Fibro is short for Fibromyalgia.
"Fibromyalgia (pronounced fy-bro-my-AL-ja) is a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects people physically, mentally and socially. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome rather than a disease. Unlike a disease, which is a medical condition with a specific cause or causes and recognizable signs and symptoms, a syndrome is a collection of signs, symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause.
Fibromyalgia, which has also been referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome, fibromyositis and fibrositis, is characterized by chronic widespread pain, multiple tender points, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbances, fatigue and often psychological distress. For those with severe symptoms, fibromyalgia can be extremely debilitating and interfere with basic daily activities." (From the National Fibromyalgia Assocation)
Every case of Fibromyalgia is different, which makes it hard to treat. Fibromyalgia is a chronic (on-going) condition. There is no known cure, and very few treatment options.
Symptoms include:
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Concentration and memory problems -- known as "fibro fog"
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Morning stiffness
- Painful menstrual cramps
- Sleep problems
- Swelling, numbness, and tingling in hands, arms, feet, and legs
- Tender points
- Urinary symptoms
For more information about Fibromyalgia, visit these sites:
Mayo Clinic - Fibromyalgia
"I can tell you honestly that fibromyalgics are among the bravest people I know. There are a lot of other people who could never put up with the pain we do on a daily basis. It’s easy to think of yourself as a hypochondriac or a baby, but you’re not. Chronic pain is different from episodic pain, and it’s a whole lot more difficult to treat for a variety of reasons. Fibromyalgics have pain somewhere in their body every single day. They have no rest or respite. Something always hurts, and this wears us down.” ~Claudia Craig Marek
"I can tell you honestly that fibromyalgics are among the bravest people I know. There are a lot of other people who could never put up with the pain we do on a daily basis. It’s easy to think of yourself as a hypochondriac or a baby, but you’re not. Chronic pain is different from episodic pain, and it’s a whole lot more difficult to treat for a variety of reasons. Fibromyalgics have pain somewhere in their body every single day. They have no rest or respite. Something always hurts, and this wears us down.” ~Claudia Craig Marek
