FIBROMYALGIA

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FIBROMYALGIA

• Paul Hiner
• 28, April 2008

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What it is

• Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder
  characterized by widespread musculoskeletal
  aches, pain and stiffness, soft tissue
  tenderness, general fatigue, and sleep
  disturbances. The most common sites of pain
  include the neck, back, shoulders, pelvic girdle,
  and hands, but any body part can be affected.
  (www.fmaware.com)

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Who Fibromyalgia Affects

• Most common in women, regardless of age or race.
• Does occur in men and children, but very
  infrequently
• Only about 3-6 of the U.S. Population

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Sypmtoms

• General pain in the
• Muscles
• Joints
• Anywhere in the body
• Fatigue
• Sleeplessness

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Diagnosis

• Very general complaint makes it hard to diagnose
• After other problems have been ruled out, and if
  there is pain in 11 of the 18 tender points a
  diagnosis is made.

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Problems in Diagnosis

• It mimics many other disorders, such as
• Lupus
• Crohns disease
• The severity, duration and location of the pain
  can be different for each patient
• There are no tests that are able to reveal
  Fibromyalgia

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Treatment

• Anti-depressants
• Painkillers
• Sleep medications
• Support groups

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Other Treatments

• Healthy diet and exercise
• Yoga
• Walking
• Holistic treatment
• Acupressure
• Acupuncture
• Herbs
• Application of heat or cold

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COSTS

• Time off of work during a flare up
• Cost of medication
• Social Costs

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Works Cited/Consulted

• http//www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagenamefi
  bromyalgia_treated
• http//www.fmnetnews.com/basics-symptoms.php
• http//www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00
  079
• http//www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fibromyalgia.ht
  ml