Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

The symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary from mild to severe and may go on for a long time and should be discussed with your health care professional. Fibromyalgia is not considered to be life-threatening, and its symptoms may not necessarily get worse with time. Although fibromyalgia cannot be cured, many people with fibromyalgia are able to manage their symptoms with proper treatment.

Pain is the main symptom

The main symptom of fibromyalgia is pain all over the body for more than 3 months. It is common for people to experience achy muscles that feel tender to the touch and morning stiffness. The pain of fibromyalgia is a "deep" muscle pain and may be felt as:

Aching
Radiating
Shooting
Gnawing
Burning
Exhausting
Nagging

The pain may not always be the same. For some people with fibromyalgia, the pain and stiffness are worst when they wake up, improve during the day, and increase again at night. But others have all-day, non-stop pain. For many, the pain gets worse with physical activity, stress, or anxiety. Fibromyalgia patients may be more sensitive to light and temperature.

Along with overall pain, people with fibromyalgia have many specific parts of the body that are tender to the touch, also known as tender points. These include:

Front and back of the neck
Mid to upper back of the shoulders
Upper chest
Elbows
Upper buttocks
Hips
Knees

Comp

Fibromyalgia "tender points" from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Other symptoms you may experience

Disturbed sleep. People with fibromyalgia often sleep lightly and wake up during the night. They also often wake up feeling tired and unrefreshed
Fatigue. People with fibromyalgia may often feel tired throughout the day
Mood changes. Some people with fibromyalgia report that they feel "blue" or "down." Others report feeling anxious
Problems with thinking. Some people with fibromyalgia say that they often feel confused, can’t concentrate, and have memory lapses. These problems have been referred to as "fibro fog"

Key point to keep in mind: Fibromyalgia differs from person to person. The most common complaint is chronic widespread pain. Beyond that, no two people with fibromyalgia have exactly the same signs and symptoms.