Understanding Fibromyalgia -- the Basics Fibromyalgia is a non-life- threatening, chronic disorder with widespread pain as its main symptom.
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Other symptoms include fatigue , sleep disturbances, and tender points at certain parts of the body. Many people describe fibromyalgia as feeling like a persistent flu. Muscle pain , throughout the body often with tenderness at certain points, is the primary symptom of fibromyalgia.
ME/CFS & Fibromyalgia Basics
It may range from mild discomfort to pain severe enough to limit work, social activities, and everyday tasks. Pain commonly occurs in the neck, upper back, shoulders, chest, rib cage, lower back, and thighs and may feel like a burning, gnawing, throbbing, stabbing, or aching sensation and may develop gradually. It sometimes seems worse when a person is trying to relax and is less noticeable during activity.
A related, key aspect of fibromyalgia is the presence of "tender points," muscles and tendons that are tender when pressed. Typically, tender points are located in the neck, back, knee , shoulder , elbow, and hip.
What Fibromyalgia Feels Like
People with fibromyalgia also feel moderately to severely fatigued and have sleep problems, including insomnia. People with fibromyalgia may also experience other problems including headaches , memory or concentration problems, and irritable bowel syndrome. Experts estimate that at least 5 million American adults have fibromyalgia. This change involves an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain neurotransmitters. In addition, the brain's pain receptors seem to develop a sort of memory of the pain and become more sensitive, meaning they can overreact to pain signals.
The pain and lack of sleep associated with fibromyalgia can interfere with your ability to function at home or on the job. The frustration of dealing with an often-misunderstood condition also can result in depression and health-related anxiety. Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients. When Reilly Steidle came to Mayo Clinic in the summer of at the age of 20, she brought with her two rolling suitcases full of medical paperwork and a hope that the physicians could make sense of the recurring headaches, chronic fatigue and widespread pain she?
Fibromyalgia | Arthritis | CDC
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This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Complex Diagnosis Reshapes a College Student? Clauw DJ, et al. Fibromyalgia and related conditions. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of fibromyalgia in adults.
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Initial treatment of fibromyalgia in adults. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; Treatment of fibromyalgia in adults not responsive to initial therapies.
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