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Fast Facts: An Easy-to-Read Series of Publications for the Public
What Is Fibromyalgia?
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
Who Is Affected by Fibromyalgia?
How Is Fibromyalgia Treated?
What Can I Do to Try to Feel Better?
What Research Is Being Done on Fibromyalgia
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue (feeling tired). 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").
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown. There may be a number of factors involved.
Fibromyalgia has been linked to:
Stressful or traumatic events, such as car accidents
Repetitive injuries
Illness
Certain diseases.
Fibromyalgia can also occur on its own.
Some scientists think that a gene or genes might be involved in fibromyalgia. The
genes could make a person react strongly to things that other people would not find
painful.
Who Is Affected by Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia affects as many as 1 in 50 Americans. Most people with fibromyalgia are
women. However, men and children also can have the disorder. Most people are
diagnosed during middle age.
People with certain other diseases may be more likely to have fibromyalgia. These
diseases include:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus)
Ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis).
Women who have a family member with fibromyalgia may be more likely to have
fibromyalgia themselves.
How Is Fibromyalgia Treated?
Fibromyalgia can be hard to treat. It's important to find a doctor who is familiar with the
disorder and its treatment. Many family physicians, general internists, or
rheumatologists can treat fibromyalgia. Rheumatologists are doctors who specialize
in arthritis and other conditions that affect the joints or soft tissues.
Fibromyalgia treatment often requires a team approach. The team may include your
doctor, a physical therapist, and possibly other health care providers. A pain or
rheumatology clinic can be a good place to get treatment.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved any medicines to
treat fibromyalgia. Doctors treat fibromyalgia with medicines approved for other
purposes. Pain medicines and antidepressants are often used in treatment.
What Can I Do to Try to Feel Better?
There are many things you can do to feel better, including:
Taking medicines as prescribed
Getting enough sleep
Exercising
Eating well
Making work changes if necessary.
What Research Is Being Done on Fibromyalgia?
The NIAMS sponsors research to help understand fibromyalgia and find better ways to
diagnose, treat, and prevent it. Researchers are studying:
Why people with fibromyalgia have increased sensitivity to pain
The role of stress hormones in the body
Medicines and behavioral treatments
Whether there is a gene or genes that make a person more likely to have fibromyalgia.
For More Information on Fibromyalgia and Other Related Conditions:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
National Institutes of Health
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892–3675
Phone: 301–495–4484 or 877–22–NIAMS (226–4267) (free of charge)
TTY: 301–565–2966
Fax: 301–718–6366
E-mail: NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov
www.niams.nih.gov
The information in this publication was summarized in easy-to-read format from
information in a more detailed NIAMS publication. To order the Fibromyalgia Q&A full-
text version, please contact NIAMS using the contact information above. To view the
complete text or to order online, visit http://www.niams.nih.gov.
