Who is at risk for fibromyalgia

Central sensitization syndrome and the initial evaluation of a patient with fibromyalgia: a review. Rambam Maimonides Med J. Gender differences in the prevalence of fibromyalgia and in concomitant medical and psychiatric disorders: A national Veterans Health Administration study. J Womens Health Larchmt. Prevalence of fibromyalgia in premenopausal and postmenopausal women and its relation to climacteric symptoms.

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Next in Fibromyalgia Guide. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Top of Page. Learn more about arthritis. Get E-mail Updates. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address. The site is secure. Fibromyalgia , or fibromyalgia syndrome, is a condition that causes aches and pain all over the body.

People with fibromyalgia often experience other symptoms, such as extreme tiredness or sleeping, mood, or memory problems. Fibromyalgia affects more women than men. The pain, extreme tiredness, and lack of sleep that fibromyalgia causes can affect your ability to work or do daily activities. Treatment can help relieve pain and help prevent flare-ups of symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is also called fibromyalgia syndrome. A syndrome is a group of symptoms that happen together. People with fibromyalgia experience aches and pain all over the body, fatigue extreme tiredness that does not get better with sleep or rest , and problems sleeping. Fibromyalgia may be caused by a problem in the brain with nerves and pain signals. In other words, in people with fibromyalgia, the brain misunderstands everyday pain and other sensory experiences, making the person more sensitive to pressure, temperature hot or cold , bright lights, and noise compared to people who do not have fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia has been compared to arthritis. Like arthritis, fibromyalgia causes pain and fatigue. But, unlike arthritis, fibromyalgia does not cause redness and swelling, or damage to your joints. Fibromyalgia affects as many as 4 million Americans 18 and older. Chronic long-term , widespread pain is the most common symptom of fibromyalgia. You may feel the pain all over your body.

Or, you may feel it more in the muscles you use most often, like in your back or legs. The pain may feel like a deep muscle ache, or it may throb or burn. Your pain may also be worse in the morning. Women with fibromyalgia often have more morning fatigue, pain all over the body, and IBS symptoms than men with fibromyalgia have. Fibromyalgia symptoms can happen without warning. But certain events may trigger flare-ups, including:.

Studies also show that the brains of people with fibromyalgia may not process pain in the same way as people who do not have fibromyalgia. Lower levels of certain brain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin or norepinephrine, may cause you to be more sensitive to pain and have a more severe reaction to pain.

Imaging studies of the brain show that people with fibromyalgia feel pain when people without fibromyalgia do not. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and your medical history. There is no lab test for fibromyalgia. Instead, your doctor will make a diagnosis based upon two criteria:. You may have to see several doctors before getting a diagnosis.

Doctors try to figure out if fibromyalgia or another health problem is causing your symptoms. Your doctor or nurse may also suggest taking steps at home to relieve your symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that is often a lifelong condition. But fibromyalgia is not a progressive disease, meaning it will not get worse over time. It also does not cause damage to your joints, muscles, or organs. Many women with fibromyalgia have no problems getting pregnant, and some women report that their symptoms get better during pregnancy.

But, for some women, fibromyalgia can cause problems during pregnancy. Your symptoms may flare or get worse, especially in the first few months of pregnancy. Also, some normal pregnancy complaints, such as fatigue, stress, and mood swings caused by changing hormones, may be worse for women with fibromyalgia. Talk to your doctor about any medicines you take to treat fibromyalgia, as they may cause other health problems for you or your unborn baby. Most people with fibromyalgia continue to work, but you may have to make changes to do so.

You can cut down the number of hours you work, switch to a less demanding job, or adapt a current job. If you face challenges at work, an occupational therapist can help you design a more comfortable workstation or find more efficient and less painful ways to do your job. A number of federal laws protect your rights. However, if you cannot work because of your fibromyalgia, you may qualify for disability benefits through your employer or the Social Security Administration.