What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia (Fibromyalgia syndrome)?

From the Guidelines

Fibromyalgia is characterized by a complex array of symptoms including widespread chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties, as highlighted in the 2017 EULAR revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia 1. The primary symptoms include:

• Persistent pain throughout the body, particularly in muscles and soft tissues, often described as a constant dull ache
• Extreme fatigue that isn't relieved by rest, along with sleep problems such as waking unrefreshed despite adequate sleep time
• Cognitive symptoms, sometimes called "fibro fog," include difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and mental cloudiness
• Heightened sensitivity to touch, temperature, light, and sound Additional common symptoms include:
• Headaches
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Painful menstrual periods
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• Restless leg syndrome
• Mood issues like anxiety and depression These symptoms often fluctuate in intensity, with certain triggers like stress, weather changes, or physical exertion causing flare-ups, as noted in the EULAR recommendations 1. The symptoms of fibromyalgia result from central sensitization, where the brain and spinal cord process pain signals abnormally, amplifying sensations and causing the body to overreact to stimuli that wouldn't normally cause pain, which is a key aspect of the condition's complex and heterogeneous nature 1. The management of fibromyalgia should aim at improving health-related quality of life, balancing benefit and risk of treatment, and often requires a multidisciplinary approach with a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment modalities, as recommended by the EULAR guidelines 1.

From the Research

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

The symptoms of Fibromyalgia syndrome include:

• Chronic generalized pain 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• Fatigue 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• Sleep disturbances 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
• Stiffness 2, 4
• Cognitive impairment 2
• Psychological distress 2
• Heightened sensitivity 4
• Morning stiffness 4
• Decreased volition 4
• Depressed mood 4
• Headaches 5
• Mental fog 5
• Mood swings 5

Common Characteristics

Fibromyalgia is characterized by:

• Widespread musculoskeletal pain 3, 4, 6
• Chronic medical condition with physical, psychiatric, and psychological symptoms 4
• Complex and different symptoms reported by patients 6