Profiles Index

Fibromyalgia Research...We've Come a Long Way, Baby!
The past decade has brought about tremendous advances in fibromyalgia research and awaraeness. Seeing a casual mention of fibromyalgia in a national magazine recently caused me to reflect upon just how far we have come in the past 10 years.

What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic illness characterized by pain, fatigue and poor sleep. Initially fibromyalgia was thought to be a musculoskeletal disorder because much of the pain experienced seems to be in the muscles. However, extensive research is revealing that fibromyalgia is more accurately defined as a problem of disordered sensory processing originating in the central nervous system and causing central sensitization and pain amplification.

History of Fibromyalgia
Although the term “fibromyalgia” was not coined until 1976, throughout history people have reported illnesses with strikingly similar symptoms.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?
Although a definitive cause of fibromyalgia (FM) has not yet been identified, it is usually triggered by some kind of physical trauma, such as an illness or accident. However, the pain and fatigue continue long after the original illness or injury has healed. Why this happens to some people and not to others remains a mystery.