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:
- Problems with thinking, memory, and concentration (called “fibro fog”)
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Pain in the face or jaw, including temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
- Painful menstrual periods
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
- 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
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic treatment
- Movement therapy
- Stress management
- Massage
- Yoga
- Meditation
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
From 
Healthy Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Reviewed on 5/25/2022
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/
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/