What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is the second most common condition affecting your bones and muscles. Yet it's often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Its classic symptoms are widespread muscle and joint pain and fatigue.



Doctors aren't sure what causes it, but some think it's a problem with how your brain and spinal cord process pain signals from your nerves.

We do know certain things suggest you're more likely to get it:


Simply put, you ache all over. Common symptoms include:


Other fibro symptoms can include:




If your doctor can't find another reason for how you feel, they'll use a two-part scoring system to measure how widespread your pain has been and how much your symptoms affect your daily life. Using those results, together you'll come up with a plan to manage the condition.




The three drugs approved specifically for fibro pain are:


Regular moderate exercise is key to controlling fibro. You'll want to do low-impact activities that build your endurance, stretch and strengthen your muscles, and improve your ability to move easily -- like yoga, tai chi, Pilates, and even walking. Exercise also releases endorphins, which fight pain, stress, and feeling down. And it can help you sleep better.

You can try complementary therapies, including massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation, to ease aches and stress, too.

A counselor, therapist, or support group may help you deal with difficult emotions and how to explain to others what's going on with you.

WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by William Blahd, MD on August 26, 2017



American College of Rheumatology: "What Is Fibromyalgia?"

Arthritis Foundation: "Fibromyalgia: What Is It?"

American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association: "What Is Fibromyalgia?"


McIlwain, H. The Fibromyalgia Handbook, Holt, 2007.

Behm, F. BMC Clinical Pathology, 2012.

© 2017 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.