BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuFibromyalgiaFibromyositis; FM; FibrositisFibromyalgia is a condition in which a person has long-term pain that is spread throughout their body. The pain is most often accompanied by fatigue, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, headaches, depression, and anxiety.People with fibromyalgia may also have tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes The cause of fibromyalgia is not known. Researchers think that it is due to a problem with how the central nervous system processes pain signals from nerves. Possible causes or triggers of fibromyalgia include:Physical or emotional trauma. Abnormal pain response: Areas in the brain that control pain may react differently in people with fibromyalgia. Sleep disturbances. Infection, such as a virus, although none has been identified. Fibromyalgia is more common in females as compared to males. Women ages 20 to 50 are the most affected group of people.The following conditions may be seen with fibromyalgia or have similar symptoms:Long-term (chronic) neck or back pain Long-term (chronic) fatigue syndrome Long-term (chronic) fatigue syndromeMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a long-term illness that affects many body systems. People with this illness are not ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Depression DepressionDepression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lyme disease Lyme diseaseLyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of one of several types of ticks.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sleep disordersSleep disordersInsomnia is trouble falling asleep, staying asleep (usually through the night), or waking up too early in the morning. Episodes of insomnia may come ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Widespread pain is the main symptom of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia appears to be on one end of a range of chronic widespread pain, which may be present in 10% to 15% of the general population. Fibromyalgia falls on the far end of that pain severity and chronicity scale and occurs in 1% to 5% of the general population.The central feature of fibromyalgia is chronic pain in multiple sites. These sites are the head, each arm, the chest, the abdomen, each leg, the upper back and spine, and the lower back and spine (including the buttocks). The pain may be mild to severe.It may feel like a deep ache, or a stabbing, burning pain. It may feel like it is coming from the joints, although the joints are not affected or damaged and appear normal. People with fibromyalgia tend to wake up with body pain and stiffness. For some people, pain improves during the day and gets worse at night. Some people have pain all day long.Pain may get worse with: Physical activity Cold or damp weather Anxiety and stressMost people with fibromyalgia have at least one of these symptoms: fatigue, depressed mood, or sleep problems. Many people say that they cannot get to sleep or stay asleep, and they feel tired when they wake up (called non-restorative sleep).Other symptoms in people with fibromyalgia may include: Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Irritable bowel syndromeIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to pain in abdomen and changes in bowel movements. IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gastroesophageal reflux diseaseGastroesophageal reflux occurs when stomach contents leak backward from the stomach into the esophagus. This causes "spitting up" in infants....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Memory and concentration problems Numbness and tingling in hands and feet Numbness and tinglingNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Reduced ability to exercise Tension or migraine headachesMigraine headachesA migraine is a type of headache. It may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound. In most people, a throbbi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you must have had at least 3 months of widespread pain with one or more of the following:Ongoing problems with sleep Fatigue FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thinking or memory problems It is not necessary for the health care provider to find tender points during a physical exam to make a diagnosis and results of the exam may be normal. You will be asked questions about depression and anxiety since those conditions are often present in people with fibromyalgia.Results from blood and urine tests, and imaging tests are normal. These tests may be done to check for other conditions with similar symptoms. Studies of breathing during sleeping may be done to find out if you have a condition called sleep apnea.Sleep apneaObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a problem in which your breathing pauses during sleep. This occurs because of narrowed or blocked airways.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fibromyalgia is common in every rheumatic disease and may complicate diagnoses and therapy. These disorders include:Rheumatoid arthritis Osteoarthritis OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder. It is due to aging and wear and tear on a joint.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spondyloarthritis Systemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goals of treatment are to help relieve pain and other symptoms, to reduce disability, and to help the person cope with the symptoms.The first type of treatment may involve:Physical therapy An exercise and fitness program Stress-relief methods, including light massage and relaxation techniques If these treatments do not work, your provider may also prescribe an antidepressant or muscle relaxant. Sometimes, combinations of medicines are helpful.The goal of these medicines is to improve your sleep and help you better tolerate pain. Medicine should be used along with exercise and behavior therapy. Duloxetine (Cymbalta), pregabalin (Lyrica), and milnacipran (Savella) are medicines that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for treating fibromyalgia.Other medicines are also used to treat the condition, such as:Anti-seizure drugs, such as gabapentin Other antidepressants, such as amitriptyline Muscle relaxants, such as cyclobenzaprine Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or tramadolIf you have sleep apnea, a device called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may be prescribed. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an important part of treatment. This therapy helps you learn how to:Deal with negative thoughts Keep a diary of pain and symptoms Recognize what makes your symptoms worse Seek out enjoyable activities Set limits Complementary and alternative treatments may also be helpful. These may include:Tai chi Yoga AcupunctureSupport groups may also help.Things you can do to help take care of yourself include:Eat a well-balanced diet. Avoid caffeine. Practice a good sleep routine to improve quality of sleep. Exercise regularly. Start with low-level exercise.There is no evidence that opioids are effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia, and studies have suggested possible adverse effects. They should be avoided.Referral to a clinic with special expertise in diagnosing and treating fibromyalgia may be helpful. Outlook (Prognosis) Fibromyalgia is a long-term disorder. Sometimes, the symptoms improve. Other times, the pain may get worse and continue for months or years. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of fibromyalgia. Prevention There is no known prevention.Open ReferencesReferencesBorg-Stein J, Brassil ME, Borgstrom HE. Fibromyalgia. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 102.Clauw DJ. Fibromyalgia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 253.Crofford LJ. Fibromyalgia. In: Firestein GS, Mclnnes IB, Koretzky GA, Mikuls TR, Neogi T, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 52.AllVideoImagesTogFibromyalgia - illustration Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatic syndrome indicating widespread pain in fibrous tissues, muscles, tendons, and other connective tissues, resulting in painful muscles without weakness. The cause of this disorder is unknown, although it is a chronic problem that can come and go for years. The nine paired red circles are recognized as common tender points associated with fibromyalgia.FibromyalgiaillustrationFibromyalgia - illustration Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatic syndrome indicating widespread pain in fibrous tissues, muscles, tendons, and other connective tissues, resulting in painful muscles without weakness. The cause of this disorder is unknown, although it is a chronic problem that can come and go for years. The nine paired red circles are recognized as common tender points associated with fibromyalgia.FibromyalgiaillustrationA Closer Look Fibromyalgia(Alt. Medicine)Fibromyalgia - InDepth(In-Depth)Related Information Rheumatoid arthritis(Condition)Rheumatoid arthritis - InDepth(In-Depth)Fibromyalgia - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/28/2025 Reviewed By: Diane M. Horowitz, MD, Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Northwell Health, Great Neck, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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FibromyalgiaFibromyositis; FM; FibrositisFibromyalgia is a condition in which a person has long-term pain that is spread throughout their body. The pain is most often accompanied by fatigue, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, headaches, depression, and anxiety.People with fibromyalgia may also have tenderness in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes The cause of fibromyalgia is not known. Researchers think that it is due to a problem with how the central nervous system processes pain signals from nerves. Possible causes or triggers of fibromyalgia include:Physical or emotional trauma. Abnormal pain response: Areas in the brain that control pain may react differently in people with fibromyalgia. Sleep disturbances. Infection, such as a virus, although none has been identified. Fibromyalgia is more common in females as compared to males. Women ages 20 to 50 are the most affected group of people.The following conditions may be seen with fibromyalgia or have similar symptoms:Long-term (chronic) neck or back pain Long-term (chronic) fatigue syndrome Long-term (chronic) fatigue syndromeMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a long-term illness that affects many body systems. People with this illness are not ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Depression DepressionDepression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lyme disease Lyme diseaseLyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of one of several types of ticks.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sleep disordersSleep disordersInsomnia is trouble falling asleep, staying asleep (usually through the night), or waking up too early in the morning. Episodes of insomnia may come ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Widespread pain is the main symptom of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia appears to be on one end of a range of chronic widespread pain, which may be present in 10% to 15% of the general population. Fibromyalgia falls on the far end of that pain severity and chronicity scale and occurs in 1% to 5% of the general population.The central feature of fibromyalgia is chronic pain in multiple sites. These sites are the head, each arm, the chest, the abdomen, each leg, the upper back and spine, and the lower back and spine (including the buttocks). The pain may be mild to severe.It may feel like a deep ache, or a stabbing, burning pain. It may feel like it is coming from the joints, although the joints are not affected or damaged and appear normal. People with fibromyalgia tend to wake up with body pain and stiffness. For some people, pain improves during the day and gets worse at night. Some people have pain all day long.Pain may get worse with: Physical activity Cold or damp weather Anxiety and stressMost people with fibromyalgia have at least one of these symptoms: fatigue, depressed mood, or sleep problems. Many people say that they cannot get to sleep or stay asleep, and they feel tired when they wake up (called non-restorative sleep).Other symptoms in people with fibromyalgia may include: Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Irritable bowel syndromeIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that leads to pain in abdomen and changes in bowel movements. IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gastroesophageal reflux diseaseGastroesophageal reflux occurs when stomach contents leak backward from the stomach into the esophagus. This causes "spitting up" in infants....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Memory and concentration problems Numbness and tingling in hands and feet Numbness and tinglingNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Reduced ability to exercise Tension or migraine headachesMigraine headachesA migraine is a type of headache. It may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound. In most people, a throbbi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you must have had at least 3 months of widespread pain with one or more of the following:Ongoing problems with sleep Fatigue FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Thinking or memory problems It is not necessary for the health care provider to find tender points during a physical exam to make a diagnosis and results of the exam may be normal. You will be asked questions about depression and anxiety since those conditions are often present in people with fibromyalgia.Results from blood and urine tests, and imaging tests are normal. These tests may be done to check for other conditions with similar symptoms. Studies of breathing during sleeping may be done to find out if you have a condition called sleep apnea.Sleep apneaObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a problem in which your breathing pauses during sleep. This occurs because of narrowed or blocked airways.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fibromyalgia is common in every rheumatic disease and may complicate diagnoses and therapy. These disorders include:Rheumatoid arthritis Osteoarthritis OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder. It is due to aging and wear and tear on a joint.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spondyloarthritis Systemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The goals of treatment are to help relieve pain and other symptoms, to reduce disability, and to help the person cope with the symptoms.The first type of treatment may involve:Physical therapy An exercise and fitness program Stress-relief methods, including light massage and relaxation techniques If these treatments do not work, your provider may also prescribe an antidepressant or muscle relaxant. Sometimes, combinations of medicines are helpful.The goal of these medicines is to improve your sleep and help you better tolerate pain. Medicine should be used along with exercise and behavior therapy. Duloxetine (Cymbalta), pregabalin (Lyrica), and milnacipran (Savella) are medicines that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for treating fibromyalgia.Other medicines are also used to treat the condition, such as:Anti-seizure drugs, such as gabapentin Other antidepressants, such as amitriptyline Muscle relaxants, such as cyclobenzaprine Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or tramadolIf you have sleep apnea, a device called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may be prescribed. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an important part of treatment. This therapy helps you learn how to:Deal with negative thoughts Keep a diary of pain and symptoms Recognize what makes your symptoms worse Seek out enjoyable activities Set limits Complementary and alternative treatments may also be helpful. These may include:Tai chi Yoga AcupunctureSupport groups may also help.Things you can do to help take care of yourself include:Eat a well-balanced diet. Avoid caffeine. Practice a good sleep routine to improve quality of sleep. Exercise regularly. Start with low-level exercise.There is no evidence that opioids are effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia, and studies have suggested possible adverse effects. They should be avoided.Referral to a clinic with special expertise in diagnosing and treating fibromyalgia may be helpful. Outlook (Prognosis) Fibromyalgia is a long-term disorder. Sometimes, the symptoms improve. Other times, the pain may get worse and continue for months or years. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of fibromyalgia. Prevention There is no known prevention.Open ReferencesReferencesBorg-Stein J, Brassil ME, Borgstrom HE. Fibromyalgia. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 102.Clauw DJ. Fibromyalgia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 253.Crofford LJ. Fibromyalgia. In: Firestein GS, Mclnnes IB, Koretzky GA, Mikuls TR, Neogi T, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 52.
