The College guidelines define fibromyalgia as muscle tissue pain in 11 of the 18 tender points that persists longer than three months. They are hard, little knots near nerve endings that when touched radiate pain throughout an entire area of the body. While arthritis is marked by pain, swelling and injury of the body's joints, fibromyalgia stems from pain in the muscles, tendons, and bursae which are fluid-filled cavities between the tendons and bones. Though it is commonly misdiagnosed, the Arthritis Foundation reports that fibromyalgia may be one of the most common arthritis-related illnesses. Two-thirds of the sufferers are women who typically develop the syndrome in their 30s and 40s.
Children can also suffer from fibromyalgia, though the incidence is low.
School-age boys and girls seem to be affected equally. No one is certain what causes the disorder, but research suggests it may be hereditary. For more information about the Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group, call Lucene Birch at 385-2663. From an Australian site. For those who suffer from fibromyalgia, simple chores such as doing the laundry or vacuuming leave them drained for days.