“Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.

Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.

“[Possible] symptoms of fibromyalgia can include:

Widespread pain. The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.
Fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even though they report sleeping for long periods of time. Sleep is often disrupted by pain, and many patients with fibromyalgia have other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
Cognitive difficulties. A symptom commonly referred to as “fibro fog” impairs the ability to focus, pay attention and concentrate on mental tasks.

Many with fibromyalgia are likely to also be diagnosed with:

Irritable bowel syndrome
Migraine and other types of headaches
Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)

Back or neck pain
Headaches
Frequent or painful urination
Jaw pain
Irritable bowel syndrome

In some cases, these coexisting problems might be connected to how your body processes pain signals. In fibromyalgia, your brain amplifies pain signals, so you feel a higher level of pain than what might be commonly expected for certain types of painful stimuli.

“The pain and lack of sleep associated with fibromyalgia can interfere with your ability to function at home or on the job. The frustration of dealing with an often-misunderstood [and invisible] condition also can result in depression and health-related anxiety.“💜