Fibromyalgia

What is it?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body, and severe fatigue. It affects 2-3 per cent of the population and around nine out of 10 sufferers are women. It's the most common cause of chronic, widespread pain in the UK, but is frequently misdiagnosed. In some cases sufferers are told they are imagining their symptoms. Because of this, it takes on average three to five years to get a correct diagnosis.

What are the symptoms?
Pinch the skin at the top of your shoulder, near the base of your neck, for a few seconds - now imagine that pain all over your body. This is how many fibromyalgia sufferers feel, but everyone's symptoms will differ. 'They vary from person to person, ' says Pam Stewart, chair of the Fibromyalgia Association UK. Pain is the most common symptom and it can be widespread, or felt only in certain places. Sometimes it may only be mild, but at other times it can be overwhelming. The severe tiredness may make daily life hard. Other symptoms include poor sleep, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headaches and migraine, lack of concentration, sensitivity to light or smells, feeling confused, anxiety and depression.
The symptoms can also vary within each person,' says Stewart, 'so you may suffer from IBS, aching, tiredness, and restless legs syndrome, but you may not suffer from them all, all of the time.'

What causes it?
Fibromyalgia can develop at any age, but usually hits between the ages of 30 and 60. The exact is still unknown, but there are many theories. It often develops after a trauma such as a car accident, a viral infection, childbirth, or an emotional event such as divorce. Stress is a common trigger. Research has found sufferers often have poor sleeping patterns, so this could be a cause rather than a symptom. Other studies have found fibromyalgia sufferers have lower-than-normal levels of serotonin - the 'happy' chemical - in the brain, but why or how this may trigger fibromyalgia is not yet known.

How is it treated?
'Many sufferers will go to their GP with all these separate symptoms until someone finally joins up the dots,' says Stewart. 'Until then, many sufferers are told they are hypochondriacs or just being lazy.' Fibromyalgia can often be confused with other conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome. To diagnose it, there is a simple test your GP can carry out. A small amount of pressure is applied to 18 points on the body and if severe pain is felt in at least 11 points, plus the sufferer has experienced widespread pain for at least three months, then fibromyalgia is diagnosed.
There is no cure, but there are a number of ways to relieve symptoms. Treatment often includes painkillers and prescription drugs to treat sleep problems and anxiety or depression, but they may not work for everyone.

There is no quick fix. It is often a case of changing your whole lifestyle and learning to manage your symptoms.' Eating a healthy, balanced diet, doing gentle exercise and having counseling to help you cope are often recommended - many sufferers say they are back to 'normal' after following this regime. Tackling any sources of stress is also very important.
A number of herbal supplements may help. 'Herbal practitioners will use herbs that influence different systems and symptoms,' says Trudy Norris from the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (www.nimh.org.uk). 'These may include relaxants and stimulants - sometimes at the same time. Ginseng may be used to boost the immune system and help the body cope with stress; willow may be indicated to relieve rheumatic pain; while meadowsweet may be given to soothe the digestive system, kidneys and inflammation.' Taking pre- and probiotics for IBS can also help. Other therapies include yoga, acupuncture, osteopathy and massage to help you relax. Hydrotherapy - exercises and bathing in warm water - has also been shown to be very effective.