Fibromyalgia Signs and Symptoms

• A syndrome of chronic diffuse pain syndromes that affect muscles, soft tissues (eg tendons, ligaments) and other somatic symptoms
• May be related to alterations in the central nervous system pain processing
• Found in approximately 2% of the population and the prevalence increases with age, most common in women 20-55 years of age

• Etiology of pain is not known; often considered to be psychosomatic or psychogenic in nature

Clinical Manifestations

• Widespread pain - initially localized then later involving multiple sites, predominantly involving muscles, musculoskeletal junctions and joints
• Fatigue
• Disrupted unrefreshed sleep
• Cognitive disturbances - often referred to as “fibro fog”
• Mood disturbances
• Somatic symptoms (eg irritable bowel syndrome, severe menstrual pain, myofascial facial pain)
• Non-pain related symptoms (sexual dysfunction)

Associated Symptoms

• Paresthesias
• Headache - include migraine and muscular or tension type
• Anxiety and depression
• Allergic symptoms and multiple chemical sensitivity
• Weight disturbances
• Pelvic pain, urinary frequency and urgency, and dysmenorrhea
• Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
• Sjogren symptoms
• Raynaud’s phenomenon