Fact Sheet on Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a poorly understood, arthritis-like condition that causes constant pain and fatigue, although it is not progressive or fatal. Doctors do not yet understand its cause, and there is no cure. Doctors can, however, prescribe a regimen of medication and therapy to help patients live with the condition.

Symptoms

• Fibromyalgia causes widespread muscular pain throughout the body and stronger pain when pressure is applied to tender points like the back of the head, sides of the neck or around major joints. Other symptoms include memory problems, tingling in the hands or feet, irritable bowel syndrome and morning stiffness.

Diagnosis

• Doctors test for fibromyalgia by applying pressure to 18 points on the body and consider at least 11 tender points a likely case of the condition. They also might order a blood test to rule out other conditions.

Treatment

• Three types of medication can ease symptoms of fibromyalgia: painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants to help sleep and anti-seizure drugs to further reduce pain. Doctors also might recommend counseling and/or physical therapy.

Prevalence

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that fibromyalgia affects about 2 percent of adults. Women are at higher risk, outnumbering men in diagnoses by a ratio of seven to one.

Controversy

• Because doctors have been unable to pinpoint an exact cause of fibromyalgia, some consider fibromyalgia to be a set of symptoms rather than a single condition.