Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.
The main symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread pain that might feel like:
The pain is likely to be continuous, but it might be better or more severe at different times.
As well as widespread pain, people with fibromyalgia might also have:
Watch Flippin’ Pain’s Flippin’ Fibromyalgia webinar to learn more about fibromyalgia
It’s not clear why some people develop fibromyalgia. The exact cause is unknown, but it’s likely that many factors are involved.
Your brain, nerves and spinal cord make up your central nervous system. Changes in the way your central nervous system sends and receives information to your body might cause fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a type of chronic pain.
Some people are more likely than others to develop fibromyalgia because of the genes inherited (passed on) from their parents.
Fibromyalgia is often triggered by a stressful event. This might be a physically stressful event or an emotionally (psychologically) stressful event.
Possible triggers of fibromyalgia might be:
Sometimes there isn’t an obvious trigger.
Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be difficult. There’s no specific test to diagnose the condition.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary. The symptoms can be similar to those of several other conditions. Your GP will have to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.
You’ll be asked about how your symptoms are affecting your daily life. You’ll be examined to check for signs of other conditions. They’ll check for swollen joints which might suggest arthritis, rather than fibromyalgia.
Tests to check for some of these conditions include urine and blood tests. You may also have X-rays and other scans. If you’re found to have another condition, you could still have fibromyalgia as well.
For fibromyalgia to be diagnosed, certain criteria usually have to be met. The most widely used criteria for diagnosis are:
It’s also possible to have other conditions alongside fibromyalgia, like:
Identifying all possible conditions will help to guide your treatment.
Fibromyalgia is a long term (chronic) condition.
There’s no cure for fibromyalgia. But there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms. This can make the condition easier to live with.
Traditional treatments like pain medication aren’t always helpful for people with fibromyalgia. Learning about your condition and finding the best self management approaches for you is the best way to manage it.
A healthcare professional can help you explore your options.
Exercise, movement and activity can be helpful way to manage pain.
A physiotherapist can help you to develop self-management skills to reduce the impact of pain on your life. They might help you create a tailored exercise programme suited to your needs, abilities and goals.
Physiotherapy can also help prevent further loss of strength and increase your fitness.
Pain management movement videos
Visit the living with chronic pain page for more information about exercise and relaxation techniques.
Occupational therapy can help you manage your everyday activities around fibromyalgia. The aim is to do this without increasing your pain or overwhelming yourself.
Your occupational therapist may suggest new ways to do things. They may be able to support you to continue to work, if you want to.
Access to Work has information on how to get or stay in work if you have a health condition or disability.
Some pain clinics offer pain management programmes run by a team of specialists. These specialists can include physiotherapists and psychologists. They can provide support to develop coping skills and manage your activity levels.
Speak to your GP if you think you’d benefit from a pain management programme.
Talking therapies can help you manage the stress of living with fibromyalgia.
Examples of talking therapies are:
Medication can’t cure fibromyalgia but it can help reduce some symptoms. Speak to your GP or pain specialist to find out the potential benefits and risks.
Your GP will likely suggest you try exercise, CBT and physiotherapy first. This is because these treatments are more likely to help.
Antidepressants can help some people with fibromyalgia. They help:
This can be useful even if you haven’t been diagnosed with depression.
Other medications can be used for the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms, but they’re likely to be less effective.
Speak to your GP, pharmacist or healthcare professional if you’re taking medication and you don’t feel its helping.
Some people with fibromyalgia try complementary or alternative treatments, like acupuncture or massage.
There’s little scientific evidence that these treatments help in the long term. Some people find that certain treatments help them to relax and feel less stressed. This allows them to cope with their condition better.
If you decide to use complementary or herbal remedies and you have any concerns, check with your local pharmacist or healthcare professional first. Some remedies can react unpredictably with other medication, or make it less effective.
Source: NHS Scotland - Opens in new browser window
Last updated:
17 May 2024