Affecting the musculoskeletal system is a chronic disease known as fibromyalgia syndrome or FMS. Muscle and joint aches, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and tenderness in several of eighteen specific areas, or “trigger points” on the body are generally the symptoms though they may vary widely among sufferers. Sufferers would often overlook fibromyalgia due to the inevitable result of a busy schedule and everyday stress. When patients do seek treatment, doctors often misdiagnose fibromyalgia as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or another musculoskeletal condition. It affects women far more often than men, at a ratio of about ten to one. While some cases result from a specific trauma, more often the exact cause is unknown.
