- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Numbness
- Poor sleep
- Bladder issues
- Bowel problems

About Fibromyalgia
The condition is a chronic syndrome that is associated with arthritis. The major statistics and facts about fibromyalgia include:- Muscle tenderness is the primary syndrome
- There is widespread pain that is arthritis-related
- It can manifest as a primary or secondary condition
- It can present unrecognized symptoms that can be difficult to identify
- A high percentage of individuals suffer from sleep problems and fatigue
- It affects physical and mental health
- There are no specific tests to diagnose the condition

Causes
There are several theories or triggers that contribute to the progression of fibromyalgia. They are:Peripheral Sensitization
Injury or trauma to the nervous system or musculoskeletal system can lead to peripheral sensitization of the sensory nervous system. This tends to be the case with arthritis and peripheral nerve damage. Peripheral sensitization leads to increased sensitivity to sensory nerve stimuli. This results in increased sensitivity to touch and heat and can potentially lead to primary allodynia.Central Sensitization
Central sensitization refers to changes in the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. The condition amplifies pain. Individuals with fibromyalgia have a reduced threshold for pain. This is caused by amplified brain sensitivity to pain indicators with repeated nerve stimulation leading to changes in the brain.
Sleep Disturbance
Sleep disturbances have been associated with fibromyalgia. Studies show that sleep pattern disturbance could be a cause and not just a symptom of fibromyalgia. Poor sleep quality accounts for the majority between pain and fatigue. Major disturbances include:- Shorter sleep time
- The beginning of sleep is delayed
- Waking right after sleep has begun starts to increase
- Sleep efficiency decreases
- Stirred/Waking out of sleep starts to increase
- Nighttime activity increases
Post-traumatic Stress
This could be a trigger of fibromyalgia. Patients are recommended to get examined for PTSD. Studies suggest that women suffering from chronic pain that is spread throughout the body and fibromyalgia have an increased risk for posttraumatic stress. Patients also show a reduced function of the HPA hormone. This is proof of an impaired transmitter system. An altered transmitter system in individuals with fibromyalgia interferes with the body’s stress regulators.