Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by generalized pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, mood disturbance and impairment of quality of life (QOL) and function. Other symptoms that are variably expressed include cognitive dysfunction, irritable bowel, irritable bladder and headache. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for FM define the syndrome as a widespread pain for at least three months and the presence of at least 11 of 18 anatomically specific trigger points, which denotes allodynia and hyperalgesia. Although the ACR criteria describe FM as a discrete condition like osteoarthritis or lupus, FM is part of a continuum of illnesses characterized by multiple symptoms without significant tissue pathology, rooted in central nervous system dysregulation.
SpineCare has helped patients with the management of pain associated with fibromyalgia. For more information, contact SpineCare at (256) 461-7775. |