The purple butterfly

There are many diseases that many of use suffer daily. There are a few that are invisible illnesses, such as Fibromyalgia. It is a disease that affects the muscles and soft tissues of your body. There are many symptoms to fibromyalgia, and many experience different ones. But the most common symptoms are: deep muscle pain, painful trigger points, sleep problems and fatigue. Other symptoms some experience are numbness in hands, feet, and legs and bad headaches. The symptoms can suddenly develop or be caused by some physical trauma.

What make fibromyalgia different from other joint pain is that it is felt ALL over the body. It varies from throbbing, sharp, and dull pain in and around the joints. Sometimes, the pain isn’t deep in the muscles, sometimes its more localized than that. A slight touch on the area will hurt.

Little is known about this painful disease, so it is unknown about what can cause fibro. But one thing is known, and it’s that fibromyalgia does not have a cure. Chronic headaches is one of the key symptoms. The headaches are usually caused by pain or discomfort from the neck. By the contraction and tightness of the muscles in the neck, most commonly known as a tension headache. Now if you get frequent headaches, that doesn’t mean you have fibro. Chronic headaches are just ONE of the many symptoms it has.

Researchers believe repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of people with fibromyalgia to change. This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain (neurotransmitters). In addition, the brain’s pain receptors seem to develop a sort of memory of the pain and become more sensitive, meaning they can overreact to pain signals.

With all that being said….I was just diagnosed with this incurable disease. As most of you know, I have been battling a lot of pain the past 10 months. I’ve seen so many doctors, and trying to figure out what is wrong with me. While they have suspected fibro in the past, my neurologist finally officially diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. I have been experiencing some odd pain, facial numbness, neck pain, and numbness down to my hand. I do have more test to do being that I also have Scoliosis (duh) some of my new struggles may be due to my twisted spine.

But don’t worry! You all know how I handle my battles! I don’t see this as bad as it seems. It means I finally got an answer to the extra painful days I’ve been having. While Scoliosis is still playing a MAJOR if not THE biggest role in my pain, fibromyalgia is one I have to now add on. The combination of the two are causing lots of havoc on my body, but I still manage to be strong.

The positivity, and strength are not lacking. I still move forward with a smile and continue to live my life as best and as happy as I can. I am lucky to have a VERY strong support team with me. If I do have a bad day, or a flare up where just getting out of bed is my biggest task, my family and friends are there. When I get knocked out, they are there to pick me up when I fall. Sometimes even laying down next to me on days I can’t get back up. I am grateful for those I have in my life right now who continue to believe in me and make sure I never lose my smile =)

So my journey continues…I still am running and still am living my life to the fullest. I am not letting anything stop me. I just have to do things a little differently than you 😉 I still am aiming towards my goals and still moving forward. That’s how you get by with the struggles life throws at you. You find a way, not an excuse.