How do you describe fibromyalgia pain?

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.

How do I explain my fibromyalgia pain?

“Imagine having a horrible sunburn that NEVER goes away or subsides. Now imagine someone slapping that sunburn. That's the pain. No matter what touches you—hair, a garment, a hug—it's all excruciatingly painful due to the hypersensitivity caused by fibromyalgia.”

What does fibromyalgia flare feel 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 back pain feel like?

Your muscles may feel like they have been overworked or pulled even though you haven't exercised. Sometimes, your muscles will twitch. Other times they will burn or ache with deep stabbing pain. Some patients with fibromyalgia have pain and achiness around the joints in their neck, shoulders, back, and hips.

What are the 2 most common symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia

What is the number one symptom of fibromyalgia?

If you have fibromyalgia, one of the main symptoms is likely to be widespread pain. This may be felt throughout your body, but could be worse in particular areas, such as your back or neck. The pain is likely to be continuous, although it may be better or more severe at different times.

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 part of the body does fibromyalgia affect the most?

Fibromyalgia was formerly classified as an inflammatory musculoskeletal disease but is now considered to be an illness that primarily affects the central nervous system.

Where does fibromyalgia usually hurt?

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.

How debilitating is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is often debilitating due to pain that can interfere with a patient's life. For example, many individuals report trouble sleeping, which can lead to exhaustion and fatigue. Feeling tired and in pain on a routine basis also can negatively impact mental health, leading to issues such as depression.

What other conditions can be mistaken for 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.

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.

Does fibromyalgia qualify for disability?

The Social Security Administration recognizes arthritis and fibromyalgia (FM) as qualifying disabilities for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI).

Is fibromyalgia a nerve or muscle pain?

Fibromyalgia is one of a group of chronic pain disorders that affect connective tissues, including the muscles, ligaments (the tough bands of tissue that bind together the ends of bones), and tendons (which attach muscles to bones).

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; ...

Does the pain of fibromyalgia ever go away?

There's no cure for fibromyalgia, but your healthcare provider will help you find a combination of treatments that relieve your symptoms. Even though experts don't know what causes fibromyalgia, it's real — and so are your symptoms. They might come and go or be hard to describe, but how you feel is valid and important.

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 are fibromyalgia flare ups?

Some people with fibromyalgia may experience certain symptoms regularly. However, the pain associated with fibromyalgia tends to fluctuate and worsen. When symptoms temporarily increase in number or intensity, it is called a flare or flare-up. A flare-up can last anywhere from a few days to weeks.

What is the most effective treatment for fibromyalgia?

First-choice treatments for fibromyalgia are exercise and lifestyle changes. Studies prove these are very effective. Medications might help reduce fibromyalgia pain by 30% in some people. They work best in combination with non-medication therapies.

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.

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.

How does fibromyalgia affect the female organs?

Increased bladder pain and bowel problems in women

Fibromyalgia can make worse other issues related to CPPD, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and bladder problems. Research shows that people with fibromyalgia and IBS also have a higher chance of developing interstitial cystitis, or painful bladder syndrome (PBS).

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.

Which medications might a doctor prescribe to help with fibromyalgia?

The FDA has approved three drugs to treat fibromyalgia: the antidepressants duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella), plus the anti-seizure medicine pregabalin (Lyrica).

Does CBD help fibromyalgia?

Studies also suggest that CBD can relieve pain, improve sleep, and reduce refractory pain in people with various conditions linked to chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome.