The Facts

• According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors are unsure of the exact cause of fibromyalgia; however, researchers do believe a variety of factors work together to create the condition. This includes family history, history of infections and emotional or physical trauma. Mayo Clinic researchers believe that fibromyalgia may develop as a result of frequent nerve stimulation causing neurotransmitters (the brain chemicals which signal pain) to increase while the pain receptors in your brain become hypersensitive.
  
  According to the American College of Rheumatology, approximately 2 percent of the U.S. population is affected by fibromyalgia. Women are more frequently diagnosed with the condition.
  
  

Symptoms

• Fibromyalgia symptoms can vary in accordance with weather conditions, physical activity and stress. According to the Mayo Clinic, fibromyalgia pain is usually described as a dull aching sensation that comes from the muscles. The pain occurs both above and below your waist and on both sides of your body. Common tender points include the inner knees, outer elbows, upper chest, back of your head, top of your shoulders, sides of your hips, between your shoulder blades, upper hip area and the front sides of the neck.
  
  

Additional Conditions Linked to Fibromyalgia

• The condition is often accompanied by sleep problems, headaches, fatigue, memory problems, cognitive difficulties, pain in the pelvis, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain, sensitivity to temperatures, sensitivity to noise and anxiety. Many fibromyalgia patients also have rheumatoid arthritis, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), lupus, osteoarthritis, restless leg syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis and depression.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Diagnosing fibromyalgia is dependent on two criteria that have been established by the American College of Rheumatology. First, you must be experiencing widespread pain which lasts three months or longer. Second, you must have at least 11 tender points (there are 18 possible tender points on the body).
  
  The pain and tenderness that characterize fibromyalgia can also be related to other disorders (like polymyalgia rheumatica and hypothyroidism). Doctors will need to perform blood tests to rule these conditions out.
  
  Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus also can create widespread pain; however, they are characterized by inflammation in the tissues and joints whereas fibromyalgia is muscular.
  
  

Treatment

• Fibromyalgia treatment usually consists of a combination of self-care and medication to help reduce your symptoms and improve your overall health.
  
  Medications may reduce your pain and help you to sleep better. Analgesics like Tylenol, tramadol or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or aspirin. Your doctor may also prescribe an antidepressant to help combat pain, fatigue, depression and sleeplessness. Anti-seizure medications like gabapentin and pregabalin have been helpful in reducing pain.
  
  Physical therapy can help to increase your muscle balance and lessen pain while counseling can help you to deal with stressful situations and better manage your condition.