Misdiagnosed and Untreated, Children and Teens with Fibromyalgia Are Aching for Recognition

One out of every six people with fibromyalgia is younger than age 18

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by MMG:

Arthur began experiencing nagging, unexplained pain when he was just 6 years old. Although he had been very active as a child, the constant pain that plagued him began to slow him down. After three years of visits to various doctors and a battery of tests, Arthur was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Arthur's mother had been recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia, leading the family physician to make the connection that Arthur had it as well.

Arthur's diagnosis took so long because fibromyalgia is most commonly diagnosed in adults. However, fibromyalgia can develop in children and adolescents as well. Because many people are unaware that fibromyalgia can begin at a young age, teens, like Arthur, often go undiagnosed or untreated for this chronic pain condition. Misdiagnosis is common in children and adolescents because fibromyalgia can be confused with growing pains or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Between 6 and 12 million people in the United States have fibromyalgia, and about 1 out of every 6 people with fibromyalgia is younger than age 18. Fibromyalgia causes significant widespread pain and fatigue, which can make ordinary daily activities a real struggle. It is not known what causes fibromyalgia, but many people with fibromyalgia have a family member with the condition. Doctors believe that it may be hereditary. There is no test to diagnose fibromyalgia, no cure, and no approved treatment for fibromyalgia in patients younger than age 18.

Arthur is now 18 and a senior in high school preparing for graduation. Although he takes various medications to manage the pain, he says that his positive attitude and perseverance for staying active despite the pain are important as well.

"I felt very frustrated and alone, having physicians insist that there was nothing really wrong with me or that I was just being 'lazy,'" said Arthur. "Now that I know that it is fibromyalgia, I've been learning to manage my symptoms and live with it."

National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is May 12, 2011, and physicians currently conducting a clinical research study on adolescents with fibromyalgia are seeking to raise awareness about the prevalence of fibromyalgia in children and teens.

"Although many people associate it with older patients, fibromyalgia does affect young people, especially if there is a family history of the disorder," said Dr. Lucinda Bateman of the Fatigue Consultation Clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah. "With National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day coming up on May 12, we'd like to raise awareness about this condition so that more physicians and parents can help young people struggling with fibromyalgia."

Physicians across the country are participating in the MyFi clinical research study to see if an investigational drug is safe and effective in helping teenagers with fibromyalgia. The drug being studied, milnacipran, is already approved for the management of fibromyalgia in adults. The physicians participating in the MyFi study are seeking to raise awareness and educate communities about juvenile fibromyalgia.

To learn more about fibromyalgia in teenagers or to see if you, your child, or someone you know may be eligible for the MyFi study, please visit www.MyFiTrial.com or call 1-866-692-1317.

SOURCE MMG