your alternative for fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is usually classified as a soft tissue musculoskeletal condition. It occurs within your muscles or where your muscles join their tendons, but not in joints. Symptoms of stiffness, chronic musculoskeletal pain, aching, disturbed sleep, depression, anxiety, and fatigue plague patients with FM. Patients do not experience all of the symptoms, but patients with FM have many specific tender points in the body.

FM symptoms may appear suddenly, but more often appear after an illness or a traumatic, stressful episode, causing muscle tension that's tight, stiff, painful--which seems to never completely disappear. Constant tension leads to overuse or abuse of muscles causing muscle fatigue, which in turn creates more tension.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

• Sleep disturbances/insomnia
• Chronic aching
• Pain
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Chronic fatigue
• Gastrointestinal disturbances
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Subjective soft tissue swelling
• Fluid retention
• Poor memory
• PMS
• Tightening sensations
• Restless legs
• Irritable bladder
• Dry mouth
• Hyperventilation
• Paresthesia
• Muscle spasms and trigger points/muscle jerking
• Cardiovascular problems (dizziness, plapitations)
• Tenderness of at least 11 of 18 specific trigger points

Specific anatomical points have become the primary diagnostic factor for FM. A patient must have at least 11 of 18 tender points at specific locations.

Tender points are located over muscles and end insertions, and can extend from mildly irritating to completely disabling. An increased level of muscle tissue breakdown has been suggested as one of the main reasons for aching, pain, and fatigue.