Fibromyalgia is a condition involving painful muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It is not related to tissue inflammation like arthritis. Similar to migraine headache, fibromyalgia affects mostly women in middle age, and less often affects children and the elderly. Trigger points are often found in the elbows, shoulders, back of the head, knees, and the sides of the breast bone. The presence of widespread pain and trigger points, occurring for three or more months, is necessary for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Migraine headache is a common associated problem.
The latest scientific findings on fibromyalgia were presented by prominent medical researchers. One goal of the workshop was to inform the public of sophisticated research which is identifying the causes of fibromyalgia and to stimulate other scientists to do this research. Fibromyalgia may be related to brain chemical changes resulting in abnormalities in the central pain process and disturbances in biological rhythms such as sleep cycles. Recently, at MHNI's monthly Multidisciplinary Meeting, Drs. Biondi and Silverman updated clinical staff on the current methods of diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia.