Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that has been diagnosed in approximately five million Americans. The vast majority of those individuals are women over the age of twenty. However, it is estimated that about fifteen percent of the fibromyalgia patients in this country are under the age of eighteen. At this stage, the condition is often referred to as juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome (JFMS) Furthermore, it is hypothesized that a much larger population of young children are contending with the wide spread pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep problems associated with the disease. Symptoms generally begin at about the same time as puberty, but it can take several years for the patient and the doctors to recognize fibromyalgia as the root cause. Due to the fact that there is no definitive test for this condition, it is often mistake for other diagnoses for a time, before doctors arrive at the real cause of the discomfort.
Fibromyalgia is a non-progressive condition and sufferers can go on to lead very long and productive lives. That being said, if your child has received this diagnosis, you should seriously consider speaking with a pain clinic in Austin, Texas. The symptoms of fibromyalgia can be very serious and severe for sufferers and therefore, you child could be at risk of troubles academically, socially, and athletically. The good news is that the medical community has come a long way in recognizing possible treatments that can greatly reduce the symptoms and make life more enjoyable.
Fibromyalgia and Sports At such an early age in life, children are often very concerned with athletics and extracurricular. As a parent, you would obviously praise to dedication to such activities. For a fibromyalgia sufferer, however, pain can get in the way of active play. This isn’t to say that the child will no longer be able to participate in his or her favorite sport; it simply means that he or she may have to make some adaptations to ensure the pain and other symptoms are not exacerbated. The idea is to continue to encourage regular activity and exercise, but to make adjustments as needed to keep the child happy, comfortable, and committed to being well.
Fibromyalgia in School Many fibromyalgia sufferers are also academic scholars. It is important for parents to recognize the new set of challenges that will be faced as a result of the syndrome. Pain, fatigue, and depression can make success in the classroom a much bigger challenge. It is important to openly communicate with the school to make any necessary adjustments. Migraines or severe headaches often accompany fibromyalgia as well and Austin, Texas school districts must be understanding of the fact that children with these symptoms may need to miss more days of school throughout the year, may need to make changes to the way they sit during classes, or may need to rest more often during the day than other children would. It is important to recognize the challenges, to address them, but to encourage your child throughout that process to stay positive.
morning | Flickr – Photo Sharing! : taken from – http://www.flickr.com/photos/millervintage/4864917547/Author: Aimanness Photography http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
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