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Fibromyalgia

An educational overview summarizing the characteristics, cause-related factors, symptoms, diagnosis, management, and interpretation of evidence for fibromyalgia

fibromyalgia · fibromyalgia · fibromyalgia syndrome

MONDO:0005546Public QA completeSource-bound · 4

Disease at a glance

Start with the essentials, then explore the patient and research views.

Public revision · 00749239ca9e

Disease Category
Fibromyalgia is a long-term disease characterized by widespread chronic pain and tenderness, which can be accompanied by fatigue and sleep problems.
Key Mechanism
The exact cause has not been identified, and various factors, such as genetic predisposition and certain diseases that trigger pain, may be involved.
Main Causes · Related Factors
In fibromyalgia, it is known that the way pain is processed differs, which can lead to being more sensitive to or reacting more strongly to pain stimuli.
Representative Patterns
Representative manifestations include continuous widespread pain and stiffness, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, which can be accompanied by declines in thinking, memory, and concentration.
Individual Differences
It can occur in anyone, but is more common in women, people middle-aged and older, those with a family history, or those with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.
Diagnosis
Symptoms persist primarily around chronic pain and fatigue, and may also appear alongside numbness, hypersensitivity, headache/migraine, anxiety/depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and jaw joint problems.
Management
Diagnosis is made by synthesizing medical history, symptom patterns, and physical examination, and by evaluating other diseases that cause similar symptoms.
Treatment/Research Status
There is no specific test to confirm fibromyalgia alone, and since pain and fatigue appear in many different diseases, symptoms should not be dismissed based solely on normal or non-specific test results.
Read Evidence
Management focuses on symptom relief and maintenance of function, combining sleep, physical activity, stress management, activity regulation, and psychosocial support tailored to individual circumstances.
Key Precautions
There is currently no cure, and the purpose of treatment is to reduce symptoms such as pain, sleep disturbances, and fatigue and to assist with daily functioning.

For patients and families

A structured guide for understanding the disease and preparing for clinical conversations.

At a Glance

Fibromyalgia is a long-term disease characterized by widespread chronic pain and tenderness, which can be accompanied by fatigue and sleep problems.

Representative manifestations include continuous widespread pain and stiffness, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, which can be accompanied by declines in thinking, memory, and concentration.

How the disease works

The exact cause has not been identified, and various factors, such as genetic predisposition and certain diseases that trigger pain, may be involved.

In fibromyalgia, it is known that the way pain is processed differs, which can lead to being more sensitive to or reacting more strongly to pain stimuli.

Variations in presentation among individuals

It can occur in anyone, but is more common in women, people middle-aged and older, those with a family history, or those with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

The broad framework of diagnosis and management

Symptoms persist primarily around chronic pain and fatigue, and may also appear alongside numbness, hypersensitivity, headache/migraine, anxiety/depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and jaw joint problems.

Diagnosis is made by synthesizing medical history, symptom patterns, and physical examination, and by evaluating other diseases that cause similar symptoms.

Current status of treatment

There is no specific test to confirm fibromyalgia alone, and since pain and fatigue appear in many different diseases, symptoms should not be dismissed based solely on normal or non-specific test results.

Management focuses on symptom relief and maintenance of function, combining sleep, physical activity, stress management, activity regulation, and psychosocial support tailored to individual circumstances.

There is currently no cure, and the purpose of treatment is to reduce symptoms such as pain, sleep disturbances, and fatigue and to assist with daily functioning.

How to read clinical trials

NCT01321190 on ClinicalTrials.gov is a registration record for a completed observational study related to fibromyalgia, but since results are not provided, it does not demonstrate efficacy, therapeutic superiority, or standard of care.

Points to verify during clinical consultations

In clinical practice, points to discuss include the location and duration of pain, sleep, fatigue, mood, and cognitive symptoms, functional changes, comorbidities and medications, the efficacy and side effects of previous treatments, and activity plans.

Medical Guidance

This material is for educational purposes and is not intended as a guide for individual diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with medical staff if you have symptoms or wish to change your treatment.

Evidence and sources

A trial registry status does not establish efficacy or regulatory approval.