There is a lot of mystery surrounding the causes of fibromyalgia. The illness can occur on its own, for no immediately apparent reason, but it has also been linked to repetitive injuries, traumatic experiences, and certain diseases. In other words, the symptoms of fibromyalgia may be related to a previous accident or illness, or may have manifested on their own with no health-related starting point. Because of this, it’s easy for doctors to misdiagnose fibromyalgia as something else. Over 12 million people suffer from the unknown causes of fibromyalgia, and women are 10 times more likely to develop symptoms than men. Doctors diagnose most patients between the ages of 25 and 60, and treatments can be as varied as the patients themselves.

So how do you know if you’re suffering with the symptoms of fibromyalgia? Most patients present with a combination of the following signs:

• Overall achiness in the joints or muscles

• Sleep deprivation

• Overwhelming fatigue

• Difficulty concentrating (also known as "fibro fog")

• Abdominal or menstrual pain

• Headaches

• "Tingling" or numbness in hands and feet

• Incontinence

More than anything else, patients want a break from the pain from their fibromyalgia treatments. The pain can be incapacitating, causing patients to feel powerless over their own bodies. This loss of control can lead to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. In extreme cases, patients are unable to perform ordinary, everyday tasks such as getting the mail, walking a dog – even getting out of bed. In the most extreme cases, the lack of identifiable causes of fibromyalgia may lead patients to feel hopeless about leading a normal life. These far-reaching effects can devastate not only patients, but also friends, families and loved ones.

Fibromyalgia Pain Relief

Luckily, fibromyalgia pain relief is both possible and obtainable. Fibromyalgia treatments may require a team effort between you, your GP, and a specialist, such as a neurologist or chiropractor.

The first step to helping yourself on the road to recovery involves eating well, attempting exercise when possible, and getting enough sleep. Since most sufferers of fibromyalgia present with fatigue, it’s important to set up a specific sleeping schedule. The structure may help you control the fatigue by regaining power over the symptom.

If these simple steps don’t afford you the relief you crave, make an appointment with your doctor to see if your fatigue or pain is caused by fibromyalgia. Discussing the symptoms of fibromyalgia with your doctor may help him/her determine the individual factors contributing to your illness. S/he may order a series of tests to rule out other diseases. Once diagnosed, your doctor may prescribe medication for fibromyalgia pain relief. Current research indicates that there are non-drug related therapies being developed to help ease the causes of fibromyalgia, so you should consult a specialist if you want a more holistic, natural approach to pain management. Because indications of the illness may be brought on – or exacerbated – by stress, fibromyalgia pain relief may be obtained through the services of a licensed chiropractor or massage therapist, who could help you realign your body without the use of medication.