Fibromyalgia is a painful disorder, which not a lot is known about. The pain can occur in any muscle group, or all of them, but typically pain is located in the following areas:
• Neck and shoulders
• Lower spine
• Buttocks
People with fibromyalgia have problems sleeping. Some scientists believe that the sleep disorder causes the fibromyalgia and not vice versa. Brain waves taken while you are sleeping have an odd pattern, that has been termed alpha NREM sleep, as it resembles both sleep and wake cycles. These same odd brains waves are seen in a wide, variety of disease/disorders, including the following:
• Rheumatic disease
• Illnesses with fevers
• After a viral illness
• In psychiatric disease
Additionally, sleep is marked by 'sleep fragmentation' or frequent short awakenings during the night. The disrupted sleep result in an over-all decreased amount of time one sleeps. Sleep disturbances are reflected in a wide variety of ways; lack of concentration during the day, drowsiness during the day, irritability, etc..
A sleep study may help in diagnosing fibromyalgia and many providers include it as a part of the diagnostic work-up.
Periodic limb movements, or intermittent leg kicking during the night are also common in people who have fibromyalgia, adding to the over-all sleep disturbance cycle.
There is no cure for fibromyalgia. Treatment tends to involve a combination of approaches. These include:
• Exercise
• Education
• Possibly tricyclic antidepressants or the temporary use of sleeping pills
All treatment plans need to be individualized to the individual's needs and lifestyle. Decision making should be a collaborative effort between the patient and his physician.
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