May 12, 2024: Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is a chronic pain illness that affects about four million people in the United States, about 2% of the adult population; and,

WHEREAS, the risk of developing fibromyalgia is about eight times higher for first-degree relatives of affected individuals; and,

WHEREAS, fibromyalgia, a condition affecting the central nervous system, for which there is currently no cure, causes fatigue and debilitating pain in women, men, and children, many of whom go undiagnosed; and,

WHEREAS, patients with this illness live with widespread body pain, extreme fatigue, sleep disorders, stiffness, weakness, headaches, numbness, tingling, impairment of memory, and difficulty with concentration; and,

WHEREAS, patients with fibromyalgia often have a number of co-existing conditions which may include chronic myofascial pain, IBS, TMJD, migraine, environmental sensitivities, anxiety, and depression; and,

WHEREAS, it may take years to receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and medical professionals frequently are inadequately educated on the current research, diagnosis, and treatment of fibromyalgia; and,

WHEREAS, increased awareness and expanded knowledge of the reality of living with fibromyalgia and its impact on patients’ function and quality of life will allow the community at large to better support people who struggle with the multifaceted management challenges of this complex chronic pain illness and common co-existing conditions; and,

WHEREAS, people with fibromyalgia have a right to be treated with dignity and have a right to pain relief; and,

WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association, a nonprofit 501c3 charitable organization; the Fibromyalgia Association of Michigan, a nonprofit 501c3 charitable organization dedicated to helping Michigan families affected by fibromyalgia; and other groups around our country have joined together to advocate for fibromyalgia awareness, support, and a better future through research, diagnosis, education, and treatment;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim May 12, 2024, as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in Michigan.