Fibromyalgia
An article for Awareness Day
May 12 every year is World Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Fibromyalgia is known as an invisible illness, which many people suffer in silence because of the severe difficulty in determining the disease. It is one of more than 130 known arthritic conditions, not fatal, sometimes not progressive, and occasionally going into remission.
Fibromyalgia (often abbreviated to fibro or FM) is recognised as being common, ninety percent of the afflicted being women, mainly caucasian, and is the second most commonly diagnosed musculo-skeletal disorder in the U.S.A. It now ranks third in arthritic prevalence behind Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis and is said to affect 1 in 10 people. Many cases follow a traumatic event involving stress, such as an accident, surgery or a close death, but others have no apparent cause, many people having fibro from childhood and a genetic inheritance.
Although recognised in the middle ages and even in biblical times, it was 1904 when the term "fibrositis" was first used, the problem being fully detailed in 1914 by doctors in England. A leading doctor from the U.S. Mayo Clinic stated in a 1943 paper, that "fibrositis was the most chronic and acute form of rheumatism" , but it was 1981 when the term "fibromyalgia" first entered the medical dictionary and not until 1989-90 when the ACR Criteria for the Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia was released.
Fibromyalgia syndrome is a condition of persistent pain throughout the body in the muscles and soft fibrous tissues such as ligaments and tendons. The main symptoms are this widespread pain and profound fatigue. There may also be morning stiffness and sleep disturbances, often accompanied by insomnia, diarrohea and abdominal bloating, bladder irritation and headaches. With these symptoms, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia (pronounced fibe-roe-my-AL-juh) may be made if accompanied by "tender points" which are specific to fibromyalgia.
Because of the degree of debility it may cause, and the vast number affected, especially by Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS) or Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) which often develops into full fibromyalgia, fibro is becoming a serious matter for concern. The U.S. National Institute of Health is now funnelling millions into fibro research.
Here in New Zealand, Arthritis New Zealand has an increasing
network of Support groups within all its Regions and there is a free,
twice-yearly Fibromyalgia postal newsletter 'Positive
Living' with national coverage. From 'Voice of Australasia', a quarterly Online
Newsletter, along with a monthly Online Noticeboard covering FM events
throughout New Zealand is sent out to increasing numbers of people with
Fibromyalgia. An extensive local website with information about Fibromyalgia and
OOS/RSI, at www.voxau.com has been developed. It is continually updated with recent fibromyalgia
information and news releases to support people with fibromyalgia, their friends,
relatives, caregivers and professionals in New Zealand.
People who would like to receive any of the
newsletters are asked to write to: "Positive Living", P.O. Box 28-552, Remuera,
Auckland 5 or email jacqui@voxau.com.
This article, unaltered, may be used in any publication without further permission.
Acknowledgement of the author and Vox Australasia would be appreciated.