MedicineNet

home > chronic pain center > chronic pain a-z list > fibromyalgia index > fibromyalgia article

Picture: Three different photo perspectives of a woman with fibromyalgia pain in the neck, back and shoulder.
Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia
(Fibrositis)

Medical Author:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile
Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile
Medical Editor:
Catherine Burt Driver, MD
Catherine Burt Driver, MD
Catherine Burt Driver, MD

Catherine Burt Driver, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Driver is a member of the American College of Rheumatology. She currently is in active practice in the field of rheumatology in Mission Viejo, Calif., where she is a partner in Mission Internal Medical Group.

View Full Profile

Fibromyalgia facts

  • Fibromyalgia causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation.
  • Fibromyalgia does not cause body damage or deformity.
  • Fatigue occurs in 90% of patients with fibromyalgia.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome can occur with fibromyalgia.
  • Sleep disorder is common in patients with fibromyalgia.
  • There is no test for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
  • Fibromyalgia can be associated with other rheumatic conditions.
  • Fibromyalgia treatment is most effective with combinations of education, stress reduction, exercise, and medications.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by restless sleep, awakening feeling tired, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and disturbances in bowel function. Fibromyalgia is sometimes referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome and abbreviated FMS. Fibromyalgia was formerly known as fibrositis.

While fibromyalgia is one of the most common diseases affecting the muscles leading to chronic pain and disability, its cause is currently unknown. The painful tissues involved are not accompanied by tissue inflammation. Therefore, despite potentially disabling body pain, patients with fibromyalgia do not develop body damage or deformity. Fibromyalgia also does not cause damage to internal body organs. In this sense, fibromyalgia is different from many other rheumatic conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and polymyositis). In those diseases, tissue inflammation is the major cause of pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the joints, tendons and muscles, and it can lead to joint deformity and damage to the internal organs or muscles.

Reviewed by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD on 1/4/2012


Patient Comments

Viewers share their comments

Fibromyalgia - Lifestyle Changes Question: What lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, etc.) have you found helpful in relieving fibromyalgia pain?
Fibromyalgia - Symptoms Question: The symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
Fibromyalgia - Treatments Question: What treatment has been effective for your fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia and Diet

Use Food to Help Fight Fatigue

Choosing the right foods may help you keep your energy level more consistent and prevent fatigue.

"We know anecdotally that certain dietary choices -- like eating small meals frequently throughout the day -- can help energy levels," says Ann Vincent, MD, assistant professor of medicine and medical director of Mayo Clinic's Fibromyalgia Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "It can help to eat a snack with a little protein, for example, when you're feeling tired at three in the afternoon," she says.

Make sure you eat breakfast, which should include some protein and whole grains, says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, MPH, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a registered dietician and practicing physician in Sarasota, Fla.

"You could try eating a boiled egg and some oatmeal," Gerbstadt says. "That will prevent your blood sugar from spiking and will give you the right kind of energy to get you going through the morning, even if your body is aching and you're feeling tired."

SOURCE:

WebMD.com

Read more about how dietary changes may help fibromyalgia symptoms »
Print
MedicineNet Doctors

Suggested Reading on Fibromyalgia by Our Doctors

  • Related Diseases & Conditions

    21 articles
    • Abdominal Pain
      • Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an
    • Headache
      • Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are
    • Anxiety
      • Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately
    • Migraine
      • Migraine is usually periodic attacks of headaches on one or both sides of the head. These may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity
    • Stress
      • Stress occurs when forces from the outside world impinge on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life. However, over-stress, can be harmful. There
    • Neck Pain
      • Neck pain (cervical pain) may be caused by any number of disorders and diseases. Tenderness is another symptom of neck pain. Though treatment for neck
    • Depression
      • Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
      • IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is a common gastrointestinal disorder involving abnormal gut contractions (motility) characterized by abdominal pain, bloating,
    • Chest Pain
      • Chest pain is a common complaint by a patient in the ER. Causes of chest pain include broken or bruised ribs, pleurisy, pneumothorax, shingles, pneumonia,
    • Pain Management
      • Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain.
    • Costochondritis and Tietze's Syndrome
      • Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs attach to the sternum. Tietze syndrome affects the same region of the chest and causes
    • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
      • Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that lasts 6 months or longer, is not improved by bed
    • Fatigue
      • Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes
    • Chronic Pain
      • Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises
    • Muscle Pain (Myofascial Pain Syndrome)
      • Myofascial pain syndrome is muscle pain in the body's soft tissues due to injury or strain. Symptoms include muscle pain with tender points and fatigue.
    • Insomnia
      • Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of difficulty falling asleep; waking up frequently during the night
    • Sleep
      • A number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best. Sleep needs vary from individual
    • Stress Management Techniques
      • Stress may be considered as any physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental unrest and that may be a factor in disease causation.
    • Mental Health
      • Mental health is an optimal way of thinking, relating to others, and feeling. All of the diagnosable mental disorders fall under the umbrella of mental
    • Fitness
      • Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of disease. Regular exercise can also reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. There are fitness programs
    • Pain Management: Musculoskeletal Pain
      • Natural menopause is the permanent ending of menstruation that is not brought on by any type of medical treatment. For women undergoing natural menopause,

  • Medications

    13 articles

  • Procedures & Tests

    8 articles

  • Pictures, Images & Quizzes

    10 articles

  • Doctor's & Expert's Views

    14 articles

  • Health News

    31 articles

  • Health Features

    6 articles
Privacy Policy

Chronic Pain/Back Pain

Find tips and advances in treatment.

Please acknowledge your agreement

Symptom Checker: Your Guide to Symptoms & Signs: Pinpoint Your Pain

From WebMD

Healthy Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

Fibromyalgia

Acupuncture »

"What is acupuncture?



Acupuncture is a component of the health care system of China that can be traced back at least 2,500 years. The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy "...

Read the Acupuncture article »

Get the latest health and medical information delivered direct to your inbox FREE!