Diagnosis Of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic complex illness that affects the central nervous system and has many painful symptoms that are not always visibly apparent to others. Therefore, when a family member or loved one is diagnosed with this illness it can be extremely challenging to understand what they may go through on a day to day basis - particularly during a flare up - and what you can do to help.

The key to helping a loved one with fibromyalgia is to educate yourself as best you can on this very complex illness as well as how it is treated as this will give you a better understanding of how you can be supportive. 

The Pain your Loved One may Experience with the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia 

One of the most challenging things to face when it comes to this illness is the pain your loved one will go through from time to time especially during an extreme flare up of their symptoms. The primary symptoms associated with this illness include pain in the muscles of the body, pain in the joints, and extreme degrees of sensitivity that stems from the central nervous system.

Individuals that suffer from fibromyalgia syndrome experience pain that is considered to be "widespread". This means that it affects various regions of the body, and the pain is both on the right side of the body as well as the left. Even the slightest touch may result in extreme pain for the sufferer.

There are times when this extreme sensitivity will cause their skin to feel as if it is burning or pricked by tiny needles making it difficult to even shower or put on clothes.  Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that at times your loved one may not want to have physical contact and may avoid such things as handshaking, touching or hugging due to the extreme pain that this may cause and not for personal reasons. The majority of individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia also have extreme difficulty when it comes to sleeping and often feel tired and fatigued. 

Another common symptom your loved one may experience is called "fibro fog" that may cause memory problems or forgetfulness. They may not remember certain dates or parts of a conversation you may have had. It is essential that you are understanding and patient during these times and remember that it is not something they can control and you can help them by reminding them or setting up a calendar of important dates as well as a schedule for certain things such as taking medications.

Helping and Supporting a Loved One with Fibromyalgia 

One of the most beneficial things you can do for a loved one with fibromyalgia is to ask them what it is that you can do to help and be very understanding and sympathetic to their needs. There may be periods of time when their symptoms will become disabling to the point where they are unable to perform even the simplest of tasks or are even unable to get out of bed.

During these times you can offer to help by cooking, doing household chores, grocery shopping, or any other tasks that might be difficult for them to accomplish during this time. It is important to also understand that the many painful symptoms of fibromyalgia make it difficult for the sufferer to make any definitive plans with friends or family members even though they may want to as they can not always keep them.