscle tension headaches. Muscle tension headaches are also referred to as muscle contraction headaches because the ache is caused by contractions in the muscles in the neck, jaw, upper back, and in the shoulders. The third type of headache is a combination of the first two. The level of pain experienced is different for everybody. Some people only have minor pain, while others are barely able to get out of bed because it hurts so much.

Most people that suffer from fibromyalgia are unable to perform simple day to day things like house cleaning, cooking, tend to their personal hygiene, or even take care of their family. In worse cases, people are unable to work and even have difficulty just leaving their homes.