Understanding Fibromyalgia Chronic Fatigue

Patients with Fibromyalgia chronic fatigue are lucky to fall asleep at a normal time. They're often borderline insomniacs, up until five or six in the morning, usually cat-napping randomly throughout the day. They feel like they're missing out on quality REM sleep and as a result, always feel slightly lethargic and mentally dull.

The other part of this disorder or the specific "Fibromyalgia Syndrome" symptoms is widespread pain and areas of tenderness. Headaches and depression are not uncommon in patients as well. The root cause of this disorder is still under debate in many research circles, but sleeping pills have been shown to help in treatment.

In a recent issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, researchers reported their findings of a Fibromyalgia chronic fatigue study. They examined the brain activity of a pain-free group of test subjects, as well as a chronic pain group who were instructed to watch a bar move across a computer screen. What they found from watching brain scans of the pain-free people was that their brain activity appeared balanced.

However, for the people with Fibromyalgia and chronic pain, there was wild brain activity confined to one area and the same continuous pathways again and again. The mind seemed almost trained to repeat the same patterns, thereby "wearing out" the pain sensors in that area, making sufferers more susceptible to future pain.

In one of Dr. Muhammad Yunus's recent studies at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, he found that Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome overlapped 75% of the time. One of the most successful treatments for symptoms was the administering of basic sleeping pills. Anti-inflammatory pills, over-the-counter meds and steroidal options didn't work any more than a placebo, which led him to conclude the problem was mostly in the brain chemicals and neurons, rather than the actual muscles.

Fibromyalgia Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has its obvious, never-ending aches and tender points, constant mental dullness and tiredness. Sleeplessness breeds depression and depression breeds lethargy. However, the body's inability to get quality rest affects many other areas.

Soon patients will have irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or bloating. They'll feel constantly thirsty and sensitive to external stimulus. Before the pain symptoms get out of control, it's best to ask one's physician about the possibility of having Fibromyalgia chronic fatigue to open up treatment options.