At what age is fibromyalgia usually diagnosed?

Fibromyalgia affects as many as 4 million Americans 18 and older. The average age range at which fibromyalgia is diagnosed is 35 to 45 years old, but most people have had symptoms, including chronic pain, that started much earlier in life.

What are usually the first signs of fibromyalgia?

Can you develop fibromyalgia at any age?

The condition typically develops between the ages of 25 and 55, but people of any age can get it, including children and older people. It's not clear exactly how many people are affected by fibromyalgia, although research has suggested it could be a relatively common condition.

Can you suddenly develop fibromyalgia?

Symptoms of fibromyalgia may appear suddenly after an illness, physical trauma, or significant psychological stress. In some people, however, fibromyalgia symptoms appear gradually, and a specific event is not believed to trigger pain and fatigue.

What are the 2 most common symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Age & Symptom Severity & QOL in Patients With Fibromyalgia

How do you confirm fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed based primarily on having pain all over the body, along with other symptoms. Currently, there are no specific laboratory or imaging tests for fibromyalgia.

What is the number one cause of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is often triggered by an event that causes physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers include: a serious injury, such as after a car accident.

What diseases mimic fibromyalgia?

Several rheumatic diseases can mimic fibromyalgia. These include sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, polymyalgia rheumatica and lupus. They have symptoms of widespread pain along with joint involvement. Most rheumatic diseases are treated with medication and physical therapy.

Where does fibromyalgia usually start?

The main symptoms of fibromyalgia are: Chronic, widespread pain throughout the body or at multiple sites. Pain is often felt in the arms, legs, head, chest, abdomen, back, and buttocks. People often describe it as aching, burning, or throbbing.

What illnesses can trigger fibromyalgia?

Chronic illnesses: People with conditions like osteoarthritis, depression, anxiety disorders, chronic back pain and irritable bowel syndrome are more likely to develop fibromyalgia. Infections: Some people develop fibromyalgia after having an infection, especially if they experience severe symptoms.

Can fibromyalgia turn into MS?

While MS and fibro may have some symptoms in common, they are ultimately distinct conditions with very different causes and treatments. Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis are both chronic diseases with no cure. Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis can both cause some of the same symptoms.

What are the four stages of fibromyalgia?

Results: There were four parent stages of FM identified and labeled: 1) regional FM with classic symptoms; 2) generalized FM with increasing widespread pain and some additional symptoms; 3) FM with advanced and associated conditions, increasing widespread pain, increased sleep disturbances, and chemical sensitivity; ...

Is fibromyalgia autoimmune or Neurological?

Fibromyalgia Might Be an Autoimmune Disorder, A New Study Says. Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition commonly thought to originate in the brain, might actually be a disorder of the immune system, according to a new study.

What a fibromyalgia flare feels like?

A fibromyalgia attack is also known as a flare-up. An attack can come on suddenly and cause mild to severe pain. These attacks may cause aching, burning, throbbing, or stabbing.

What does fibromyalgia pain feel like?

The discomfort from fibromyalgia may feel like burning, soreness, stiffness, aching, or gnawing pain, often times with sore spots in certain parts of your muscles. The pain may feel like arthritis. But it doesn't damage muscles or bones.

Does fibromyalgia ever go away?

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. Taking steps to treat fibromyalgia can help relieve your symptoms.

Does fibromyalgia show up in blood work?

There are no lab tests that can diagnose fibromyalgia. However, because many other conditions have symptoms similar to those or fibromyalgia, your doctor may order tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms.

What does fibromyalgia feel like in legs?

What does fibromyalgia leg pain feel like? If you're suffering from fibromyalgia leg pain, you may experience throbbing, shooting, achy, or burning sensations in your legs. Often, you'll feel the pain at your fibro tender points, particularly inside of each knee and on the hip just behind your hipbone.

What happens if fibromyalgia is left untreated?

If you avoid treating fibromyalgia, you may descend into a spiral. The chronic pain and fatigue limits your physical activities and exercise. That, in turn, weakens your body. You may begin to feel isolated, fearful, suspicious, lonely, and afraid, which can strain relationships.

What will a rheumatologist do for fibromyalgia?

Because fibromyalgia is complex in nature and difficult to diagnose, a rheumatologist will perform a complete medical history and a full physical exam. A physical exam can help reveal signs of inflammation throughout the body's joints and musculoskeletal system.

What is prescribed for fibromyalgia?

Duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella) may help ease the pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. Your doctor may prescribe amitriptyline or the muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine to help promote sleep. Anti-seizure drugs.

Is lupus mistaken for fibromyalgia?

While lupus and fibro may have some symptoms in common, they are ultimately distinct conditions with very different causes and treatments. Fibromyalgia and lupus are both chronic diseases with no cure, can both cause some similar symptoms, and can both take a long time to get the right diagnosis.

Is fibromyalgia a nerve or muscle pain?

Fibromyalgia, or Fibromyalgia Pain Syndrome, is a chronic and widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder. It is defined as a long-term, body-wide pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons – the soft fibrous tissues in the body.

Does fibro run in families?

Yes. Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that affects some six million or more Americans, can run in families. In fact, one of the most important risk factors for fibromyalgia is a family history of the disorder. Fibromyalgia is sometimes known to affect multiple members of the same family.

Does hot weather make fibromyalgia worse?

People with fibromyalgia in hot climates often report increases in muscle pain, fatigue, anxiety, headaches and even depression. Similarly, many fibromyalgia patients have reported feeling these symptoms in cold weather. Simply put — any type of extreme weather can cause discomfort.