The main symptom of FM is a widespread pain often accompanied by touch sensitivity, tingling of the skin, muscle aches, long muscle spasms, weakness in the arms and legs and nerve pain. Sleep problems are also common with FM. The stage of sleep known as REM, Rapid Eye Movement, is never really achieved. Some patients will also experience brain fog; brain fog is abnormal slow brain waves. Some researches suggest that brain fog be associated with sleep disturbances. Other symptoms associated with FM can be chronic paresthesia, physical fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome. Headaches, myoclonic twitches and the patient may have symptoms of hypoglycemia. The pain also can be in one area in some patients. Mostly in the shoulders, neck, back and hips.

FM can be the cause of a trauma in the area of pain, though the disease is thought to be genetic, it may be aggravated by a trauma and maybe even a major surgery. But as we have mentioned, there is no known true cause of FM. The symptoms do not happen all at once; they are slow in the onset. These symptoms can begin as early as childhood. Some symptoms can be aggravated by changes in the weather or by an illness. Though the disease does not cause inflammation, anti-inflammation medications may be given to alleviate the pain.

Other symptoms that aggravate the FM and may be present in some people are cold weather, changes in the atmospheric pressure such as a cold front. This happens with the onset of a migraine or a severe headache. Malnutrition or hunger can cause this as well. Lack of sleep and an increase of stress. Some times a certain physical activity can be the reason why FM would act up.

These symptoms are not the reason for FM, however these may trigger the onset of pain to occur. If you are diagnosed with FM, and one of those triggers happen, write down which symptom triggered the pain and for how long the pain lasted and what you did to alleviate the pain. Show this log to the doctor and he may be able to change the treatment to better manage your pain.

For additional information and resources on Chronic Pain, visit PainsWeb.com. The author Sam Carson is a chronic pain patient and publisher of PainsWeb.com. His website specializes in conveying targeted information about all types of Chronic Pain and helps you find associated information, patient resources and forums etc to manage your pain. Authors can submit quality original articles to PainsWeb.com and get a back link to their site.