Months of constant pain, restless sleep and being drained of energy will make anyone seek help. Yet after the doctor has prescribed three different treatment regimens, the pain remains, the sleep is still restless and the body still lacks the proper energy to function. The patient becomes discouraged, as each attempt at healing the problem proves fruitless.
Because its symptoms are quite common and laboratory tests are generally normal, people with fibromyalgia were once told that their condition was 'all in their head,' the Arthritis Foundation says on its website. However, medical studies have proven that fibromyalgia does indeed exist, and it is estimated to affect about 2% of the U.S. population today.
Research is being done to identify the causes of fibromyalgia, as well as treatments and a cure. Because the syndrome varies in each patient, an individualized health plan is the best option. These include (but are not limited to) prescription medications, herbal supplements, massage, exercise, healthy eating and physical therapy.
3 to 6 million Americans suffer from symptoms of fibromyalgia, millions more are undiagnosed.There are as many as 12 million undiagnosed cases of fibromyalgia in the United States, due to its elusive nature. (National Foundation for Fibromyalgia)90% of cases of fibromyalgia occur in women in the US (NIH, The National Women’s Health Centre, 2004)50% of all fibromyalgia patients suffer from sensitivities to odors, noise, bright lights, medications, and various foods (Fibromyalgia Network).Fibromyalgia patients have three times the normal amount of substance P (a chemical that tells the body how much pain it feels) in their spinal fluid.For more information about a local study visit www.EngageFibroStudy.com or call 1-877-432-3642.
