What is Living with Fibromyalgia?

Living with Fibro is a dedicated patient-to-patient support community for families affected by Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia Patients Support Community is powered by BensFriends.org, a network of patient support communities for rare diseases, and is run by volunteer moderators who have been affected with Fibromyalgia condition.

Who can join Living with Fibromyalgia?

If your family has been affected by Erythromelalgia, consider Living with Fibromyalgia your second home. Living with Fibromyalgia, as well as the rest of BensFriends.org’s patient communities, is free for members to join.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder causing widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and other symptoms affecting sleep, memory, and mood. Its exact cause is unclear, but it’s believed to involve genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, leading to heightened pain sensitivity. Triggers can include physical trauma, infections, or stress. Women are more commonly affected than men.

Diagnosis relies on medical history, examination, and tender points. No cure exists, but symptom management is key. Medications like pain relievers, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants help control pain and improve sleep. Exercise, physical and occupational therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy aid in pain and symptom reduction. Stress reduction techniques and mindfulness practices are beneficial.

Individuals with fibromyalgia may also experience tension headaches, TMJ disorders, IBS, anxiety, and depression, complicating management. Though challenging, a multidisciplinary approach helps improve quality of life. Continued research may offer further insights and better support for those affected by fibromyalgia. Collaborating with healthcare providers for personalized treatment plans is essential.

What is BensFriends.org?

In 2007, Ben Muñoz suffered a rare form of stroke caused by an AVM. He was unable to find the support he needed during the most difficult time, so he created an online support community AVMSurvivors.org to connect with others like him. AVMSurvivors.org led to the founding of BensFriends.org, driven to provide patient-to-patient support communities for people living with rare diseases.

BensFriends.org is a network of patient communities for people living with rare diseases. Launched in November 2007, BensFriends.org provides valuable patient support by creating and running compassionate, responsive communities. BensFriends.org maintains dozens of patient communities and has changed thousands of lives.

You can learn more about BensFriends.org at http://www.bensfriends.org or watch one of our videos at http://www.youtube.com/BensFriendsVideos.