Even though Fibromyalgia has been around for hundreds of years, it remains a mystery to this day. It has been known by many different names, like chronic muscle pain syndrome, fibrositis, tension myalgias and psychogenic rheumatism.
What does the Fibromyalgia mean?
Fibromyalgia is a combination of Greek words:
- “Fibro,” meaning fiber
- “My,” meaning muscle
- “Algia,” meaning pain
Timeline
- 1800s Fibromyalgia was first described doctors. They called it muscular rheumatism.
- 1824 A doctor in Edinburgh described the “tender points” associated with Fibromyalgia
- 1880 Another doctor, describing the same condition, named it neurasthenia.
- 1904 An article referred to it as fibrositis. (”itis” means inflammation.)
- 1913 A physician named Luff noted that fibromyalgia symptoms changed as barometric pressure lowered as a storm approached.
- 1976 The term Fibromyalgia replaces the term fibrositis, recognizing that the condition is not caused by inflammation.
- 1987 Fibromyalgia was recognized by the American Medical Association as an illness and cause of disability
- 1987 The term fibromyalgia was used in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
- 1990 The American College of Rheumatology establishes guidelines for diagnosing fibromyalgia
Today
Having Fibromyalgia can be frustrating because it is hard to diagnose and is often misunderstood. Unfortunately, doctors still don’t know what causes Fibromyalgia. And some refuse to recognize the disease because it can’t be diagnosed through x-rays and tests.
The American College of Rheumatology has created guidelines to help assist physicians in diagnosing and studying the condition. However, not all doctors agree with the established guidelines for diagnosis. Some don’t recognize the disease while others think that the criteria are too strict.
The American College of Rheumatology guidelines
A person with fibromyalgia will experience pain above and below the waist in both sides of their body for three or more months. They will also feel pain in 11 of the 18 designated “tender point” sites. This means that the person feels pain when gentle pressure is applied at theses points.
Other symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia
- Pain in muscles
- Weariness
- Sleeplessness
- Pain in joints
- Restless legs
- Headaches
- A tingling feeling, or feeling of numbness
- Memory impairment
- Feeling nervous
- Feeling depressed
What can I do?
If you are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, your doctor will prescribe medication and/or therapy for you. But there are some personal management techniques that you can also employ:
- Make sure you take some time each day to relax
- Wake up and go to bed at the same time each day, and make sure you get enough sleep
- Exercise on a regular basis; start out slowly and work toward more strenuous activities
- Educate yourself to keep up with the latest research
- Look for a support group
Learn more about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome here.
Sources:
http://www.lclark.edu/~sherrons/history.htm#head
http://www.livingwithfm.com/resources/The_History_of_Fibromyalgia.pdf
http://mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079/DSECTION=6
http://www.nfra.net/Diagnost.htm
