Fibromyalgia is not a disease. It’s a clinical “syndrome” represented by a collection of symptoms, such as chronic, widespread pain, and a host of other associated symptoms; including fatigue, headaches, sleep irregularities, irritable bowel syndrome, and noticeably increased sensitivity to stimuli.

Given the inability of medicine to diagnosis Fibromyalgia accurately and objectively, together with its ill-defined pathogenesis and treatment, it’s not surprising there is no uniform answer to this question. The existence of Fibromyalgia may be debated among rheumatolgists, but for those suffering from Fibromyalgia the pain is intense, the suffering constant, and quality of their lives greatly diminished.

Disorder of Fibromyalgia is not clearly understood. Symptoms may appear after a viral illiness, often after a traumatic physical accident, after extreme emotional distress, other times symptoms materialize for no apparent reason. Although Fibromyalgia tends to strike women more then men, people over 30 more than people under 30, even age and gender is not a consistent indicator.

Although there are hundreds of tender points on the body, American College of Rheumatology (ACR) decided 18 were important in determining Fibromyalgia. When these points are pressed with the finger of an instrument called a dolorimeter, at least 11 of them must be painful.

Given the inability of medicine to read Fibromyalgia objectively from the body, together with its ill-specified pathogenesis and treatment, it is not surprising there is no uniform answer to this question. The existence of Fibromyalgia may be debated among rheumatolgists, but for those suffering from Fibromyalgia the suffering is intense, the pain debilitating, and quality of life is seriously compromised.

In 1990 the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) established the diagnostic criteria for Fibromyalgia syndrome. An individual with wide-spring, diffuse pain occurring on both sides of the body and the upper and lower parts of the body. There must be pain on the left and right side of the body, and it must have occurred both above and below the waist. The pain must persist at least 3 consecutive months.

Western medicine is dived into illnesses—a physical problem, infection, injury to the body, or a psychological problem. If no evidence of abnormality shows up on lab tests or x-rays, the problem is assumed to be psychological. The main symptoms of Fibromyalgia are fatigue and pain. Fatigue and pain are very subjective symptoms.

There is no clear explanation for what causes the disorder of Fibromyalgia. In some cases, Fibromyalgia symptoms appear in the wake of viral illness or physical or emotional trauma; in many cases, however, the symptoms materialize for no apparent reason. Whatever the reason, known or not, Fibromyalgia can be treated effectively.

The best explanation for the sudden and dramatic rise of Fibromyalgia is the tools of medicine have only very recently discovered what has historically been referred to as the “vapors,” “nerves,” or “hysteria.” There is also no objective marker of Fibromyalgia and no laboratory test. Only recently has a criteria been developed to identify this condition. In reality Fibromyalgia has been with us as long as man and woman have been with us.

Low ATP levels give rise to lower intracellular magnesium, causing further ATP reduction. This vicious cycle may be the reason for the “crash” experienced by Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.