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.