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What Are the 8 Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

Illustration showing the areas of the body that experience fibromyalgia symptoms and pain
The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia include pain/tenderness all over the body, morning stiffness, fatigue/tiredness, sleep problems, mood disorders (depression, anxiety), tingling/numbness/swelling in the hands and feet, headaches (including migraines), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body, sleep problems, fatigue, and depression. 

Eight common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

  • Pain, and tenderness all over the body
    • Increased sensitivity to pain (compared to people without fibromyalgia), called abnormal pain perception processing
  • Morning stiffness
  • Fatigue/tiredness
  • Sleep problems
  • Mood disorders
  • Tingling, numbness, or swelling in hands and feet
  • Headaches, including migraines
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 

Other symptoms of fibromyalgia may include:

A fibromyalgia attack or flare-up is when symptoms of fibromyalgia temporarily increase in intensity or frequency.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

It is unknown what causes fibromyalgia. 

Risk factors for developing fibromyalgia include: 

  • Being female: females are twice as likely to develop the condition than males
  • Genetics: tends to run in families
  • Illness (such as viral infections)
  • Repetitive injuries
  • Obesity
  • Stressful or traumatic events
  • Mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and panic disorder 
  • Age: most people are diagnosed during middle age 
  • Lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea

What Is the Treatment for Fibromyalgia?

Treatment for fibromyalgia may include: 

  • Self-management/lifestyle changes
    • Eating a healthy diet
    • Regular exercise
    • Getting adequate sleep
    • Dietary supplements, if recommended by your doctor
  • Medications 
    • Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications 
      • Aspirin 
      • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
      • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 
        • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
        • Naproxen (Aleve) 
    • Tramadol (Ultram) for severe pain (short-term use only)
    • Pregabalin (Lyrica) for nerve pain
    • Duloxetine (Cymbalta) and minacipran (Savella) for pain and fatigue
    • Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), amitriptyline (Elavil), gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica) for sleep problems
    • Older drugs that affect the same brain chemicals such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
  • Patient education classes, usually in primary care or community settings
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat depression
  • Alternative therapies 
  • Stress management 
    • Massage
    • Yoga
    • Meditation

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References
Image Source: iStock Images

https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/fibromyalgia.htm

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/fibromyalgia#tab-overview

https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Fibromyalgia

http://nutritionmedicine.org/what-is/what-is-fibromyalgia/natural-treatments-for-fibromyalgia/