Fibromyalgia is a common condition in which people experience symptoms that include widespread pain and tenderness in the body, often accompanied by fatigue and problems with memory and concentration.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary from mild to severe. The most common symptoms are:

• increased sensitivity to pain due to a decreased pain threshold
• increased responsiveness to sensory stimuli such as heat, cold, light, smell
• extreme fatigue (tiredness)
• problems with memory and concentration
• problems with sleep

Less common symptoms may include:

• irritable bowel syndrome
• irritable or overactive bladder
• headaches
• numbness or tingling in the arms and legs
• anxiety and depression

The symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary from day to day and symptoms may disappear for extended periods of time, perhaps even years.

Causes

No one knows what causes fibromyalgia. It’s thought that it may be the result of genetic and environmental factors (such as exposure to a virus or illness).

It’s also believed that physical or emotional stress can trigger the start of fibromyalgia symptoms. However, fibromyalgia may also appear without any obvious cause.

Fibromyalgia is more common in people with:

• lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
• an illness such as a virus (or a recent illness or infection)
• pain from an injury or trauma
• emotional stress and depression
• family history of fibromyalgia
• previous pain syndromes
• mood disorders
• substance abuse.

Treatment

There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but treatment can help you manage your symptoms.

At times the symptoms you experience as a result of your fibromyalgia (such as pain or fatigue) will become more intense. This is called a flare. Flares can be triggered or made worse by several factors including:

• weather changes
• overexertion
• mental stress
• illness or injury
• travelling
• hormonal changes
• changes in treatment

Triggers vary from person to person. Understanding the things that cause your fibromyalgia to flare means that you can be prepared and take steps to lessen the effect they will have on you and your life.

Diagnosing fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are common to many other conditions. This means that it may take some time to establish a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, which can be very frustrating.

Your doctor will take your medical history and description of your symptoms, and do a physical examination.

You may also have tests, including blood tests, x-rays or scans. While these tests cannot diagnose fibromyalgia, your doctor may use them to rule out other conditions.

While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, your symptoms can be effectively managed. This starts with a correct diagnosis. A management program will then be designed to meet your specific needs.

Generally, management of fibromyalgia will involve a combination of:

• Pain management: this could include the use of heat or cold packs, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or painkillers.
• Nutrition: Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help provide you with better energy levels, help to maintain your weight, and give you a greater sense of wellbeing
• Exercise
• Strategies to manage the symptoms in your daily life, like learning what triggers your flares, and stressors.

In addition to medication to tackle pain, there are other medications that can help fibromyalgia sufferers, such as anti-depressants or ani-epileptic medications.

Fibromyalgia research is growing, and it is believed that scientists are finally making progress toward understanding this complex condition.