Fibromyalgia: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Health ConditionsFibromyalgia

What Is Fibromyalgia?

What Is Fibromyalgia?
Everyday Health
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Updated on March 16, 2026
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Fibromyalgia is a chronic (long-term) disorder defined by pain and tenderness throughout your body, as well as fatigue. People with fibromyalgia tend to have a heightened sense of pain. This feeling is sometimes described as a constant muscle ache.

Fibromyalgia isn’t a progressive disease, which means it won’t steadily worsen over time. There’s no cure for fibromyalgia, but treatments are available that may help relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is known for causing widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue. It can also cause:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Problems with memory or concentration (“fibro fog”)
  • Dizziness
  • Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
  • Headaches
  • Digestive issues
  • Dry eyes or mouth
Because the symptoms of fibromyalgia overlap with those of many other conditions, diagnosing fibromyalgia can be difficult. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see several doctors and have many medical tests to rule out other conditions before getting a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

Illustrative graphic titled How Fibromyalgia Affects the Body shows Headaches, Brain Fog, Dizziness, Dry Eyes and Mouth, Digestive Problems, Widespread Pain, Insomnia, Fatigue, Numbness or Tingling. Everyday Health logo
You may have any of these symptoms and more if you have fibromyalgia.

Causes and Risk Factors of Fibromyalgia

Researchers don’t know exactly what causes fibromyalgia, but it seems to occur when the body’s central and peripheral nervous systems don’t process pain properly.

Fibromyalgia symptoms often begin after physical or emotional trauma, such as an illness, surgery, an infection, a stressful life event, or an injury. The actual pain receptors in the brain may undergo changes, developing a kind of “memory” that leads them to overreact to pain signals.

Genetics may play a role as well. Fibromyalgia is often seen in families, and having a relative with the disorder puts you at increased risk for it. Having certain medical conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, can also increase your risk of developing fibromyalgia.

To complicate matters, fibromyalgia can also occur seemingly spontaneously, in the absence of trauma.

How Is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?

Historically, fibromyalgia was diagnosed by having a doctor check 18 specific points on the body to see how many of them were painful when pressed firmly. This was called a “tender point” exam.

However, doctors are moving away from the tender point exam in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Instead, diagnosing fibromyalgia is currently done by assessing whether you have widespread, unexplained pain for more than three months.

At present, there are no tests that can be used to definitively diagnose fibromyalgia. However, your doctor may recommend imaging or blood tests to rule out other conditions.

Treatment and Medication Options for Fibromyalgia

Many types of medical specialists treat fibromyalgia. Some family practice doctors or internists (internal medicine specialists) can recognize and manage the condition. You may also see a pain specialist, rheumatologist, or a neurologist.

Fibromyalgia is often best treated with a combination of approaches.

Medication Options

No one medication works for all of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

However, some prescription drugs can help reduce the pain of the condition and improve sleep, which can help with fatigue. To date, four prescription medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifically to treat fibromyalgia:

  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
  • Pregabalin (Lyrica)
  • Milnacipran (Savella)
  • Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride (Tonmya)

Your doctor may also recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, such as:

  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • Ibuprofen (Advil)
  • Naproxen (Aleve)

Complementary Therapies

Along with prescription or over-the-counter medications some therapies can also help, including:

  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy

Lifestyle Changes for Fibromyalgia

There are many lifestyle changes that can help improve fibromyalgia symptoms.

Get Regular Exercise

Physical exercise can be a helpful tool for managing fibromyalgia symptoms. Gentle stretching and aerobic exercise can relieve pain and prevent deconditioning or getting weaker from lack of exercise. It can also improve sleep.

Engaging in exercise may be the last thing on your mind when you hurt all over from fibromyalgia, but in fact, not exercising can make your pain worse. The best approach to being physically active when you have fibromyalgia is to start low and go slow. In other words, start with a few minutes of activity, and gradually increase the amount of time you’re active over several weeks or months to build your strength and endurance.

It’s better to do a little less than you’re capable of than to push too hard and trigger a fibromyalgia flare. Additionally, if you’re having a flare, reduce the time and intensity of your exercise sessions, but don’t be completely inactive.

Follow a Healthy Diet

Like everyone, people with fibromyalgia should eat foods that support their body. The Mediterranean diet, in particular, has been shown to improve some fibromyalgia symptoms.

This means a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, healthy oils, legumes, and low-fat protein like fish and chicken (unless you have food sensitivities to any of these).

It also means cutting back on processed, fatty, and sugary foods.

Discussing your diet with a registered dietitian-nutritionist or your doctor can help you find the best eating pattern for your needs.

How Long Does Fibromyalgia Last?

Although currently available treatments can help to manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia, there’s no cure for the condition.

Many people with fibromyalgia live with widespread pain and fatigue for many years.

While it isn’t a progressive disease, fibromyalgia symptoms can change over time and may worsen for some.

Complications of Fibromyalgia

The constant pain, fatigue, and lack of sleep associated with fibromyalgia can interfere with your daily life.

Many people are unable to function at work or at home and become frustrated because this condition is often misunderstood.

Specific complications of fibromyalgia may include:

  • Depression
  • Lower quality of life
  • Hospitalization

The Takeaway

  • Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition marked by widespread pain, fatigue, and a variety of other symptoms.
  • It isn’t a progressive disease and there isn’t a formal cure, but there are many steps you can take to manage it effectively and improve your quality of life.
  • Discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider, rheumatologist, pain specialist, physical therapist, or counselor.
  • Nonpharmacological approaches — including gentle exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, and stress management — may complement your treatment.

FAQ

Will fibromyalgia ever go away?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, so it doesn’t usually go away. However, symptoms can be managed effectively through medication and lifestyle changes.

Some medications, like antidepressants and antiseizure medicines, can help with fibromyalgia symptoms during a flare-up. Reducing stress, getting plenty of rest, and gently exercising can also help.

Fibromyalgia can affect people of any age, but typically presents between ages 25 and 55.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Bhargava J et al. Fibromyalgia. StatPearls. January 31, 2025.
  2. Fibromyalgia. American College of Rheumatology. February 2025.
  3. Fibromyalgia Symptoms. National Fibromyalgia Association.
  4. Fibromyalgia. Mayo Clinic. April 26, 2025.
  5. Minhas D et al. Fibromyalgia and Centralized Pain in the Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient. Current Opinion in Rheumatology. May 1, 2023.
  6. Fibromyalgia Diagnosis. American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association.
  7. Fibromyalgia Medications. Johns Hopkins Lupus Center.
  8. Hujjat SFZ et al. Tonmya (Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride Sublingual Tablets): First FDA-Approved Therapy for Fibromyalgia in Over 15 Years. Annals of Medicine and Surgery. October 6, 2025.
  9. Fibro Friendly Exercise. American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association.
  10. Casini I et al. A Personalized Mediterranean Diet Improves Pain and Quality of Life in Patients With Fibromyalgia. Pain and Therapy. June 2024.
  11. Fibromyalgia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 25, 2024.
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Beth Biggee, MD

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Beth Biggee, MD, is owner and practitioner of Lifestyle and Integrative Rheumatology, a holistic direct specialty care practice in North Andover, Massachusetts. She offers whole-pe...

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