No two people with this chronic condition have the exact same Fibromyalgia symptoms. One person may suffer with pain in the hips and legs. Another may complain of debilitating fatigue and insomnia. Still another might have muscle weakness and associated mobility issues.
Despite the variations, there does seem to be some consistency when it comes to Fibromyalgia symptoms. In an international study, conducted by the author of this article in 2008, consistencies in the prevalence of certain Fibromyalgia related symptoms were recorded. In this article, the top five most common symptoms will be explored.
Most Common Fibromyalgia Symptom- It's Not What You Think
When speaking about Fibromyalgia, pain tends to be mentioned most often. In fact, Fibromyalgia is commonly referred to as chronic pain. Those that suffer from Fibromyalgia often note both localized pain and general all over body aches. It’s somewhat surprising that in the previously mentioned study that pain was not the most commonly noted symptom. Fatigue actually topped this list with 93% of the population. Such findings may lend support to the theory that Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are one and the same condition.
Pain was second on the list, tied with muscle fatigue at 90% of the test group. The type of pain most noted was localized, specifically in the back and shoulders. The back, shoulders, and neck contain a number of trigger points that are commonly used to diagnose Fibromyalgia.
While pain was located in the trunk of the body, muscle fatigue was most prevalent in the appendages. When in the legs, muscle fatigue was often associated with muscle weakness. The presence of both muscle fatigue and weakness often created mobility issues.
Fourth Most Common Fibromyalgia Symptom- A Good Night's Sleep Is Essential
Unrecuperative sleep hit the number four spot. This symptom affected 87% of the group. It should be noted that this category not only included insomnia but also the experience of getting adequate hours of sleep but just not feeling refreshed after doing so.
And The Final Most Common Fibromyalgia Symptom Is…
Rounding out the Fibromyalgia symptom list was Fibrofog at 77%. Interestingly enough, many of the participants had never heard of the term Fibrofog. Immediately, as soon as they were told that it was temporary mental confusion that affects memory, makes opposites difficult to comprehend, and can have a dyslexic affect, these individuals realized that their problem had a name. Most had never even considered the possiblity that this mental fog could be part of their Fibromyalgia experience.
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