1. Fibromyalgia
An Invisible Illness

2. What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a
common syndrome
in which a person
has long term,
body-wide pain and
tenderness, in
joints, muscles,
tendons, and other
soft tissues.

3. Causes
The cause is unknown.
Possible causes or triggers
of fibromyalgia include:
• Physical or emotional
trauma
• Abnormal pain response
• Sleep disturbances
• Infection, such as a
virus, although none have
been identified.
Fibromyalgia is most
common in women between
ages 20 and 50.

4. Symptoms
Pain is the main symptom of
fibromyalgia. It may be mild to
severe.
• Painful areas are called tender
points. They can be on the back of
the neck, shoulders, chest, lower
back, hips, shins, elbows, and
knees.
• The pain may feel like a deep
ache or, a shooting, burning pain.
• The joints are not affected
although it may feel like the pain is
coming from the joints.
People tend to wake up with body
aches and stiffness.
Fatigued, depressed mood and
sleep problems are seen in almost
all patients. Other symptoms
include IBS, memory and
concentration
problems, Numbness and tingling

5. Signs and Tests
To be diagnosed with
fibromyalgia, you have to have had
at least 3 months of widespread
pain, and pain and tenderness in at
least 11 of 18 areas:
• Arms (elbows)
• Buttocks
• Chest
• Knees
• Lower back
• Neck
• Rib cage
• Thighs
A urine test will come back
negative but will test for other
illnesses that may cause these

6. Treatment
There are many things
you can do to help with
the pain of fibromyalgia.
The first type of
treatment may be
physical
therapy, exercise or
stress relief methods. If
these methods don’t
work your doctor may
prescribe you an anti-
depressant or muscle
relaxer. The goal of
treatment is to help
relieve pain and other

7. Fibromyalgia is a long-term
disorder. Sometimes the symptoms
improve. Other times, the pain may
get worse and continue for months
or years. The best advice is to get
in contact with your doctor as soon
as possible so you can get your
pain care started.

8. Resources
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedheal
th/PMH0001463/