Misconceptions Series: Fibromyalgia

Hey everyone! Welcome to another week of clearing up misconceptions, this week we're talking about Fibromyalgia which is one of the most confused illnesses that I can think of. Well at least off the top of my head anyway. Sorry this post is up way late I've been sick and dealing with school stuff, but I'm doing better and working on playing catch up.

I actually did not write this post, this is the first guest post here on my blog. This post is brought to you by the lovely Kim Johnson from I Tripped Over a Stone. She is also the author of The Shadow Boxers: Fighting Fibromyalgia Your Personal Journal. 

1. Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal disease. Wrong.

Truth: Fibromyalgia has nothing to do with the fibers in your muscles. Fibromyalgia is a central nervous system disease. A sensory overload disturbance accompanies this disease. This “stimuli” (called noxious) means lights are too bright, sounds are too loud, heat is to hot, cool is too cold and touch is often too painful. There is also a generalized disturbance in the way pain is processed in an individual with Fibromyalgia.

2. Fibromyalgia is progressive! Wrong.

Truth: Fibromyalgia is NOT progressive. If your disease becomes worse over time then there are aggravating factors and coexisting conditions that are wreaking havoc with your system. Those additional health disorders need to be dealt with.

3. Fibromyalgia is a “garbage can disease”. Wrong.

Truth: Fibromyalgia is not a “garbage can”, catch-all disease. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that has a specific set of signs and symptoms that occur together.

4. Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease. Wrong.

Truth: Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune condition. Fibromyalgia is a specific, chronic, non-generative, non-inflammatory disease.

5. Fibromyalgia is a mental illness. Wrong.

Truth: A person with chronic pain may become depressed. A person with the flu may become depressed.

In conclusion, the truth is fibromyalgia is a non-progressive, non-inflammatory, truly systemic pain condition.