Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that it amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals.
Fibromyalgia symptoms include pain throughout the body that has lasted for at least three months. Often, the pain is described as a constant dull ache. Tiredness, also called fatigue, is another key symptom. A person may have trouble paying attention and focusing on mental tasks too.
Patients with Fibromyalgia experience poor slow-wave-sleep; lack of this slow-wave-sleep is known to increase a person’s susceptibility to pain.
Many studies have shown that improving this part of sleep can drastically decrease pain. New medications have assisted in improving patients’ sleep, resulting in a normal, healthy life.