Dealing with fibromyalgia can be frustrating, especially when the pain seems to have no single source.

You wake up and feel like your whole body hurts. You may have muscle stiffness, you may wake up unrefreshed, and a typical workday or day of chores may leave you wiped out. Some days may be okay, and other days the pain and fatigue can be much harder to cope with.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that causes widespread pain and increased sensitivity to pain. It can also be linked to tiredness, lack of sleep, headaches, and problems with concentration or memory. How much the symptoms affect someone can vary a lot, and they may get better or worse at different times.

There is no one treatment that works for everyone. Good management usually involves correctly understanding the symptoms and finding a combination of approaches that helps the person stay active and improve their day-to-day functioning.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain throughout the body and increases your sensitivity to pain.

The precise etiology is poorly understood. One reason is that alterations in the central nervous system processing of pain signals can cause normal sensations to be perceived as more painful than usual. Genes and some types of physical or emotional stress may also contribute.

Sometimes fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose as there is no single test, scan, or other investigation to confirm it. The assessment must also consider other possible causes of widespread pain and fatigue, as its symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

While widespread pain is typically the main complaint, fibromyalgia can affect much more than just pain. The typical symptoms are:

• Pain or aching all over the body
• Sharp, burning, or stabbing pain
• Heightened sensitivity to touch or pressure
• Muscle tightness
• Ongoing tiredness or exhaustion
• Poor or non-restorative sleep
• Trouble concentrating or remembering (sometimes called “fibro-fog”)
• Headaches or migraines
• Tingling, numbness, or burning feelings
• Irritable bowel symptoms in some people

The pain may be ongoing and may fluctuate in intensity. Some people also find that symptoms flare during periods of increased stress, changes in activity, or other triggers.

What Makes Fibromyalgia Hurt So Much?

Fibromyalgia is odd in that the amount of pain you feel doesn’t correlate with an obvious injury or a visible problem with your muscles or joints.

The nervous system has a lot to do with how the body senses and interprets pain. In fibromyalgia, altered function of this pain-processing system is thought to underlie the increased sensitivity. This might explain why mild pressure or routine physical activity can be disproportionately painful.

It would be wrong to say that the pain is not real. The symptoms are genuine even if routine investigations fail to find an obvious structural cause.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

There is no one confirmed cause. Research suggests a variety of factors may be involved, including changes in the nervous system, genetic susceptibility, and certain physical or psychological stresses. For some people, symptoms appear after injury, infection, major surgery, or a significant period of stress. In some cases, there is no obvious trigger.

Fibromyalgia can also occur along with other conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic pain disorders. Having another condition doesn’t rule out fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

Diagnosis is mainly based on symptoms and their pattern. There is no specific test to confirm fibromyalgia. Usually, a doctor will ask where and for how long you’ve had pain, as well as about your sleep, fatigue, and other symptoms. They might also give you a physical exam.

Sometimes blood tests, X-rays, or other investigations may be needed to look for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. For instance, swollen joints may be a sign of arthritis, not fibromyalgia. Widespread pain should not automatically be labeled as fibromyalgia without considering other explanations.

Fibromyalgia Treatment

The goals of fibromyalgia treatment are generally to reduce the impact of symptoms and improve a person’s ability to function. There is not a single cure, and no one treatment works for everyone. Depending on the symptoms and circumstances of the person, a combination of exercise, appropriate psychological support, and medicines may be considered.

The goal is not necessarily to eliminate every symptom. In many cases, the more realistic goal is better pain control, better sleep, greater physical ability, and a better quality of life.

Physical Exercise and Activity

Exercise might sound like the last thing you want to do when your whole body aches. However, regular physical activity is one of the most helpful parts of managing fibromyalgia.

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