Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome, is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.
The name fibromyalgia comes from three Latin words:
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'fibro' meaning fibrous tissues, such as tendons (tissue that connects muscles to bones) and ligaments (tissue that connects bones to bones)
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'my' meaning muscles
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'algia' meaning pain
However, the pain of fibromyalgia does not just affect the muscles, ligaments and tendons, but is felt all over the body. It results in widespread pain and extreme tiredness. People with fibromyalgia may also have:
See Fibromyalgia – symptoms for more information.
How common is fibromyalgia?
It is estimated that fibromyalgia affects nearly 1 in 20 people across the globe.
Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although the condition affects more women than men. In most cases, fibromyalgia occurs between 30 and 60 years of age, but it can develop in people of any age, including children and the elderly.
Fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose because there is no specific test and the symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions.
Outlook
There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, because the cause is unknown. However, there are a number of treatments that may ease symptoms. Treatment tends to be a combination of:
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medicines – such as antidepressants and painkillers
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talking therapies – such as counselling
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lifestyle changes – such as better sleeping habits and relaxation
In particular, exercise has been found to have a number of important benefits for people with fibromyalgia, including helping to reduce pain. See Fibromyalgia – treatment for more information.
For most people, the symptoms of fibromyalgia are permanent, although they can vary in severity. There are several lifestyle changes that can help to relieve your symptoms and make your condition easier to live with. See Fibromyalgia – self help for more information and advice.