What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is Fibromyalgia Syndrome, also known as Fibro, FMS or FM. Fibromyalgia is pronounced Fi - bro - my - al - gee - ah.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness characterized by chronic widespread pain, chronic fatigue, hypersensitivity to pain and sleep disturbances.

Fibromyalgia patients experience a wide range of symptoms that can wax and wane over time.

Fibromyalgia is sometimes called a chronic pain condition, a central sensitization syndrome or even a neurological condition.

Fibromyalgia is often a devastating condition for patients and the people around them and it has been shown to have more of an impact than many other chronic pain conditions and chronic illnesses.

Who Is Affected?

Fibromyalgia can affect anyone. Although 80-90% of Fibromyalgia sufferers are women, men do get it too. And although a large proportion of Fibromyalgia sufferers are aged 35-60, anyone from children to the elderly can develop the condition.

Fibromyalgia is a surprisingly common condition: it is estimated that approximately 3 million or 1 in 25 people in the UK suffer from Fibromyalgia. The condition is as common as rheumatoid arthritis and can even be more painful.

Because of its debilitating nature, Fibromyalgia has a large impact on everyone connected with a sufferer, from family and friends to employers

What Are The Symptoms?

The possible symptoms of Fibromyalgia are very wide and varied and no two sufferers will have exactly the same problems. However, many have a majority of the common symptoms.

Chronic widespread pain is usually the primary symptom of Fibromyalgia. This can be aches, as if you have the flu or have run a long race; it can feel like joint pain, as if you have arthritis; it can be burning pain, feeling like someone is pouring acid through your body; or it can be shooting pain, as if you are being stabbed with large needles.

Fibromyalgia patients are also hypersensitive to pain: they feel pain from stimuli that should not be painful. Even the lightest touch can be painful; a hug can be excruciating. And the pain from something as simple as knocking your leg on a desk not only feels far worse than it should do, but can carry on being painful for far longer than normal.

Stiffness is often a problem people with Fibromyalgia have and this can cause issues with mobility, as well as leading to more pain. People who stay in one position for extended periods, for example whilst sitting at a desk, often find that their stiffness worsens.

Chronic fatigue is common with Fibromyalgia and this is often linked with the non-restorative sleep that is typical of Fibromyalgia. With this non-restorative sleep, a Fibromyalgia sufferer’s brain tends to wake them up slightly every time they get into the deep sleep that is needed for physical rejuvenation. This can lead to more fatigue, more pain and other symptoms. The fatigue of Fibromyalgia is not like being a bit tired all the time: it can hit suddenly, leaving a Fibro sufferer almost unable to stand; it can be overwhelming, making it impossible to do anything at all; you can feel so tired that it seems impossible to even lift your head.

Cognitive dysfunction is a common problem with Fibromyalgia and is nicknamed “Fibro-fog”. This can include difficulty in understanding something, difficulty in making decisions, memory loss, problems with concentration, difficulties in speaking coherently and remembering words and problems with typing or writing.

Abnormal responses to exercise are often a problem with Fibromyalgia. These can include an over-the-top and sometimes delayed reaction to exercise, as well as muscle weakness and poor stamina unrelated to fitness. People with Fibromyalgia can find that their ability to perform exercises varies hugely: for example sometimes they might be able to climb the stairs with little problem, but another time they might not have the strength to manage one step.