In fibromyalgia, the brain processes pain signals in abnormal ways.
That leads to unusual pain types:
Some people also have pain that moves in waves through the body.
It’s common in fibromyalgia to have multiple types of pain symptoms.
Verywell
The word fibromyalgia means connective tissue (fibro) and muscle (myo) pain (algia).
Fibromyalgia pain may change from day to day or even over the course of the day.
You don’t have to have all of the possible fibromyalgia symptoms to bediagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
This chronic fatigue compounds feelings of fogginess and disorientation and contributes to high rates of depression.
Fibromyalgia is closely tied tomyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
They have similar symptoms and some common underlying physiology, and many people have both of them.
However, some scientists believe it’s due to something shared by the two conditions: neurotransmitter dysregulation.
For example, you may have flares related to your menstrual cycle.
Give a complete picture, including all of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first signs vary greatly and fibromyalgia can start suddenly or gradually.
The most consistent area of pain is probably the spine.
During a flare, symptoms are more intense overall.
The pain is sometimes described as a full-body migraine.
Exhaustion is especially common, as is the feeling of a foggy brain.
So far, seems like long-haul COVID-19 symptoms may include fibromyalgia or at least symptoms very similar to it.
Biological males and people with obesity appear to have a higher risk of this.
Also, COVID-19 infection has been found to trigger flares in people who already have fibromyalgia.
It can, yes.
2016;32(9):737746. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000354
Sluka KA, Clauw DJ.Neurobiology of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain.Neuroscience.
2013;15(6):221. doi:10.1186/ar4395
Choy EH.The role of sleep in pain and fibromyalgia.Nat Rev Rheumatol.
2017;96(14):e6657.
Results from a web-based survey.RMD Open.
2021;7(3):e001735.
2013;2013:960270].Pain Res Treat.