What Is Fibromyalgia?

Is It All In Your Head? Yes and No!

None the less, It IS REAL!

fibra = "fibrous tissue" (Latin)

myos = "muscles" (Greek)

algos = "pain" (Greek)

Briefly, Fibromyalgia is a common condition associated with muscular pain, fatigue and mood changes. It is a form of chronic pain syndrome or soft-tissue rheumatism, which are broad terms used to describe a group of disorders that cause pain and stiffness around the joints and in muscles and bones. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown.

(resource: Arthritus Foundation)

For more detail see: Fibromyalgia

Facts about Fibromyalgia

* Occurs worldwide
* Affects 3.7 million Americans
* Ten times more likely in women
* Commonly found in people who have arthritis and other connective tissues diseases (the reverse is NOT true)

Facts about Fibromyalgia

* Not life threatening
* Causes no tissue damage to the body
* Diagnosed most often between the ages of 20 - 50
* Diagnosis can take an average of 5 years

Fibromyalgia is NOT considered a disease

* Disease implies that all people with a given disorder have exactly the same problem resulting from the same underlying cause
* More easily treatable
* Not necessarrily curable

Fibromyalgia is a Syndrome
* A fairly consistent pattern of symptoms observed in people with the same medical disorder
* No definded cause
* More difficult to treat

How You Feel Pain

> Pain source
> Electrical impluse moves through nerves to the spinal cord
> Nerve cells in spinal cord release chemicals to amplify or subdue pain message
> Brain interpret the message as pain

(Mayo Clinic on Chronic Pain)

Proposed Models to Explain Fibromyalgia -

Fibromyalgia is presumed to involve faulty regulation of the central nervous system chemicals that affect:
> pain perception
> sleep
> mood
> thinking

(McCollough 2002)

Thinking "SMART"

Set "SMART" goals to begin to develop your pain management plan:
* Specific
* Measurable
* Attainable
* Realistic
* Timely

There is no quick fix for Fibromyalgia.

Your surest route to feeling better depends on the daily habits you develop.

(From The Arthritis Foundation's Guide to Good Living with Fibromyalgia)

All information appearing in this entry is credited

to the research conducted by the Mayo Clinic -

Workshop: Decemeber 2004

More information on how to manage Fibromyalgia to be posted as the days progress. Please share your experiences and helpful hints on how YOU manage your Fibromyalgia.

Tis The Season To Give

Just a thought. . . .
I hear them ringing for extra change
I see the signs pleading to give a dollar extra for the needy
I see the flyers asking for toys for the disadvantaged
I hear the radio commercials asking to give clothes, toys, or money
I see TV Commericials to donate your dollars to .....
I see fund raisers raising pennies for the poor
I see posters asking to donate your organs for the needy
I see posters asking to donate blood for the blood banks
Tis the Season To Give Give Give. . . . even our organs and blood? Where has all this giving come to?

But what I dont see are signs or advertisements or encouraging words
to give your time or spend your time with your loved ones. Spend or give your time with your children, your grandparents, your parents, your brother or sister, your family or friends.

Has our society, our culture forgotten about the Human Touch, the Real Meaning of Christmas?
Has our society or culture come down to all materialistic forms of "love" for one another?

Just curious.... that's all.

Sites for the True Meaning of Christmas Symbols and more....

You decide if you believe them or not:
Symbols of Christmas

Cosmic Jimmy's Meaning of Christmas - extreme viewpoint

Christmas In Cyberspace - extensive history of Christmas and more

Interactive Calendar Preparing For Christmas - brought to you by Science and Health viewpoint.....you may be surprised and find comfort in this format of information

Traditional and Worldwide History of Christmas- Explanation of comericialized and Biblical history of Christmas - and much much more!

A Search For The Meaning Of Christmas This includes stories, songs, activities, and much much more!

The Real Meaning of Christmas - A lighter side of Christmas- fun stories that will make you smile, plus much more!

The Legend of the Candy Cane - do you believe this one?

Chirstmas Midi Music and words! - if you scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on home, you will discover an island of surprises of music!

Christmas - This site is for those who are researching deep meaning of Christmas and much more- great music site, too!

SantaLand traditional and non-traditional view point - worth checking out!

What are your traditions during this Holiday Season?

What do you believe to be true?
Please share!