Some legislators took time from the hectic last-week-of-(regular)-session activities today to learn even more about pain.

Fibromyalgia, an affliction that includes pain and fatigue, gets attention today at the Capitol; resolutions in both chambers will declare this to be Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, and speakers discussed the issue at a roundtable meeting this morning.

The Arthritis Foundation, Lupus Foundation, Courage Center and chronic pain patients, advocates and caregivers attended the roundtable; Rep. Erin Murphy and Sen. Mee Moua sponsored the resolutions.

The groups describe fibromyalgia as: "characterized by chronic widespread pain that is often accompanied by fatigue and a wide range of other symptoms including impaired concentration, short-term memory problems and an inability to multi-task. Although not life threatening, fibromyalgia can be highly debilitating. Fibromyalgia affects more than 6 million Americans; however, due to lack of a standard diagnostic, actual numbers are estimated in the 10 to 12 million (range). On average, patients see three physicians before they are diagnosed and patients are often diagnosed 1.5 years after they have signs or symptoms." — Joe Kimball