Introduction

Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.

As well as widespread pain, people with fibromyalgia may also have:

• increasedsensitivity to pain
• fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• muscle stiffness
• difficulty sleeping
• problems with mental processes (known as "fibro-fog") such as problems with memory and concentration
• Headaches
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) a digestive condition that causes stomach pain and bloating

If you think you have fibromyalgia, visit your GP. Treatment is available to ease some of its symptoms, although they're unlikely to disappear completely.

What causes fibromyalgia?

The exactcause of fibromyalgiais unknown, but it's thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the waythe central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body.

It's also suggested that some people are more likely to develop fibromyalgia because of genes inherited from their parents.

Inmany cases, the conditionappears to be triggered by a physically or emotionally stressful event, such as:

• an injury or infection
• giving birth
• having an operation
• the breakdown of a relationship
• the death of a loved one

Who's affected?

Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although it affects around seven times as many women as men. The condition typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but can occur in people of any age, including children and the elderly.

It's not clear exactly how many people are affected by fibromyalgia, although research has suggested it could be a relatively common condition. Some estimates suggest nearly 1 in 20 peoplemay be affected by fibromyalgia to some degree.

One of the main reasons it's not clear how many people are affected isbecause fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose. There's no specific test for the condition, and the symptoms can be similar to a number ofother conditions.

Treatment tends to be a combination of:

• medication such as antidepressants and painkillers
• talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling
• lifestyle changes such as exercise programmes and relaxation techniques

Exercise in particular has been found to have a number of important benefits for people with fibromyalgia, including helping to reduce pain.

If you have any questions about fibromyalgia, call the charity's helpline on 0844 887 2444.

The charity also has a network of local support groups you may find helpful and a online community , where you can find out about news, events and ongoing research into the condition.

Another support group you may find useful is UK Fibromyalgia .