MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

Fibromyalgia

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Fibromyalgia is theNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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Summary

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue. People with fibromyalgia have "tender points" on the body. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. These points hurt when pressure is put on them.

People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms, such as

Trouble sleeping
Morning stiffness
Headaches
Painful menstrual periods
Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called "fibro fog")

No one knows what causes fibromyalgia. Anyone can get it, but it is most common in middle-aged women. People with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are particularly likely to develop fibromyalgia. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but medicine can help you manage your symptoms. Getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating well may also help.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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Fibromyalgia (American Academy of Family Physicians)Available in Spanish
Fibromyalgia (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
Fibromyalgia (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Focusing on Fibromyalgia : A Puzzling and Painful Condition (National Institutes of Health)
What Is Fibromyalgia? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)