Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness around the body. What factors can cause fibromyalgia, and how can it be treated?

6 minute read

Fibromyalgia is a common condition that affects around 2% of the population of the UK. It can affect anyone at any age but is more common in women between the ages of 20 and 60. It is estimated that around one in twenty people may be affected by fibromyalgia, but exact numbers aren’t clear as the condition is often difficult to diagnose. Around 14,000 people are diagnosed with fibromyalgia every year in the UK.

Because fibromyalgia is an invisible disease with no obvious cause, the condition has often been poorly understood. As a result, sufferers have found themselves stigmatised or even not believed. We now know that fibromyalgia is a very real condition that can have a significant impact on a person’s health and quality of life.

On this page, we will look at what fibromyalgia is, the symptoms and causes of fibromyalgia, and how the condition is treated.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia, or fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a chronic (long-term) condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body. It can also cause fatigue, and problems with sleep, mood, and memory.

Fibromyalgia symptoms

The symptoms of fibromyalgia often vary from person to person. They can also change or get better or worse over time.

Fibromyalgia symptoms may include:

• Widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body which may be aching, burning, or throbbing

• Difficulty sleeping

• Fatigue

• Muscle and joint stiffness

• Face and jaw pain (temporomandibular disorder)

• Numbness or tingling in the arms and legs

• Difficulty concentrating (known as “fibro fog”)

• Memory problems

• Increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli, including heat, cold, light, noise, and smells

• Dry eyes

• Itching

• Rash

• Bladder problems like interstitial cystitis

• Digestive issues, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain, bloating or constipation

• Increased sensitivity to pain

• Headaches

• Mood changes, anxiety, and depression

What causes fibromyalgia?

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it appears to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Research suggests that people with fibromyalgia may have abnormal levels of certain brain chemicals as well as differences in how their central nervous system processes pain messages.

Emotional or physical stress may trigger fibromyalgia in some people. Sometimes fibromyalgia has no obvious cause.

Risk factors

Anyone can develop fibromyalgia. Although certain factors may increase your risk, including:

• A Family history of fibromyalgia

• Being female

• Being between the ages of 20 and 60

• Having certain chronic conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

• Pain from an injury or trauma

• Emotional stress

• Having a recent illness or infection

• Obesity

• Depression

• Previous pain syndromes

• Mood disorders

• A history of substance abuse

Make an appointment with your GP if you have symptoms of fibromyalgia.

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

There is currently no test for fibromyalgia and the condition can be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms of fibromyalgia often vary between patients and may be similar to other conditions.

Your GP will ask about your symptoms and medical history.

A diagnosis of fibromyalgia is often made by ruling out other conditions, such as osteoarthritis as a cause of pain, or anaemia or thyroid disorders as a cause of fatigue. Your GP may check for other conditions by performing a physical examination and with tests such as a blood or urine test, X-ray, or scan.

You may be diagnosed with fibromyalgia alongside another condition such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or depression.

Treatment for fibromyalgia

There’s currently no cure for fibromyalgia, but the condition can be treated in several ways. Treatment aims to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

There’s no “one size fits all” treatment for fibromyalgia and you may need to work with your healthcare provider to find the right combination of treatments.

Treatments for fibromyalgia include self-care, talking therapies, medication, and acupuncture.

Self-care

There are several things you can do yourself to help with symptoms of fibromyalgia, including:

• Avoid stress — stress and anxiety can trigger a flare up of fibromyalgia or make your symptoms worse. Avoid stress as much as possible and practise relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga.

• Practise good sleep hygiene.

• Take regular exercise — low-impact exercise such as swimming, walking and gentle cycling can reduce fibromyalgia pain and improve your overall quality of life. If you haven’t exercised for a while, start slowly and gradually increase the amount and intensity.

• Eat a balanced, nutritious diet.

Talking therapies

There are two types of talking therapy that may be used to treat fibromyalgia:

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) – is a type of psychotherapy where you learn to accept, rather than avoid, the things you cannot change and commit to making changes that will improve your life.

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – works by challenging negative thoughts and patterns of behaviour.

Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist can show you some exercises to help build strength and improve function and flexibility. They can also treat fibromyalgia pain with techniques, such as heat therapy, cryotherapy, massage, and electrical stimulation.

Medication

Medications used to treat fibromyalgia may include:

• Painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, to provide pain relief during a flare-up

• Antidepressants to ease symptoms such as pain and fatigue and to help promote sleep

Acupuncture

There is some evidence to suggest that acupuncture can help to reduce pain and improve the quality of life in some people with fibromyalgia.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends acupuncture for chronic primary pain, which includes fibromyalgia.

Support groups for fibromyalgia

It can be helpful to talk to people going through the same thing as you. Support groups for fibromyalgia offer information and advice and put you in touch with other people with the condition.

UK fibromyalgia provides a list of support groups in your local area.

Fibromyalgia Action UK offers information, advice, and support for people with fibromyalgia and their families.