Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes widespread muscle pain and fatigue. It affects over 5 million people in the U.S. alone which is the same as the entire population of the state of Colorado.
While fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain conditions, it is also one of the most misunderstood. Here are 5 things that fibromyalgia sufferers would like everyone to know.
#1 – They Are Not Fakers or Hypochondriacs
Fibromyalgia is a very real condition and is recognized as such by many governmental organizations in the U.S. including the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Social Security Administration and Federal Drug Administration.
The reality is that those suffering from fibromyalgia can look completely normal on the outside while they are enduring massive pain on the inside. Fibromyalgia is known as an “invisible illness” because its effects are not readily apparent just by looking at someone who suffers from it.
One of the most insensitive things that you can say to someone with fibromyalgia is “you don’t look sick.”
