Fibromyalgia: It’s not just about the pain

As if chronic pain is not enough, fibromyalgia sufferers still have one more thing to dread about their disease. Aside from the constant pain experienced in fibromyalgia, this disease can also cause impaired memory.
In a study conducted in the University of Alberta, women with fibromyalgia were compared to healthy women in terms of performing simple tasks related to working memory, like using a phone book. The researchers have found out that those with fibromyalgia tend to have poorer performance compared to those who are not suffering from the disease. This can be attributed to the lack of sleep and depression accompanying fibromyalgia, which in turn can cause cognitive impairments.
Carrying the burden of fibromyalgia can be very depressing, especially since other people do not understand the pain that the patient is feeling. Hence, the most important thing that a fibromyalgia patient needs is understanding coming from his support system.