Fibromyalgia is a common disorder that causes widespread pain throughout the body. In the United States, it affects roughly 2% of the population, although some estimates put that figure much higher. Fibromyalgia typically develops in people between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can also occur in individuals who are much older or younger. It’s also much more common in women: around seven times more women than men are diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Read on to find out more about fibromyalgia, or connect to other people who are living with the condition by joining Carecircle.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic (long-term) condition that is characterized by widespread feelings of pain. It can often be triggered by a traumatic event, such as a head injury or emotional bereavement. Fibromyalgia frequently occurs alongside autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Types of fibromyalgia pain

Pain in fibromyalgia can occur anywhere in the body, and often comes and goes. Certain ‘tender points’ are often particularly affected, including the knees, hips, elbows, back of the head, upper chest and the tops of the shoulders.

People with fibromyalgia have reported various types of pain, including:

• Widespread muscle pain – This is similar to the achiness of flu, and can include pain in the shoulders, lower back, chest and neck.
• Hyperalgesia – This is an increased sense of pain. In other words, the brain becomes much more sensitive to pain signals, so sensations of pain are heightened.
• Allodynia – This is where the skin becomes hypersensitive, so even the lightest touch can cause pain.
• Temporomandibular joint pain – Also called TMJ pain, this is pain in the joint that connects your jaw to your skull.
• Neuropathic pain – Tingling, itching or burning sensations in the arms and legs.
• Tension headaches

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

The main symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread muscle pain that cannot be explained by any other cause. This is commonly accompanied by tenderness, making areas of the body highly sensitive to any touch, along with increased sensitivity to pain (hyperalgesia).

Other common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Headaches
• Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• Stiffness in the muscles
• Insomnia
• Difficulty in concentrating (known as ‘fibro-fog’)
• Depression or anxiety

Symptoms of fibromyalgia in females

In addition to the above symptoms, women with fibromyalgia may experience painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) during their period. This pain is usually centred in the lower abdomen, but can also affect the lower back and thighs.

Rare symptoms of fibromyalgia

Some less common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive problems, such as bloating and constipation
• Tingling sensations in the arms and legs (neuropathic pain)
• Pain in the joint between the jaw and skull (TMJ pain)

Join Carecircle for free and find help, hope and control with your fibromyalgia diagnosis. Our global network for health makes you part of a worldwide community where your voice matters. Together, we can work towards a better future.

What causes fibromyalgia?

Research into fibromyalgia is ongoing, and currently there is no clear cause for the disorder. Although fibromyalgia frequently occurs alongside autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, it does not seem to be an autoimmune condition itself (that is, a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells). Current research suggests it might be caused by disruptions to chemical signalling in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).

Fibromyalgia often develops after an individual has been exposed to a traumatic or stressful event, such as:

• Infection
• Sudden or frequent injuries
• Childbirth
• An operation
• A car accident
• An emotional break up
• The death of someone close to you

There is also a possible link to genetics, since people with a family history of fibromyalgia seem to have a slightly greater risk of developing the disorder.

How do you diagnose fibromyalgia

Because many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia can occur in a wide variety of other disorders, diagnosis can be a long process. Your doctor will have to rule out many other conditions before they can confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

Conditions that can cause similar symptoms include rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as ME) and multiple sclerosis, among others. Your doctor will need to conduct blood tests and a physical examination – possibly in addition to X-rays and other scans – to confidently rule out these other possibilities.

If all other possibilities have been ruled out, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is likely to be given if you have suffered severe pain in three to six places on your body for a period of at least three months, or milder pain in at least seven places over the same period.

Fibromyalgia test

There is no test available for diagnosing fibromyalgia. The only way to diagnose the disorder is by ruling out other potential causes for the pain via a series of blood tests, and possibly scans and X-rays.

What to do if you have fibromyalgia?

If you receive a diagnosis for fibromyalgia, it’s important to seek help and support.

• In addition to your doctor, you may be put in touch with a rheumatologist (a specialist in joint pain), a neurologist (a specialist on the central nervous system) and a psychologist. They should be able to provide advice on ways to deal with the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
• Charities such as Fibromyalgia Action UK and the National Fibromyalgia Association in the US can provide information and help to put you in touch with other people with fibromyalgia.
• Joining Carecircle can help you to connect with other individuals who are sharing the same experiences.

What’s the treatment for fibromyalgia?

Over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen, are sometimes prescribed to treat fibromyalgia, but often they are ineffective or only partially effective at treating the pain associated with the condition. In fact, some medical organizations now recommend against prescribing these drugs (known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for fibromyalgia, particularly as some stronger painkillers, such as codeine, can be addictive.

Other medications that can be prescribed to deal with the various symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Antidepressants
• Anti-seizure drugs
• Neuroleptics (antipsychotic medicines)
• Muscle relaxants
• Medication to help with insomnia

Research has shown that the best treatment for fibromyalgia is physical exercise, particularly regular aerobic exercise such as swimming, running or cycling.

Other things that have been shown to help with fibromyalgia include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, as well as complementary therapies such as acupuncture and massage therapy.

Fibromyalgia FAQs

Below are a few answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about fibromyalgia.

Is fibromyalgia real?

Yes, fibromyalgia is real. Although the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unclear, it is a recognised medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide.

Is fibromyalgia a disability?

Fibromyalgia is recognised as a disabling condition in the US and UK, and some people with the disorder might not be able to work owing to the pain and other symptoms. However, the severity of symptoms vary greatly between individuals.

Is fibromyalgia an autoimmune disease?

No. Although fibromyalgia commonly occurs alongside autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, it is not itself an autoimmune condition, since it does not show the characteristic signs of the body’s immune system attacking healthy tissue. However, recent research has indicated that there might be a link between autoimmune disorders and fibromyalgia, since it could be that antibodies are increasing the sensitivity of pain-sensing nerves.

Is fibromyalgia hereditary?

Family history of fibromyalgia is one of the risk factors for developing the disease. However, the genetic component of the disease is unclear, and environmental factors could be equally if not more important.

Join Carecircle for free and find help, hope and control with your fibromyalgia diagnosis. Our global network for health makes you part of a worldwide community where your voice matters. Together, we can work towards a better future.

Fibromyalgia resources

Below are a few links to websites that can provide information about fibromyalgia:

• Fibromyalgia Action UK
• National Fibromyalgia Association
• NHS: Fibromyalgia overview
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Fibromyalgia

We hope that this guide has been useful if you or someone close to you has been recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia, or if you suspect you or someone close to you shows symptoms. If you’re concerned about any of the symptoms mentioned in this article, speak with your doctor. And remember that there’s a whole community out there on Carecircle who can provide support.

Guide sources

• NHS: Fibromyalgia overview
• Centers for Diesase Control and Prevention: Fibromyalgia
• Medical News Today: Everything you need to know about fibromyalgia
• American College of Rheumatology: Fibromyalgia
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Fibromyalgia
• Verywell Health: The 7 Types of Fibromyalgia Pain
• Medical News Today: Managing fibromyalgia tender points
• Verywell Health: Why Fibromyalgia or ME/CFS May Worsen Period Pain
• King’s College London: New study shows Fibromyalgia likely the result of autoimmune problems