VIDEO from Medialink, the National Fibromyalgia Association and Pfizer: The Painful Truth about Fi...( NFA President and Kim Dupree Jones Ph...),Health

NFA President and Kim Dupree Jones, PhD, FNP Join Together to Raise Awareness of Common, But Often Overlooked Chronic Pain Condition

ANAHEIM, Calif., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Fibromyalgia is often called an "invisible" illness because the people who have it typically do not look sick. However, something as simple as a hug or a handshake can be painful. In fact, fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic, widespread pain conditions in the U.S., affecting more than five million Americans, predominantly women (women account for 80-90 percent of those diagnosed). It can have debilitating effects on a sufferer's life, impacting people's ability to work and engage in everyday activities.

See video from the National Fibromyalgia Association and Pfizer at: http://inr.mediaseed.tv/Fibromyalgia_36473/

In recognition of Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Kim Dupree Jones, PhD, FNP, Oregon Health & Science University, and Lynne Matallana, president and founder of the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA), have joined forces to raise awareness about fibromyalgia, increase the understanding of the condition, and provide support to the fibromyalgia community.

"I was at the height of my career when I developed fibromyalgia. The pain and fatigue were so severe that I spent the better part of almost two years completely bedridden," said Ms. Matallana.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread muscle pain. Although the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known, it is thought to result from neurological changes that prompt patients to experience a heightened sensitivity to touch or temperature that are not normally painful.

"In my practice, I see many women who have denied their chronic pain or as
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