Fibromyalgia: the invisible disease

Fibromyalgia is a neurological disorder characterized by chronic, widespread pain. While it’s precise cause is unknown, some researchers believe it results from an anomaly in the way the central nervous system controls pain. An estimated two per cent of North Americans of all ages suffer from the disease.

While the classic sign of fibromyalgia is pain in the muscles and joints, there are many other symptoms such as:
• Fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping
• Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
• Headaches
• Anxiety or depression
• Memory and concentration problems
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Painful menstrual cramps

With such varied symptoms, it can be difficult to diagnose fibromyalgia; a situation that often proves to be very stressful for patients. Until recently, some doctors didn’t consider it to be a real disorder and even today, some medical professionals characterize it as psychosomatic.

Since fibromyalgia has no outward signs — the disease has been given the epithet “the invisible disease” — there’s no way to test for it. It doesn’t affect the major organs, can’t be revealed with X-rays or blood tests and isn’t life threatening. Therefore, in order to make a diagnosis, doctors use a set of clinical diagnostic criteria.

Currently, there’s no cure for fibromyalgia. However, treatments exist to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.