Today, May 12, 2011 is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. As many of our users  live with both RA and fibromyalgia, Karen Lee Richards - the Community Leader of our Chronic Pain site - and I interviewed each other about RA and fibro. Part One of this interview is about fibromyalgia symptoms, treatment and history.You can read Karen's interview with me on Chronic Pain.

Karen first became ill in 1989, but didn't receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia until seven years later. Karen's career as a writer and patient advocate grew out of her determination to learn more about her own illnesses and wanting to raise awareness about fibromyalgia and ME/CFS. She is the co-founder of the National Fibromyalgia Association

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain illness that affects 2-5 percent of the population.  The majority of people with FM are women, but it can also strike men and children. The main symptoms of FM are widespread pain, fatigue and sleep disturbances, as well as cognitive functioning problems like memory loss and difficulty concentrating. 

The pain of FM is chronic and can range from mild to profound.  It affects different parts of the body at different times.  Sitting or lying down for extended periods of time tends to increase the pain and stiffness. 

Fatigue is often the most difficult FM symptom to describe to others because they think you're just a little tired.  However, it's a pervasive, all-encompassing exhaustion that can interfere with even the most basic and simple daily activities.  I describe it as feeling like someone pulled my plug and disconnected me from my power source. Research has shown that FM patients spend little or no time in deeper stages of sleep because their deep sleep is repeatedly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity.  Since this is the stage of sleep during which the body replenishes itself, fibromyalgia patients usually wake up feeling as if they hadn't slept at all.

Most fibromyalgia patients also report other overlapping conditions, including allergies, irritable bowel or bladder, headaches/migraines, dizziness, numbness and tingling, sensitivity to cold or heat, depression, restless legs syndrome, chemical or environmental sensitivities, impaired balance or coordination, dry eyes and mouth, vision problems. You can read more in the fibromyalgia area of the Chronic Pain site.

What causes fibromyalgia?

For a long time fibromyalgia was thought to be a muscle and soft tissue condition. However, more recent research is revealing that it is actually a malfunction of the central nervous system, which leads to over-sensitization.  As a result, simple things that would not cause pain for the average person, such as a firm handshake, can be excruciating for someone with FM.

Scientists have also found that there appears to be a genetic component to FM since it often affects multiple family members.  However, even though someone may have a genetic predisposition to FM, the symptoms usually don't show up until triggered by a trauma to the body, like an illness or injury.