WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FIBROMYALGIA?

Most people with fibromyalgia say they have several, if not all, of the following symptoms. There are specific tender points that are painful.

1- Pain and flu-like overall body aches that change intensity (sometimes severe, other times moderate). One aspect of fibromyalgia is that the worst pain can be in your lower back one day and in your neck the next day, and maybe your upper back the following day. Frequently what happens is you suffer a combination of medical problems. You never know when or where the pain will be next.

2- Morning muscle stiffness that is common for people with fibromyalgia. Many people with fibromyalgia say that the severe muscle stiffness and achiness is at its worst in the morning. Movements when you get up in the morning or after sitting for a long period look torturous and stiff to onlookers. The stiffness may diminish as you move about but it usually doesn't go away completely.

3- Extreme fatigue or constant exhaustion that occur day after day, even when you haven't done anything. Few people find themselves able to get a satisfactory night's sleep. Many people suffer from bone-numbing exhaustion that goes well beyond simple tiredness. Fibromyalgia pain often serves as the cause for insomnia. It becomes a vicious cycle - lack of sleep makes you feel worse.

4- Frequent or constant trouble sleeping.

5- Family members diagnosed with fibromyalgia (especially a parent or a sibling).

6- Recent physical trauma (for example a car crash or a hard fall).

7- Mental malaise and confusion, often referred to as fibro fog. Included also would be difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and or attention difficulties.

Other pain-based medical problems are listed below:

A- Irritable bowel syndrome or spastic colon.
B- Interstitial cystitis.
C- Arthritis (osteoarthritis or and rheumatoid).
D- Headaches (migraine or tension) or and Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome.
E- Chronic fatigue syndrome.
F- Restless legs.
G- Chronic heartburn.
H- Paresthesia - pins and needles that primarily affect the legs, hands, or feet.
I- Tinnitus - ringing in the ears.
J- Heightened sensitivity to odors, noises, bright lights, medications, changes in the weather and or various foods.
K- Abnormal anxiety.

Can I use hypnosis and regular medical care together? Yes. Hypnotherapy does not take the place of qualified medical care. Hypnotherapy can help alleviate painful symptoms and help your body to work at its best. You can become more relaxed through the day and thus be better able to focus and concentrate. Your experience of life can be enhanced. How can hypnosis help the pain I experience? Hypnosis can help you learn to manage your pain. It can keep you motivated to do the exercises needed for flexibility and movement. Hypnosis can support the nutrition that supplies what the body needs for better defense. It can help you function for longer periods of time without the discomfort you have experienced in the past. The unconscious mind handles the automatic body functions and hypnosis can encourage those systems to operate at their best. I'm exhausted without enough sleep. Can hypnosis help me to sleep better? Sleep deprivation or interruption becomes a vicious cycle. Hypnosis can help train your body to relax. You'll learn to breathe more deeply. You can train your muscles, ligaments and tendons to "let go" for awhile so you can go to sleep more easily, and once asleep, sleep more soundly. Hypnosis can also help you go back to sleep if you are awakened for any reason.

Fibromyalgia, is a chronic syndrome marked by debilitating fatigue, muscular pain and tenderness in certain parts of the body. Fibro (means fiber) and myalgia (means pain) so we have pain in the fibers. The cause of this pain and debilitating fatigue is that the nerves in the area of the muscles are sending unwanted messages to the area causing pain.

Pain is nothing more than a message from one part of the body alerting the brain that there is problem that must be taken care of. There is no cell in your body that is pain, discomfort or disturbance. With the use of proper hypnotherapeutic suggestions while in a state of HYPNOSIS all symptoms and emotions can be modified, altered or removed.