What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?
That’s a loaded question! Each person experiences fibromyalgia differently… but, going back to basics, I will try my best to explain.
The nervous system of someone with ‘fibro’ looks like this;
So, a person with fibro has an overactive nervous system.
You can read more about the nervous system: here.
Signals are being constantly sent to the brain that the body is in pain, the brain answers and we end up with this;
Further reading about the effects on the brain: here.
So, the brain is very busy for a person with chronic pain from Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Then we add the cognitive dysfunction, known as fibro fog, that we deal with as fibro warriors.
This is a good description;
(Image courtesy of Pixie.)
Further reading about fibro fog: here, and here.
So, the very basic explanation of Fibromyalgia Syndrome is this;
(Image courtesy of Pixie.)
In-depth symptoms of fibro and accompanying conditions: here and here.
To sum up this post, it is OK to not fully understand fibro but NOT OK to think it is easily defined. Fibromyalgia is not a cookie-cutter illness. This is a real ‘syndrome’ (which means made up of many co-existing conditions) that is debilitating and extremely painful.
~Kim
This is so informative and brings up such a great point of the effects of the exhaustion of chronic pain such as the memory disturbance and depression! In the same way asthmatics are often tired because they are struggling for proper oxygen, the same thing is true for those of us with pain receptors that *never* get a rest!
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You are very much more than an observer, Sam. You are a fellow Warrior! Fight on, my friend.💪
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This is a fantastic overview that really shows the complexity of fibromyalgia can’t be ignored or underestimated. It can be so hard to describe and harder still to manage, but bit by bit with posts like this more awareness is raised. Hopefully, societal understanding will replace ignorance around fibro and there will be, gradually, less stigma and judgement. xx
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Thank you Caz. The issue is definitely ignorance, and acknowledging that… I will explain fibro until I’m blue in the face to anyone who asks, no matter how many times they ask, I’m cool with that. Thankful even, as questions equal concern, at least to me. No question is stupid. But. Those who THINK they know, what they do not makes it much more dangerous for those of us who have it, to live with it. (Being denied access to medication.) Being belittled for an inability to maintain employment… I am sure you can tell, I have a few more blog posts I need to write due to a few ‘discussions’ I’ve recently found myself in. Ignorance is really not bliss when it is an adult wielding it around. So bummed. Argh.
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