Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.
As well as widespread pain, people with fibromyalgia may also have:
- increased sensitivity to pain
- fatigue (extreme tiredness)
- muscle stiffness
- difficulty sleeping
- problems with mental processes (known as "fibro-fog") – such as problems with memory and concentration
- headaches
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – a digestive condition that causes stomach pain and bloating
If you think you have fibromyalgia, visit your GP. Treatment is available to ease some of its symptoms, although they are unlikely to disappear completely.
Read more about the
symptoms of fibromyalgia.
What causes fibromyalgia?
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it's thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body.
It's also suggested that some people are more likely to develop fibromyalgia because of genes inherited from their parents.
In many cases, the condition appears to be triggered by a physically or emotionally stressful event, such as:
- an injury or infection
- giving birth
- having an operation
- the breakdown of a relationship
- the death of a loved one
Read more about the
causes of fibromyalgia.
Who is affected?
Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although it affects around seven times as many women as men. The condition typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but can occur in people of any age, including children and the elderly.
It's not clear exactly how many people are affected by fibromyalgia, although research has suggested that it could be a relatively common condition. Some estimates suggest nearly 1 in 20 people may be affected by fibromyalgia to some degree.
One of the main reasons it's not clear how many people are affected is because fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose. There is no specific test for the condition, and the symptoms can be similar to a number of other conditions.
Read more about
diagnosing fibromyalgia.
How fibromyalgia is treated ?
There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with.
Treatment tends to be a combination of:
Exercise in particular has been found to have a number of important benefits for people with fibromyalgia, including helping to reduce pain.
Read more about
treating fibromyalgia and advice on
self-help for fibromyalgia.
Support groups
Many people with fibromyalgia find that support groups provide an important network where they can talk to others living with the condition.
Fibromyalgia Action UK is a charity that offers information and support to people with fibromyalgia. If you have any questions about fibromyalgia, call the charity's helpline on 0844 887 2444.
The charity also has a network of local
support groups you may find helpful and a
online community, where you can find out about news, events and on going research into the condition.
Another support group is
UK Fibromyalgia Or Fibromyalgia UK on Facebook.
Wow how great to receive this blog. I have had a flareup this week and instead of my usual one off sleep days, i have had 3 sleep days all in a row, from Sunday I am only now pulling out of a depression that came at me from nowhere and engulfed me completely.... Fortunately my loving husband, who is my best friend and full time carer, did look after me whilst I slept thru the days and nights. He made sure I was awoken for food and drinks and meds... I am thrilled to have got this blog ... Jean
ReplyDeleteCan I communicate with other FMS sufferers or is this a one off communication ???
ReplyDeleteHi Genie if you scoot to the bottom of the page you will see 'Pages' each page is a different Fibro suffer and you can leave comments on any of thier pages at any time and they will repsond to you when they can.
ReplyDeleteThere is also a page 'Open Page For Fibro Sufferers To Describe What Their Theory of FMS is' you may email me at madboutshoes@hotmail.co.uk to have your theory added to this page at any time and share with the fibro community.
Thank you for your comments I am glad you like the page.
Georgie x
Hey girl Its mia from disabled denied on twitter , love your blog 2 of my closest friends live with fybro myalgia contact me on my email anytime it's on the contact page of my blog disabledaccessdenied.com hang in there girl the world needs strong powerful women
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness i love you for making this blog!! I am 17 and have been suffering from fibro for awhile but have just been reluctantly diagnosed in june. I can't sleep and am in constant pain and the doctors won't listen. thank you for the information!!
ReplyDeleteYou can talk to any of the ppl on the blog and ask questions, we all have different types of Fibro and it affects us all in very similar and very different ways. I am so glad you found our site not that I havnt been trying to get it all over the net ;) Thank you so much for you feedback and feel free to ask anything you want even to find out about support grops and make friends with it on places like Twitter xx
ReplyDeleteHi Mia, thank you - please feel free to pass blog details onto your friends. We have nicknamed the blog The #PplsSpoonieBlog as its for everyone. Anyone with #Fibro can add to it by emailing me. We all hope that it has a positive impact on ppls lives in helping them or their carers even ppl that have friend with the illness to have a greater understanding. xx
ReplyDeleteHi, this is a great idea. I suffer woth FM anf have been publishing my story for the last few weeks http://fibromyalgia-dee.blogspot.com/ and can be contacted on Twitter @fmdee. Keep up the good work and if I can be of any help feel free to ask. It's great to be able to support each other. Stay well. Dee
ReplyDeleteAmazing Blog twit-sis, you gotta keep this going. So informative but I still wanna hear more from ya. Well done...Brat :-P Love ya really.
ReplyDeleteRin.
xox
Thank You Tarin.
ReplyDeleteThis Blog will be kept going, Iv not intentions of stopping it. As soon as new or interesting information surfices it will find its way to the blog.
Cant wait to start having Guest Authors and Bloggers Blogging to.
I just wanted to help people understand and I really hope that I have managed to do that in a good and positive way.
Georgie xx
Thank you for sharing this great information. The links are helpful as well. I have fibromyalgia and it is helpful to know that I am not alone in my struggle... there is help out there. I wanted to share another website that I found very helpful, http://onlineceucredit.com/edu/social-work-ceus-pain. I hope this is helpful for others with fibromyalgia.
ReplyDeleteThanku Virginia sorry for long delay fibro has very much had me in its grip for the last few months and I have been unable to visit or work on the site.
ReplyDeleteBut I am back for the now, thank you for sharing the link any information is welcome as long as it doesn't lead to a page offering a cure for money as those kind of pages are barred from being accessed from here and will be deleted.
You are not alone there are many other people out here with it who understand the daily grind it can place on our lives, the loss of things we can no longer do, the learning of new skills and the agony of not knowing from one day to the next what we will feel like xx
Georgie