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FIBROMYALGIA Key Words
Analgesic: A
medication or treatment that relieves pain.
Arthritis: Literally means joint
inflammation, but is often used to indicate a group of more
than 100 rheumatic diseases. These diseases affect not only
the joints but also other connective tissues of the body,
including important supporting structures such as muscles,
tendons, and ligaments, as well as the protective covering of
internal organs.
Autoimmune disease: One in which
the immune system destroys or attacks the patient's own body
tissue.
Cartilage: A tough, resilient tissue that covers and cushions
the ends of the bones and absorbs shock.
Chronic disease: An illness that lasts for a long time.
Fibromyalgia: Sometimes called
fibrositis, a chronic disorder that causes pain and stiffness
throughout the tissues that support and move the bones and
joints. Pain and localized tender points occur in the muscles,
particularly those that support the neck, spine, shoulders,
and hips. The disorder includes widespread pain, fatigue, and
sleep disturbances.
Fibrous capsule: A tough wrapping
of tendons and ligaments that surrounds the joint.
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This site is designed primarily for massage
therapists who wish to learn techniques to work with fibromyalgia patients.
Patients with fibromyalgia will be able to perform a few of the techniques for
themselves or can have a loved one assist them with other techniques which are
impossible to perform on yourself.
What is
fibromyalgia?
“Fibro” mean fibrous tissue (connective tissue such as tendons and ligaments),
“My” means muscles, “Algia” means pain. Therefore, fibromyalgia means pain in
the muscles and connective tissues of the body. Other names for fibromyalgia
include fibromyitis, fibromyositis, fibrositis, and tension myalgia.
Diagnosis:
According to the American College of Rheumatology, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia
is indicated if the patient is experiencing:
1. A history of widespread pain, lasting no less than three months. To be
“widespread” the pain must encompass a significant portion of either the left or
right side of the body, or above or below the waist, and include a significant
portion of the spine.
2. Pain (as opposed to simply tenderness) upon palpation of at least 11 of 18
specific sites
The Second World Congress of Myofascial Pain and Fibromyalgia held in
Copenhagen, Denmark in 1992 expanded this definition of fibromyalgia to include:
Persistent
fatigue
Generalized
morning stiffness
Non-refreshing
sleep
Headache
Irritable
bladder
Dysmenorrhea
(pain with menstruation)
Extreme
sensitivity to cold
Restless legs
Numbness and
tingling
In a study of 6,240 fibromyalgia patients, 59% felt they were able to identify a
specific trigger of their condition. Of those, 39% felt their disease was
triggered by a physical injury, 27% by a major emotional shock, 15% by a severe
infection, 9% from surgery, 5% from exposure to chemicals or drugs. A similar
survey showed 20% onset after surgery or trauma, and 5 to 10 % as a reaction to
a viral illness.
A study comparing fibromyalgia in 100 patients with whiplash to 60 patients with
trauma in their lower body (such as fractured legs) revealed that the group with
whiplash had 13 times greater incidence of developing fibromyalgia than those
with lower body trauma. Of the whiplash patients who developed fibromyalgia, the
average time of onset was just 3.2 months from the date of the accident.
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