FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY 2012

Tomorrow, May 12th, is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day!

A day dedicated to making those around us more aware of what we go through on a daily basis. A day dedicated to standing on our soapboxes to yell to the world about the pain we live with and that it IS REAL! A day to stand next to each other...and to just know, that we're not alone.

I did some google searches recently (yup, last minute of course) to see what events might be planned here in my home state of Minnesota and possibly near my hometown of Hopkins, MN...I was very dissappointed to find nothing :( The Courage Center will be having their monthly meeting with a special speaker, but nothing out in public to make them more aware of Fibromyalgia. Of course, I have these grand thoughts - had I done some searching months agao - of what could have been set up to mark this date and raise awareness...kind of a coulda, shoulda, woulda moment.

So, since it is WAY to late to start planning some grand event for tomorrow to make those around me more aware of this syndrome of Fibromyalgia, I will just blog about it and share, share, share!!

Some information about Fibromyalgia syndrome (Shared from the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Associations website:

Fibromyalgia (fi-bro-my-AL-ja) is a very common condition of widespread muscular pain and fatigue. Seven to ten million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia (FM). It affects women much more than men in an approximate ratio of 20:1. It is seen in all age groups from young children through old age, although in most patients the problem begins in their 20s or 30s. Recent studies have shown that fibromyalgia occurs worldwide and has no specific ethnic predisposition.

The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia patients have widespread body pain which often seems to arise in the muscles. Some FM patients feel their pain originates in their joints. Pain that emanates from the joints is called arthritis; extensive studies have shown FM patients do not have arthritis. Although many fibromyalgia patients are aware of pain when they are resting, it is most noticeable when they use their muscles, particularly during repetitive activities. Their discomfort can be so severe it may significantly limit their ability to lead a full life. Patients can find themselves unable to work in their chosen professions and may have difficulty performing everyday tasks. As a consequence of muscle pain, many FM patients severely limit their activities including exercise routines. This results in their becoming physically unfit, which eventually makes their fibromyalgia symptoms worse.

In addition to widespread pain, other common symptoms include a decreased sense of energy, disturbances of sleep, and varying degrees of anxiety and depression related to patients' changed physical status. Furthermore, certain other medical conditions are commonly associated with fibromyalgia, such as: tension headaches, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder syndrome, premenstrual tension syndrome, cold intolerance, and restless leg syndrome. Patients with estalished rheumatoid arthritis, lupus (SLE), and Sjogren's syndrome often develop FM during the course of their disease. The combination of pain and multiple other symptoms often leads doctors to pursue an extensive course of investigations, which are nearly always normal.

Prevelance 
Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain conditions. The disorder affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. and an estimated 3-6% of the world population. While it is most prevalent in women —75-90 percent of the people who have FM are women —it also occurs in men and children of all ethnic groups. The disorder is often seen in families, among siblings or mothers and their children. The diagnosis is usually made between the ages of 20 to 50 years, but the incidence rises with age so that by age 80, approximately 8% of adults meet the American College of Rheumatology classification of fibromyalgia.

*Photo shared from Fibromyalgia Awareness Day 2012 FB Page