03/16/2023
Do you suffer from widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue and sleep disturbances? These could be symptoms of Fibromyalgia (FM). FM is a disorder characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive and psychiatric disturbances. Physical examination reveals tenderness in multiple soft tissue anatomic locations. Although laboratory testing is standard in the absence of other illnesses, some disorders are seen more frequently in patients with FM than in the general population. Certain conditions may cluster with FM and have some common pathophysiologic features, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraine.
If you are experiencing chronic widespread pain (CWP), fatigue, and sleep disturbances, present for at least three months and not explained by any other medical condition, you should consult your doctor. Patients with FM characteristically sleep "lightly," waking frequently during the early morning and having difficulty getting back to sleep. Cognitive disturbances, depression, anxiety, headache, and paresthesias are some of the other common symptoms of FM. If you think you have Fibromyalgia, talk to your healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.