By JILL GUEST
Are you tired, achy and feeling a little run down? Your body may be encountering a syndrome called fibromyalgia.
The Arthritis Foundation released a pamphlet that defines fibromyalgia as pain in the muscles and fibrous connective tissues (the ligaments and tendons).
Those suffering from the syndrome may complain of headaches, abdominal pain, difficulty concentrating, anxiousness or depression.
“I experience headaches, premenstrual syndrome, dry eyes and muscle tension. I may feel fine one day and the next day not be able to do much because of the pain,” said Gaylene Carlson, support team leader for the Utah Valley Fibromyalgia Education and Support Group and newsletter editor.
The condition is referred to as a syndrome because it has a set of signs and symptoms that occur together. Pain is the most prominent symptom of fibromyalgia, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It may start in one area and spread throughout the body, especially at “tender points” in specific locations on the body. The pain may be described as burning, gnawing, sore, stiff and aching.
Several factors may trigger fibromyalgia, including illness, physical trauma, emotional trauma or hormonal changes.
“I became ill when I was 29 years old, after the loss of a premature infant,” Carlson said. “It first started in my hips and in my hands. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Several years later I crashed with fatigue and the pain went throughout my body for about two years.”
Diagnosis is determined by the presence of widespread pain with tenderness at specific locations, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Because complaints of fibromyalgia are so general, people may undergo complicated and repeated evaluations before they are diagnosed as having the syndrome.
“Fibromyalgia diagnosis has increased, because more people are becoming aware of the disorder. More doctors are being educated about it and recognizing the signs. I think it is because we are under more stress now than ever before,” said Julie Steel, office manager for rheumatology/arthritis specialists.
Not all doctors may be trained to recognize the disorder. The Arthritis Foundation recommends seeing a rheumatologist or other doctors who are familiar with the syndrome.
Fibromyalgia is not life-threatening, nor does it cause deformity. The Arthritis Foundation lists treatments such as medication to decrease pain and improve sleep, muscle-stretching exercises, relaxation techniques and educational programs to teach people about fibromyalgia and coping mechanisms.
“When I get angry, upset or overdo things, the pain increases. I have to take things in stride. It is important that people learn to accommodate the illness and change their life patterns around the illness. My family has been a great support,” Carlson said. “You learn to live with the pain. Symptoms fluctuate. It is an unpredictable way of life.”
Programs are conducted by the Arthritis Foundation to provide information, education and research concerning this syndrome and others like it.
“The increase in diagnosis has increased our awareness for the need of programs, and through the help of many volunteers and supporters, we are able to give people the information they need,” said Tia Mittelstadt, program director for the Utah/Idaho Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.
The BYU McDonald Student Health Center treats both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome quite often, said Sheryl Beachem, a licensed practical nurse for the center. Students and others can learn more about the disorder at the Utah County Fibromyalgia Support Group next Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Dr. G. Landon Beales, a physician at McDonald Student Health Center, will speak on the symptoms, treatment and research of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome at the Orem High School, 175 S. 400 East. There is no charge for the meeting.
For more information concerning fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, contact the Arthritis Foundation at 1-800-444-4993.
