Did You Know?

Women are 10 times more likely to get fibromyalgia than men. As much as 90 percent of the estimated 10 million Americans living with fibromyalgia are women, though it can occur in men and even children. Considered a syndrome and not a disease, fibromyalgia, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA), is characterized by chronic and widespread pain, multiple tender points, disturbances in sleep, fatigue, and often psychological distress. For those with severe cases, fibromyalgia can be debilitating, making even daily routines very difficult. Despite its status as the second most common arthritis-related illness (second only to osteoarthritis), fibromyalgia is still commonly misdiagnosed. NFA estimates suggest that it takes an average of five years for a patient with fibromyalgia to receive an accurate diagnosis. This is due in large part to inadequate laboratory testing and the fact that symptoms of the syndrome overlap with those of other conditions. While testing for fibromyalgia remains difficult, researchers are beginning to shed some light on its causes. Most notably, research has indicated that patients with fibromyalgia experience pain amplification due to abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous system. In addition, recent research has also shown that some people are genetically susceptible to fibromyalgia, explaining why the syndrome is often seen in families, both among siblings or mothers and their children.