About Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, meaning it lasts a long time - possibly a lifetime. “Fibro” refers to the fibrous tissue, “myo” refers to the muscles and “algia” refers to pain associated with the condition.

For unknown reasons, between 80 - 90 per cent of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women, however men and children can also be affected. Fibromyalgia also tends to run in families. Most people are diagnosed between 35 and 55 years of age, but it can affect all age groups. The symptoms often present themselves earlier in life.

Between 2 and 10 per cent of the general population, or between 600,000 and 3 million Canadians, have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is characterized by multiple tender points, widespread, chronic, resistant pain with muscular contraction and "knotted muscles," often associated with a vast array of diverse functional signs like fatigue, anxiety and depression.

Other symptoms may include:

• Sleep disturbances
• Morning stiffness
• Headaches
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Numbness or tingling of the extremities
• Restless legs syndrome
• Temperature sensitivity
• Cognitive and memory problems (sometimes referred to as "fibro fog"), or
• A variety of other symptoms

If you think you may suffer from fibromyalgia, it is important to know that help is available. A series of information sessions on fibromyalgia were held across Ontario.