First, I am going to introduce my Pt (patient) to you. Her name is Wendy Couch and she is my mother. Her D.O.B. (date of birth) is January 12, 1980, which would make her 37 years old today. Wendy was diagnosed with a chronic disorder called fibromyalgia when she was 20 years old. It took the doctor 5 years to diagnose her with this disorder because they said she was too young to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Her life is impacted every day of her life because you never know when her pain is going to flare up or when it is going to leave her alone. You also do not know the extent of the pain the flare ups are going to bring her . That is why she says it is important for her to take her medication daily to prevent these unpredictable symptoms from getting out of control. About Fibromyalgia …show more content…
Unfortunately, you cannot prevent Fibromyalgia from forming. Fibromyalgia pain is different than any pain you may have experienced like a headache or sprained ankle. It is a specific kind of pain that is chronic, widespread, and often accompanied by tenderness. Fibromyalgia affects 2% - 4% of the population in the United States, with most being women. The word “chronic” in the definition of fibromyalgia means that the pain lasts a long time-usually at least three months or longer. Many people experience fibromyalgia pain for years before being diagnosed. The word “widespread” in the definition means that it is felt all over the body in both the upper and lower quadrants of the body. However, most people who experience fibromyalgia feel pain in specific areas of their body, such as their shoulders, neck, or back. The next word “tenderness” in the definition means that even a small amount of pressure can cause a lot of