History of Fibromyalgia

Even though Fibromyalgia has been around for hundreds of years, it remains a mystery to this day. It has been known by many different names, like chronic muscle pain syndrome, fibrositis, tension myalgias and psychogenic rheumatism.

Fibromyalgia is a combination of Greek words:
“Fibro,” meaning fiber
“My,” meaning muscle
“Algia,” meaning pain

History:
1800s Fibromyalgia was first described doctors. They called it muscular rheumatism.

1824 A doctor in Edinburgh described the “tender points” associated with Fibromyalgia

1880 Another doctor, describing the same condition, named it neurasthenia.

1904 An article referred to it as fibrositis. (“itis” means inflammation.)

1913 A physician named Luff noted that fibromyalgia symptoms changed as barometric pressure lowered as a storm approached.

1976 The term Fibromyalgia replaces the term fibrositis, recognizing that the condition is not caused by inflammation.

1987 Fibromyalgia was recognized by the American Medical Association as an illness and cause of disability

1987 The term fibromyalgia was used in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

1990 The American College of Rheumatology establishes guidelines for diagnosing fibromyalgia

Having Fibromyalgia can be frustrating because it is hard to diagnose and is often misunderstood. Unfortunately, doctors still don’t know what causes Fibromyalgia. And some refuse to recognize the disease because it can’t be diagnosed through x-rays and tests.The American College of Rheumatology has created guidelines to help assist physicians in diagnosing and studying the condition. However, not all doctors agree with the established guidelines for diagnosis. Some don’t recognize the disease while others think that the criteria are too strict.