Arthritis Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a body-wide pain with various tender spots accompanied by fatigue and other symptoms. Fibromyalgia is diagnosed after at least three full months of widespread body pain in the joints and muscles with various tender spots. The tender spots must include 11 of 18 predetermined by specialists as those that are always present in the condition. The tender points are those of fibrous tissue. These are usually muscle areas in the buttocks, shoulders, rib cage, neck, chest, thighs, knees and arms near the elbows. It is possible to mistake fibromyalgia symptoms with those of arthritis. However, arthritis carries with it marked disfigurement of joints and swelling in affected areas that fibromyalgia alone does not.

The pain in these tender spots especially is described as a deep and gnawing pain that radiated throughout the body from the tender spots. The pain tends to be worse upon awakening and then again before bed.

The cause of this ailment is so far unknown. It is suggested from studies that past emotional and physical trauma may have a hand in the development of the condition. Some evidence has suggested the fibromyalgia patients have abnormal pain reception transmitters. This condition causes nerve endings to tell the brain there is pain when there is no reason for pain.

Other studies have found that sleep troubles, which are common among fibromyalgia patients, are actually key in the development of the condition. Preliminary evidence introduces the theory that a virus or germ may be the cause. There may be some evidence that fibromyalgia is hereditary. Research is ongoing as to the exact cause of fibromyalgia.

The amount of swelling one has on one?s body parts is defined by the amount of stress that the patient is undergoing. If the patient is under minimum emotional stress then the swelling on his or her body will be barely visible and vice versa. The swelling on a patient?s body is thus, an indicator of his emotional condition as well.