Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that brings pain across the body, along with fatigue and trouble sleeping. No lab test or scan can confirm it, so doctors try to rule out other causes. New chest pain or pressure, or sudden weakness on one side, needs 911. Do not put it down to fibromyalgia.
Pain Without One Sore Spot
Fibromyalgia pain does not stay in one place. It tends to show up on both sides of the body, above and below the waist, with tiredness that a long night in bed does not fix.
Fibromyalgia itself does not change an X-ray or a blood test.
What Fibromyalgia Is
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition marked by widespread pain and fatigue. Researchers think it changes how the brain and spinal cord handle pain signals, so the body becomes more sensitive to pain. It is not an inflammatory or autoimmune disease.
It is more common in
- Women
- People with a parent or sibling who has it
- People with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or osteoarthritis
It often comes with
- Migraine and other headaches
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Anxiety or depression
Mayo Clinic's overview of fibromyalgia says a condition others often misunderstand can add stress, which can lead to depression or anxiety.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms to Recognize
- Aching, burning or throbbing pain in many parts of the body
- Waking up tired
- Trouble sleeping
- Muscle and joint stiffness
- Numbness or tingling in the arms and legs
- Trouble focusing or remembering, often called fibro fog
- Sensitivity to light, noise, smells or temperature
Possible Causes and Triggers
The exact cause is not known. The condition tends to run in families, and an infection, a car accident, an operation or long-running stress can come before the first symptoms. Symptoms can also build with no single trigger.
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases' fibromyalgia overview says it also occurs in people with no family history of the disorder.
Who Diagnoses Fibromyalgia
Most people with fibromyalgia are managed by a primary care provider. A rheumatologist is the specialist in arthritis and other diseases of the bones, joints and muscles. If you have no diagnosis yet, start with your primary care doctor, who can send you to a rheumatologist if needed.
The diagnosis rests on your history, an exam and pain lasting at least three months in at least four of five body areas. Blood tests or imaging may be ordered to look for conditions with similar symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
The same institute's guide to diagnosis and treatment says there are no specific laboratory or imaging tests for fibromyalgia.
Parts of a Fibromyalgia Plan
These are common parts of a plan, not a full list, and not a list of what our clinic provides. Your primary care doctor or a rheumatologist can talk through others.
| Option | What it involves | Who provides it |
|---|---|---|
| Low-impact exercise | Walking, biking, swimming, yoga or tai chi, started at a low level and built up over time. | You, after checking with your doctor; an exercise physiologist can guide it |
| Pacing | Steady activity, since overdoing it on a good day can bring more bad days. | You, with your care team |
| Cognitive behavioral therapy | Skills for handling pain and stress, one-on-one or in a group. | A trained counselor |
| Medicine | Certain antidepressants and anti-seizure medicines. Mayo Clinic says opioids are not recommended. | Your doctor or rheumatologist |
| Sleep habits | Regular hours and a cool, dark, quiet room. | You, or a sleep specialist |
Working With Your Doctors
Fibromyalgia treatment often takes a team, with most of it usually coming from a primary care doctor or rheumatologist. Call our Towson clinic to ask what a visit would involve, and tell your doctors you are coming.
Care here may be combined with your other medical treatment, and the team may send you to another provider for anything it cannot help with.
When Symptoms Need Urgent Attention
Fibromyalgia pain can reach the chest, yet a new or sudden symptom still needs its own check. Call 911 for new chest pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, or for sudden numbness or weakness in your face, an arm or a leg. If you have thoughts of suicide, call or text 988.
Call 911 as well for
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
- A cold sweat with chest discomfort
- Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
- A sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Talk with your doctor about
- Pain in several areas that has lasted three months with no diagnosis
- Low mood or anxiety, which a mental health professional can also help with
Greenbrier, Fellowship Forest and Towson University
Towson University is about 1.6 miles west of the clinic, with Greenbrier closer in, about 0.6 miles out. Fellowship Forest is nearby too, about 0.6 miles southwest.
Ask About a Fibromyalgia Visit
Bring your diagnosis, if you have one, your medicine list and a short note on what you have tried. Cost and insurance questions can be handled by phone.