 | | | The author, Elizabeth Dudak, with her husband Peter, and children, Leah and Matthew. (Photo courtesy Elizabeth Dudak) | |
Get the facts on fibromyalgia
What is it?
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue (feeling tired). People with fibromyalgia have “tender points” on the body. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. These points hurt when pressure is put on them. People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, morning stiffness, headaches, painful menstrual periods, tingling or numbness in hands and feet, problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called “fibro fog”).
What causes it?
The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown. There may be a number of factors involved. Fibromyalgia has been linked to stressful or traumatic events, such as car accidents, repetitive injuries, illness, certain diseases. Fibromyalgia can also occur on its own. Some scientists think that a gene or genes might be involved in fibromyalgia. The genes could make a person react strongly to things that other people would not find painful.
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"Mom, take it easy. I’ll get it for you.”
These words spoken by my 13- year-old daughter, Leah, slipped down my spine like ice. I was dreading this moment since being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I prayed every night that it would never happen. I pleaded with God, Jesus, the saints, and Our Blessed Mother to allow me to remain the person I was before — a healthy, active woman and self-proclaimed Supermom. But when Leah’s words hung in the air, I knew I had no choice. At that moment, fibromyalgia had racked my body with pain, fatigue, and guilt; I finally had to succumb to my daughter’s assistance.
Fibromyalgia can cause extreme pain throughout the body’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments as well as “tender points” that are painful when touched. Another common symptom is acute fatigue. This condition affects women more than men and can last years. To me, having fibromyalgia is like having a horrible flu that includes constant muscle pain and absolutely no energy. That was my diagnosis, and it has changed my life dramatically.
It started on my family’s vacation to Mackinaw Island. On one of our bicycle rides back to our rented condo, my knees started to ache. It was odd, but I laughed it off as getting old. I told my husband that my 28 years of playing volleyball had finally taken a toll on me. As the days progressed, the ache became unbearable. It was not the normal knee pain I knew as an athlete; it was a type of pain I’d never experienced before, and it seemed to reach deep into the bone. I bucked it up, as all ex-athletes do, and made the best of the trip.
When we returned, the pain in my knees continued. Fatigue also began, engulfing my entire being. Getting up in the morning was like trying to reach the top of a mountain. Every push to get myself out of bed took mental stamina, and I dragged my body through the rest of each day. My thighs felt heavy, and the pain took over other parts of me, including my elbows, spine, and hips. The pain in my knees worsened — one stab after another after another.
