History of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is not a new illness. Fibromyalgia was once thought to be a mental disorder and was first described by doctors in the early 1800s. At that time, they wrote about a health condition called "muscular rheumatism." The symptoms were stiffness, aches, pains, tiredness, and difficulty sleeping.

The tender points that are common with fibromyalgia were first described by a doctor in Scotland in the early 1820s. Eighty years later, the term "fibrositis" was first used to describe the chronic and crippling pain of fibromyalgia. The ending "itis" was used as a part of its name because swelling was thought to be a cause of the pain. It took until 1976 for the name of the condition to be changed to "fibromyalgia." It was changed because swelling in the body was no longer thought to be the cause of pain. The term fibromyalgia is taken from three Latin and Greek words: fibra, which means fibrous tissue and has to do with painful tendons and ligaments; myos, which means muscles; and algos, which means pain.

Studies prove fibromyalgia is real

In 1981, the first study confirmed that symptoms and tender points could actually be found in the body. The areas of the body where tender points are typically found include:

• The front and back of the neck
• Mid to upper back of the shoulders
• Upper chest
• Elbows
• Upper buttocks
• Hips
• Knees

Nine years later, in 1990, the American College of Rheumatology wrote the first set of guidelines to help diagnose the condition. While these guidelines have done a lot to help people get an accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia, there is still much to be learned about its cause. One of the first theories to come out about fibromyalgia was that it was caused by a brain disorder. While there is still no clear-cut answer, there are theories that in some people with fibromyalgia, changes occur in the nerves and brain cells. Due to these changes, people with fibromyalgia become very sensitive to touch and feel pain more intensely.

Researchers have conducted studies to assess pain reactions in people with fibromyalgia while looking at images of their brain. In these studies, more activity in certain parts of the brain of people with fibromyalgia are activated under painful conditions. In addition, studies confirm that people with fibromyalgia feel pain more intensely at lower levels than people without the condition.

Fibromyalgia organizations grow

In 1997, the first national organization for fibromyalgia, the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA), was formed. It helps educate people with fibromyalgia about their condition. It also helps them manage their condition. By speaking out about fibromyalgia, NFA helped to create a greater awareness of the condition.

Managing fibromyalgia

In 2005 the first guidelines for treating fibromyalgia pain were published by the American Pain Society.

The outlook has never been better

Researchers continue to work to learn more about fibromyalgia. As they do, they may also find new tools to help manage the pain and other symptoms of the disorder. The outlook for people living with fibromyalgia has never been better.

Key point to keep in mind: Fibromyalgia has been around for a long time. Our understanding of the illness deepens. The outlook has never been better.