What is Fibromyalgia?
FM is a chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the fibrous tissues in the body. In addition to pain and fatigue, other symptoms include unrefreshed sleep (likely due to a number of sleep anomalies,) irritable bowel, chronic headaches, morning stiffness, cognitive or memory impairments, reduced coordination and decreased endurance. In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology established a Multicenter Criteria Committee, to develop the "Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia," which established the diagnostic criteria for FM. Current research is exploring a variety of areas that might lead to a better understanding of FM. One of the more popular thoughts is that FM is a disorder of central processing with neuroendocrine/neurotransmitter dysregulation. The FM patient experiences pain amplification due to abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous system.

Who is affected by this illness?
Statistics show that 3 to 6 percent of the American population have symptoms that point to Fibromyalgia. (1) It is estimated anywhere from six to twelve million people suffer from the devastating effects of this illness. Seventy five percent of suffers are woman. The illness usually affects women of child bearing years, often times striking when a person is in their 20's or 30's. It can however, affect people of all ages.