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FIBROMYALGIA What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by chronic pain in muscles and surrounding tissue, which are also tender to finger pressure. In actuality it is more accurately termed a syndrome because unlike a disease it has no known cause and there are no laboratory tests that can confirm the diagnosis. Syndrome also refers to the fact that there is a fairly consistent pattern of symptoms observed in people with this medical disorder as opposed to disease which implies that all people with it have the same problems from the same cause. What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia? Pain: Pain in and around the soft tissue and joints is the primary complaint of people with this syndrome. It is often described as deep-aching, gnawing, sharp shooting or burning. Often it is described as "Hurting all over". It can be so severe that it is debilitating and limits daily activity. Tender Points: According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), the diagnosis of fibromyalgia requires that 11 of 18 specific sites be tender to palpation. The following are the sites:           Sleep Disturbance: Ninety percent of FMS patients report trouble sleeping. It manifests as either difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking during the night, inability to fall back asleep, or unrestful sleep. Fatigue: One of the most prominent symptoms of FMS is fatigue. It can appear as mid morning to early afternoon slump, to a dragging tiredness that worsens as the day goes on. Neurological Symptoms: About one-fourth of people with FMS report symptoms of tingling or numbness and tingling in the arms and legs. This makes for a feeling of clumsiness. Headaches: Over 40 percent of people with FMS regularly experience daily headaches. Tension headaches are common, as are migraines. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: About a quarter of FMS patients suffer from TMJ disorder. This manifests as joint pain or muscle pain in the masseters and temporalis muscles, the major jaw closing muscles. This can cause terrible pain in the face and head and often be mistaken for a tension headache or migraine.There is also a tendency for people with Fibromyalgia or grind or clench their teeth, a condition known as bruxism. As there is no known definite cause for fibromyalgia, it is often treated symptomatically. A rheumatologist, neurologist, or internist can treat the various body symptoms, and a qualified dentist with special training in treating temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain can address the TMJ and facial pain concerns.