Fibromyalgia Awareness – Why Is It So Important?

Without fibromyalgia awareness there would be no private donations to fund research. There would be no patient advocacy to impart information to the National Institutes of Health to encourage them to fund FM scientific investigations. Patient awareness would be even more stifled with fewer support groups and volunteers to share the load. There would be less opportunity to encourage medical schools to teach new doctors about fibromyalgia, delaying the chance for more health care professionals to learn about this illness in order to diagnose and treat it. In fact, public awareness is so crucial, a special day, May 12, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, has been set aside to offer you an opportunity to educate others regarding the following issues:

1. Research Funding:
Without people knowing what FM is, how can they be expected to donate for research? Name recognition is imperative when it comes to asking for money or other resources to advance FM scientific investigations. If a volunteer requests a donation for breast cancer research, there is no question about what that illness is or how it affects people. If someone asks for a contribution for muscular dystrophy, you immediately get a picture of “Jerry’s kids”. Fibromyalgia has no visible signs or microscopic tests to illustrate the need for research dollars. FM patients look healthy, even robust, yet their pain often impacts their quality of life to the extreme. Pain forces them out of their employment; sequesters them from family and friends; and keeps them from fulfilling their life’s potential. It is important to educate the public about this illness to improve name recognition and knowledge about the impact fibromyalgia makes on people’s lives in order for people to be willing to donate funds for research.

2. National Institutes of Health:
The National Institutes of Health are becoming more knowledgeable concerning fibromyalgia. They have held several fibromyalgia workshops and seem to be motivated to continue encouraging better science for FM. Our U.S. Senators and Representatives are showing that they will respond to pressure by fibromyalgia advocates, if they are educated concerning the needs of millions of constituents suffering with this illness. News of fibromyalgia and its impact on individuals, both in the work place, and at home, must be supplied to our congressional leaders to ensure ongoing funding of NIH fibromyalgia scientific investigations. It is imperative, then, that fibromyalgia awareness and advocacy be spread to our Congressmen to remind them of the importance of their assistance in ensuring ongoing NIH financial support for FM scientific research.

3. Patient Advocacy:
FM awareness is reaching out to others to educate them about this illness and the impact it makes on millions of peoples lives. Fibromyalgia is a rather introverted illness. People who suffer with this illness talk to others who have it; they confide in close friends and family. They are not always willing to share with outsiders their symptoms or the impact fibromyalgia has made on their lives. Sadly, these people are made to feel that if they really wanted to get better, they would, or, because they can’t prove they are sick, they must have a psychiatric illness. Every other major health condition has healthy volunteers carrying signs, holding fund raisers, and offering assistance to sick people. Not so with FM! It is up to people who are ill to supply their own advocacy. They must try to drum up money, even when they no longer can work, to pay for postage and printing, to advertise their support group meetings. If a rally is called for, only sick people and their families and friends show up – where is everyone else? Once again, awareness about an illness encourages people to offer physical, financial and advocacy support.

4. Medical Education:
Without public awareness pushing FM education, doctors will continue to graduate from medical schools without being taught about fibromyalgia. Public opinion and outrage can encourage teaching universities to offer better medical training to new doctors concerning FM, including how it is diagnosed and how it is treated. It is imperative that these new doctors learn not to blame their patients for being ill, but to honor their Hippocratic Oath to help people who are suffering. Awareness can make these changes happen for future generations of fibromyalgia patients.

The National Fibromyalgia Research Association (NFRA) has developed the Fibromyalgia Awareness Bracelet to help in this process. It is made from a soft, durable rubber material and is pink (for women) and crimson (for chronic pain) which equals “Women in Chronic Pain.” The National Fibromyalgia Research Association, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1992, dedicated to education, treatment and finding a cure for fibromyalgia. We realize men and children with fibromyalgia are not directly addressed by this wording. However, because women’s illnesses are in the limelight right now and fibromyalgia does affect more women than men, about nine to one, this is the time to raise interest for research funding. Research will eventually help all fibromyalgia suffers, regardless of gender or age. These bracelets sell for just $1.00 each by mail, plus shipping and handling based on the number ordered. As a convenience we also offer charge card orders for the bracelets on our website, but the pricing structure is different. On line each bracelet sells for $3.00 which includes shipping and handling costs and Internet charge card processing fees.

The money raised by the sale of these bracelets will be used 100% for research, education and public awareness with no administrative costs deducted. This is your opportunity to support fibromyalgia awareness both as FM patients and supporters of FM patients. Remember May 12, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, is coming. These bracelets can be your opportunity to spread the word about this puzzling, painful illness.

For mail orders, please print off the order form and send it along with your check or money order to the National Fibromyalgia Research Association. (Mailing information is included on the form).

REMEMBER – THIS IS A FUNDRAISER FOR NFRA AND PROFITS FROM EACH BRACELET YOU PURCHASE HELPS RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS, PROVIDES EDUCATION AND FUNDS RESEARCH TO FIND THE CAUSE AND CURE FOR FIBROMYALGIA.

Click Here to Download a PDF version.

Show your support with Fibromyalgia Awareness Bracelets. Click on the graphic below to order online:

For mail orders - print off the advertisement and follow the directions. For charge card orders, please click on the donate.net banner included on this page.

National Fibromyalgia Research Association
PO Box 500
Salem, OR 97308

* NFRA is a non-profit organization and proceeds will be used for FMS research, education, and awareness.