What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
The main symptoms are pains felt in many areas of the body, and tiredness. Some people also develop other symptoms. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person.
Pain
Pain can occur in any area of the body. Typically, many areas of the body are affected, and some people feel the pain 'all over'. The neck and back are the sites that are often the most painful. The severity of the pain can vary from day to day. The pains may be made worse by stress, cold or activity. After a night's sleep, you may also feel quite 'stiff' for a few hours. Many areas of the body may also be quite tender.
Tiredness
Tiredness (fatigue) is common, and is sometimes severe. In some cases it is more distressing than the pain. It is also common to have a poor sleep pattern. You may wake feeling exhausted. Many people feel worst first thing in the morning, but improve by the afternoon. Even a small amount of activity may make you tired. The tiredness may cause you to have poor concentration.
Various other symptoms have been reported by people with fibromyalgia. Also, there are a number of other conditions that often occur at the same time as fibromyalgia. As a consequence, quite a number of other symptoms may occur in people with fibromyalgia. The following are perhaps the most common, but it is not an exhaustive list of every possible symptom that may occur:
* Headaches are common.
* Irritable bladder is common - you may need to go to the toilet more frequently than usual.[
* Irritable bowel syndrome occurs commonly in people with fibromyalgia - with abdominal pains, sometimes with diarrhoea, constipation or bloating.
* About 1 in 5 people with fibromyalgia also have restless legs syndrome (see separate leaflet called 'Restless Legs Syndrome' for more detail).
* Painful periods occur in some women with fibromyalgia.
* Pins and needles in fingers and/or toes.
* Some people describe a feeling as if their hands or feet are swollen (although they are not actually swollen).
* Depression or anxiety develop in some people. It is not clear whether these are part of 'fibromyalgia syndrome', or develop as a result of having this condition.
* Some people with fibromyalgia also have CFS/ME (chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis).
- Next: What causes fibromyalgia?
More help and advice
- Tips on treating fibromyalgia
- One woman's story on how her memory was affected
- Tips on getting better sleep
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jagjit, about 1 year
hello yes i had some pain after an accident, the docs told me i was not ill and i found out 4 years later i had a bent hip and knee when i managed to struggle to get a job to go private. I had worked for 15 years previous to havign 3 accidents in 18 months and kept falling over too. After about 5 years they sent me to hospital and told me i had osteomalacia and then fibromyalgia. Im in a lot of pain still but was told it was Artificial sweeteners that cause Fibromyalgia, that was in the medication prescribed for Osteomalacia. I now try to avoid docs meds as im extremely sensitive to medication and try for vitamin therapy and Acid?alkaline diet and cut back on sugar. Of course sugar is best avoded. I read that if you can avoid sugar for 2 years your Fibromyalgia will disappear. Hope i can do that one day.
Report this commentRachel, about 1 year
Everything on this page describes exactly how I've been feeling for the last 3 - 4 years. My doctor cant seem to find what the problem is and I am so depressed with feeling constantly ill and am shattered all the time. Have been seeing a consultant at hospital had a laporoscopy which found a hernia, been back to hospital today but he said he thinks something else is going on, possible mobility disorder. Didn't know what one was until i come on this site. Couldn't believe my eyes when I read every symptom I have. Just want to be able to find out whats wrong instead of being made to feel like I am making up all the symptoms! Nothing worse than being made to feel like its all in your head!
Report this commenttheresa, about 1 year
I cannot believe this......i have been seeing the doctor for nearly a year now, i am in so much pain, i am not sleeping right, my memory is loss is doing my head in, i am forgetting whole conversations, my hair is falling out, my joints click my muscles ache, it feels like i have been kicked by a horse, i have a tremor in my left shoulder and left hip, my left arm and left leg are 2 inches bigger than the right. my eyes flickers,the bottom of my spine is so painful i cannot use the loo on my own, i cannot stand for more than 3 minute and cant lift a cup of tea at the end of the day.i cannot hold a phone for more than a minuy My doc told me i have arthritis, this is now my life get used to it and get a job!. I played up and was sent to a rheumatologist who told me i have a frozen shoulder, tennis elbow in both elbows, carpal tunnel syndrome in my wrists and bursitis in my hip. He changed all my meds sent me for bloods, xyars, scan, and physio....phsioo sent me away sayin i have too much going on for them to help, dont know the results of others tests until march next year...i went back to docs last week and she was reading a letter from the hospital, i happened to see the consultant had written patient showing signs of fibromyalgia..what are they playing at?
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perine robson, about 1 year
I have had fibromyalgia for 23 years, though it wasn't diagnosed until 10 years ago. The best thing I have found for the treatment of pain, is an electric heat pad. In fact, I have three, so when I am suffering from excrutiating pain, I wrap them around the worst parts. These cost under £20 each and it really does help. Gentle cuddles to all who suffer this dreadful illness.
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