Pain is the main symptom of fibromyalgia. Learn how fibromyalgia pain is different from other types of pain. Also, learn about other symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as fatigue, depression, and even gastrointestinal symptoms.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that causes pain in many parts of the body. Pain is caused by a problem with the nervous system processing pain signals.
Fibromyalgia can also cause symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and brain fog.
Because the pain is common in many other conditions, doctors may not immediately consider fibromyalgia when evaluating these symptoms. This is one of the reasons why it takes years for sufferers to get an accurate diagnosis.
Determining the type and location of the pain, along with other symptoms, will help the doctor make a diagnosis. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you can begin treatment to relieve your symptoms.
In addition to the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia, read on to learn about a few unusual symptoms you may not be aware of.
Main symptoms
The main symptom of fibromyalgia is pain and tenderness in all the muscles and joints of your body.
Fibromyalgia can cause other symptoms, including:
tired
sleep problems
anxiety or depression
memory problems and difficulty concentrating, sometimes called fibro fog
headache
a muscle twitch or pull
numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
itching, burning and other skin problems
The pain can move from one place to another. However, to meet the American College of Rheumatology’s criteria for a diagnosis, you must have pain and other symptoms for at least 3 months.
The pain must occur in a certain number of parts of the body, which is reflected in the widespread pain index (WPI). It should also reach a certain level of difficulty. In addition, you should not have another disease (such as arthritis) that could explain the pain.
Fibromyalgia pain versus other types of pain
Fibromyalgia pain is located in soft tissues such as muscles and joints. It is characterized by the fact that it affects different parts of the body. Pain intensifies as the brain processes it.
Fibromyalgia pain can occur in the following situations:
neck
middle and lower back
arm
foot
line
hip
Everyone’s experience with fibromyalgia is different. Some people feel it all over their body. Others feel it only in certain muscles, such as the back or legs.
The quality of pain can vary from person to person. It can be defined as follows.
to beat
It hurts
is burning
shooting
to stab
stiffness
pain
The intensity of the pain can vary depending on the time of day and your activity. For some people, it is worse in the morning or after exercise. Stress, lack of sleep, and weather can affect the pattern and intensity of fibromyalgia. Read one woman’s story about what fibromyalgia feels like.