History of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia has been around for a lot longer than many people think. There are reports from doctors that date back to as early as the start of the 1800s describing what is now known to be fibromyalgia. It was believed to be a mental disorder and named it “muscular rheumatism.” It was marked by aches and pains, stiffness, difficulty sleeping and tiredness. The tender points associated with fibromyalgia namely the neck, back, shoulders, hands and pelvic girdle, were first identified in the 1820s in Scotland.

The term “fibrositis” was first coined in the early 1900s, due to the fact that doctors believed the pain was caused by swelling. In 1976 doctors decided swelling was not the cause of the chronic pain so the condition was given the more appropriate name of fibromyalgia.

Additional Studies Aid in Diagnosing Fibromyalgia
The tender points that were originally noticed in Scotland were brought into the spotlight in the early 1980s. Doctors discovered that patients with fibromyalgia noticed that the front and back of neck, mid to upper back of the shoulders, the upper chest, elbows, buttocks, hips and knees were especially sensitive.

The American Medical Association first recognized fibromyalgia as an illness and a cause of disability in 1987. This led to the debate of how to diagnose the condition. Being that pain is such a relative term doctors knew an established guideline for diagnosing fibromyalgia was needed. Therefore in 1990 the American College of Rheumatology came up with the first set of criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia which has contributed greatly identifying the condition.

Despite the advances in recognizing fibromyalgia, there are still many theories on what it is caused by. Some of the first studies claimed it to be a brain disorder, while others suggest it is caused by alterations in the nerve and brain cells, causing a heightened sensitivity to pain. This has been proved in part by assessing how the brain of patients with fibromyalgia responds when pain is induced. When experiencing pain, those with fibromyalgia are noted to have increased activity in certain parts of the brain. Additional studies have confirmed that pain is felt more intensely at lower levels by those with fibromyalgia.

The Fibromyalgia Community is Formed
The National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) was established in 1997 and is the first national organization for fibromyalgia. Its main goal is to educate people about the condition, especially those who have been diagnosed. The NFA has done a lot to enable people to better understand fibromyalgia and therefore learn how to manage the condition.

The American Pain Society constructed the first set of guidelines for treating fibromyalgia in 2005, although research continues to enlighten doctors. This has led to the advancement of treatment and integration of new tools and methods that enables those with fibromyalgia to manage the pain and other symptoms.

What are the major symptoms associated with fibromyalgia? Read on to find out.

Continue with: Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia