Living with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes abnormal pain perception processing. Its distinctive features are widespread muscle pain and tenderness. Moreover, it may be accompanied by fatigue, sleep problems, and psychiatric issues. It is estimated that more than five million Americans over the age of 18 have fibromyalgia. In fact, it’s the second most common disorder that rheumatologists encounter.

Fibromyalgia is a medical condition that causes chronic, widespread pain in the muscles of the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the condition affects approximately two percent of the U.S. adult population. No one knows the exact cause of fibromyalgia, but scientists suspect it is related to abnormal processing of painful stimuli. Specifically, an overmagnification of the body’s pain signals. As fibromyalgia can have significant physical and psychological effects — such as fatigue, disability, depression, and/or anxiety — this article focuses on nine tips for coping with fibromyalgia pain.