Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a functional somatic medical syndrome with symptoms of chronic widespread pain, accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbance including awakening unrefreshed, and cognitive symptoms. Other symptoms can include headaches, lower abdominal pain or cramps, and depression. People with fibromyalgia can also experience insomnia and extreme sensitivity. The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, with several pathophysiologies proposed. People with fibromyalgia are sometimes accused of imagining their symptoms.
Fibromyalgia was first recognised in the 1950s, and defined in 1990, with updated criteria in 2011, 2016, and 2019.
Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2 to 4% of the population. Women are affected more than men. Rates appear similar across areas of the world and among varied cultures.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia are persistent in most patients.
The treatment of fibromyalgia is symptomatic and multidisciplinary. Aerobic and strengthening exercise are recommended. The use of medication is debated, although antidepressants can improve quality of life. Medications considered helpful include serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants.
The term "fibromyalgia" was derived from Neo-Latin fibro-, meaning "fibrous tissues"; Greek μυο- myo-, "muscle"; and Greek άλγος algos, "pain"; thus, the term literally means "muscle and fibrous connective tissue pain". Thus arguably this term is inaccurate and misleading, as it only reflects a part of the syndrome symptom set.
The term FM is increasingly used.
In the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) fibromyalgia syndrome is an inclusion in the category of "Chronic widespread pain" (CWP) code MG30.01. This is diffuse pain in at least 4 of 5 body regions, and is associated with emotional distress or functional disability.
The FDA includes use in FM when considering drug approvals.
People with fibromyalgia differ in several dimensions: severity, adjustment, symptom profile, psychological profile, and response to treatment. There may be clear clusters of symptom characteristics within fibromyalgia.
FM is within the functional somatic syndrome group of diagnoses.
The defining symptoms of fibromyalgia are chronic widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Other symptoms may include heightened pain in response to tactile pressure (allodynia), cognitive problems, musculoskeletal stiffness, environmental sensitivity, hypervigilance, sexual dysfunction, and visual symptoms. Some people with fibromyalgia experience post-exertional malaise, in which symptoms flare up a day or longer after physical exercise.
Fibromyalgia is predominantly a chronic pain disorder. According to the NHS, widespread pain is one major symptom, which could feel like an ache, a burning sensation, or a sharp, stabbing pain. Patients are also highly sensitive to pain, and the slightest touch can cause pain. Pain also tends to linger for longer when a patient experiences pain. The pain associated with fibromyalgia is often a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months, occurring on both sides of the body and above and below the waist.
Fatigue is one of the defining symptoms of fibromyalgia. Patients may experience physical or mental fatigue. Physical fatigue can present as a feeling of exhaustion after exercise or limitation in daily activities. Fibromyalgia fatigue can range from feeling mildly tired to flu-like exhaustion. Severe fatigue may come on suddenly and make it difficult to be active at all. The impact of fatigue can be severe and pose more of a problem than the pain. Fatigue is a complicated, multifactorial, and vexing symptom that is highly prevalent (76%) and stubbornly persistent, as evidenced by longitudinal studies over 5 years. Fatigue does not improve with sleep or rest. Meds seem to have little impact on FM fatigue.
Sleep problems are a core symptom of fibromyalgia. These include difficulty falling or staying asleep, awakening while sleeping, and waking up feeling unrefreshed. A meta-analysis compared quantitative and qualitative sleep metrics in people with fibromyalgia and healthy people. Individuals with fibromyalgia indicated lower sleep quality and efficiency, longer wake time after sleep start, shorter sleep duration, lighter sleep, and greater trouble initiating sleep when quantitatively assessed; and more difficulty initiating sleep when qualitatively assessed. Sleep problems may contribute to pain by decreased release of IGF-1 and human growth hormone, leading to decreased tissue repair. Improving sleep quality can help people with fibromyalgia manage pain.
Many people with fibromyalgia experience cognitive problems (known as fibrofog or brain fog). One study found that approximately 50% of fibromyalgia patients experienced subjective cognitive dysfunction and that it was associated with higher levels of pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms. The American Pain Society recognizes these problems as a major feature of fibromyalgia. About 75% of people with fibromyalgia report significant problems with concentration, memory, and multitasking. A 2018 meta-analysis found that the largest differences between people with fibromyalgia and healthy subjects were in inhibitory control, memory, and processing speed. It is hypothesized that the chronic pain in fibromyalgia compromises attention systems, resulting in cognitive problems.
People with fibromyalgia may experience hyperalgesia (abnormally increased sensitivity to pain) and allodynia (pain from a stimulus that does not normally elicit pain). FM people may be intolerant to bright lights, loud noises, perfumes, and cold. Not all FM guides include extreme sensitivity as a symptom.
A 2021 review found that fibromyalgia caused ocular discomfort (foreign body sensation and irritation) and visual disturbances (blurred vision). A small study from 2018 found that more than 60% of people with fibromyalgia experienced dry eyes.
Fibromyalgia may affect experience of and response to other conditions, including psoriatic arthritis, PTSD and costochondritis.
Fibromyalgia as a stand-alone diagnosis is uncommon, as most fibromyalgia patients often have other chronic overlapping pain problems or mental disorders.
Fibromyalgia is associated with mental health issues including;
Experiencing pain and limited energy from having fibromyalgia leads to less activity, leading to social isolation and increased stress levels, which tends to cause anxiety and depression. Fibromyalgia is sometimes a co-morbidity for affective mood disorders.
Numerous chronic pain conditions are often comorbid with fibromyalgia. These include
Neurological disorders that have been linked to pain or fibromyalgia include
Costochondritis (a cause of chest pain) may be caused by, or its pain effects exacerbated by, fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia largely overlaps with several syndromes that may share the same pathogenetic mechanisms. These include myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome.
Comorbid fibromyalgia has been reported to occur in 20–30% of individuals with rheumatic diseases. It has been reported in people with noninflammatory musculoskeletal diseases.
The prevalence of fibromyalgia in gastrointestinal disease has been described mostly for celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS and fibromyalgia share similar pathogenic mechanisms, involving immune system mast cells, inflammatory biomarkers, hormones, and neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Changes in the gut biome alter serotonin levels, leading to autonomic nervous system hyperstimulation.
Available data support a potential interplay between obesity and FM-related symptoms.
Other conditions that are associated with fibromyalgia include connective tissue disorders, cardiovascular autonomic abnormalities, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, restless leg syndrome and an overactive bladder.
The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. However, several risk factors, genetic and environmental, have been identified.
Genetics plays a major role in fibromyalgia and may explain up to 50% of the disease's susceptibility. Fibromyalgia is potentially associated with polymorphisms of genes in the serotoninergic, dopaminergic and catecholaminergic systems. Several genes have been suggested as candidates for susceptibility to fibromyalgia. These include SLC6A4, TRPV2, MYT1L, NRXN3, and the 5-HT2A receptor 102T/C polymorphism. The heritability of fibromyalgia is estimated to be higher in patients younger than 50.
Nearly all the genes suggested as potential risk factors for fibromyalgia are associated with neurotransmitters and their receptors. Neuropathic pain and major depressive disorder often co-occur with fibromyalgia — the reason for this comorbidity appears to be due to shared genetic abnormalities, which leads to impairments in monoaminergic, glutamatergic, neurotrophic, opioid and proinflammatory cytokine signaling. In these vulnerable individuals, psychological stress or illness can cause abnormalities in inflammatory and stress pathways that regulate mood and pain. Eventually, a sensitization and kindling effect occurs in certain neurons leading to the establishment of fibromyalgia and sometimes a mood disorder.
FM and reduced pressure pain thresholds aggregate in families, and FM coaggregates with major mood disorder in families.
Stress may be an important precipitating factor in the development of fibromyalgia. A 2021 meta-analysis found psychological trauma to be strongly associated with fibromyalgia. People who suffered abuse in their lifetime were three times more likely to have fibromyalgia; people who suffered medical trauma or other stressors in their lifetime were about twice as likely.
Some authors have proposed that, because exposure to stressful conditions can alter the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the development of fibromyalgia may stem from stress-induced disruption of the HPA axis.
A 2017 study found associations between fibromyalgia and adverse childhood experiences, and a 2009 long-term UK study reported a connection between several adverse events in childhood and chronic widespread pain.
A subset of people with fibromyalgia have prominent underlying psychological factors, such as trauma or psychiatric illness, but there are also a plethora of other important underlying mechanisms.
A 2022 review found that between 6% and 27% of people with FM reported an infectious inciting event (e.g. Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease), with up to 40% describing worsening symptoms after infection.
Other risk markers for fibromyalgia include
Metal-induced allergic inflammation has also been linked with fibromyalgia, especially in response to nickel but also inorganic mercury, cadmium, and lead.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, some have suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may trigger fibromyalgia.
Studies on personality and fibromyalgia have shown inconsistent results. Although some have suggested that fibromyalgia patients are more likely to have specific personality traits, it appears that in comparison to other diseases – when anxiety and depression are statistically controlled for – personality has far less relevance.
The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia has not yet been elucidated and several theories have been suggested. The prevailing view is that fibromyalgia is a condition resulting from an amplification of pain by the central nervous system. Substantial biological findings have backed up this notion, leading to development and adoption of the concept of nociplastic pain.
Fibromyalgia is associated with the deregulation of proteins related to complement and coagulation cascades, as well as to iron metabolism. An excessive oxidative stress response may cause dysregulation of many proteins.
Chronic pain can be divided into three categories. Nociceptive pain is pain caused by inflammation or damage to tissues. Neuropathic pain is pain caused by nerve damage. Nociplastic pain (or central sensitization) is less understood and is the common explanation of the pain experienced in fibromyalgia. Because the three forms of pain can overlap, fibromyalgia patients may experience nociceptive (e.g., rheumatic illnesses) and neuropathic (e.g., small fiber neuropathy) pain, in addition to nociplastic pain.
Fibromyalgia can be viewed as a condition of nociplastic pain. Nociplastic pain is caused by an altered function of pain-related sensory pathways in the periphery and the central nervous system, resulting in hypersensitivity.
Nociplastic pain has been referred to as "Nociplastic pain syndrome" because it is coupled with other symptoms including fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive disturbance, hypersensitivity to environmental stimuli, anxiety, and depression. Nociplastic pain states can be triggered by a variety of stressors such as trauma, infections and chronic stressors. A 2014 review said that symptoms such as fatigue, sleep, memory and mood problems, and sensitivity to non-painful sensory stimuli were also CNS-driven symptoms that were inherent to nociplastic pain.
Nociplastic pain may caused by either (1) increased processing of pain stimuli or (2) decreased suppression of pain stimuli at several levels in the nervous system, or both.
An alternative hypothesis to nociplastic pain views fibromyalgia as a stress-related dysautonomia with neuropathic pain features. This view highlights the role of autonomic and peripheral nociceptive nervous systems in the generation of widespread pain, fatigue, and insomnia. The description of small fiber neuropathy in a subgroup of fibromyalgia patients supports the disease neuropathic-autonomic underpinning. However, others claim that small fiber neuropathy occurs only in small groups of those with fibromyalgia.
Some suggest that fibromyalgia is caused or maintained by a decreased vagal tone, which is indicated by low levels of heart rate variability, signaling a heightened sympathetic response. Accordingly, several studies show that clinical improvement is associated with an increase in heart rate variability. Some examples of interventions that increase the heart rate variability and vagal tone are meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and exercise.
In 2023 the Fibromyalgia: Imbalance of Threat and Soothing Systems (FITSS) model was suggested as a working hypothesis. According to the FITSS model, the salience network (also known as the midcingulo-insular network) may remain continuously hyperactive due to an imbalance in emotion regulation, which is reflected by an overactive "threat" system and an underactive "soothing" system. This hyperactivation, along with other mechanisms, may contribute to fibromyalgia.
The higher than average incidence of fibromyalgia in autistic people may be due to autistic burnout and other autistic loading reducing salience network capacity.
Some neurochemical abnormalities that occur in fibromyalgia also regulate mood, sleep, and energy, thus explaining why mood, sleep, and fatigue problems are commonly co-morbid with fibromyalgia. Serotonin is the most widely studied neurotransmitter in fibromyalgia. It is hypothesized that an imbalance in the serotoninergic system may lead to the development of fibromyalgia. There is also some data that suggests altered dopaminergic and noradrenergic signaling in fibromyalgia. Supporting the monoamine related theories is the efficacy of monoaminergic antidepressants in fibromyalgia. Glutamate/creatine ratios within the bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex were found to be significantly higher in fibromyalgia patients than in controls and may disrupt glutamate neurotransmission.
Neuroimaging studies have observed that fibromyalgia patients have increased grey matter in the right postcentral gyrus and left angular gyrus, and decreased grey matter in the right cingulate gyrus, right paracingulate gyrus, left cerebellum, and left gyrus rectus. These regions are associated with affective and cognitive functions and with motor adaptations to pain processing. Other studies have documented decreased grey matter of the default mode network in people with fibromyalgia. These deficits are associated with pain processing.
Studies on the neuroendocrine system and HPA axis in fibromyalgia have been inconsistent. The depressed function of the HPA axis results in adrenal insufficiency and potentially chronic fatigue.
One study found fibromyalgia patients exhibited higher plasma cortisol, more extreme peaks and troughs, and higher rates of dexamethasone non-suppression. However, other studies have only found correlations between a higher cortisol awakening response and pain, and not any other abnormalities in cortisol. Increased baseline ACTH and increase in response to stress have been observed, and hypothesized to be a result of decreased negative feedback.
Pro-oxidative processes correlate with pain in fibromyalgia patients. Decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, increased superoxide activity, and increased lipid peroxidation production are observed. The high proportion of lipids in the central nervous system (CNS) makes the CNS especially vulnerable to free radical damage. Levels of lipid peroxidation products correlate with fibromyalgia symptoms.
Inflammation has been suggested to have a role in the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia tend to have higher levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, and IL-8. There are also increased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 receptor antagonist. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines may increase sensitivity to pain, and contribute to mood problems. Anti-inflammatory interleukins such as IL-10 have also been associated with fibromyalgia.
Neurogenic inflammation has been proposed as a contributing factor to fibromyalgia.
A repeated observation shows that autoimmunity triggers, such as traumas and infections, are among the most frequent events preceding the onset of fibromyalgia. A 2021 study indicated that fibromyalgia may be an autoimmune condition. A 2024 discussion concluded that the complexity of FM may mean both autoimmune and non-autoimmune mechanisms occur in FM, possibly in different subgroups of FM.
Though there is a lack of evidence in this area, it is hypothesized that gut bacteria may play a role in fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia are more likely to show dysbiosis, a decrease in microbiota diversity. There is a bidirectional interplay between the gut and the nervous system. Therefore, the gut can affect the nervous system, but the nervous system can also affect the gut. Neurological effects mediated via the autonomic nervous system as well as the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis are directed to intestinal functional effector cells, which in turn are under the influence of the gut microbiota.
The gut-brain axis, which connects the gut microbiome to the brain via the enteric nervous system, is another area of research. Fibromyalgia patients have less varied gut flora and altered serum metabolome levels of glutamate and serine, implying abnormalities in neurotransmitter metabolism.
Patients with fibromyalgia experience exercise intolerance. Primary fibromyalgia is idiopathic (cause unknown), whereas secondary fibromyalgia is in association with a known underlying disorder (such as Ankylosing spondylitis). In patients with primary fibromyalgia, studies have found disruptions in energy metabolism within skeletal muscle, including: decreased levels of ATP, ADP, and phosphocreatine, and increased levels of AMP and creatine (use of creatine kinase and myokinase in the phosphagen system due to low ATP); increased pyruvate; as well as reduced capillary density impairing oxygen delivery to the muscle cells for oxidative phosphorylation.
Despite being a small percentage of the body's total mass, the brain consumes approximately 20% of the energy produced by the body. Parts of the brain—the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), thalamus, and insula—were studied using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in patients with fibromyalgia and compared to healthy controls. The fibromyalgia patients were found to have lower phosphocreatine (PCr) and lower creatine (Cr) than the control group. Phosphocreatine is used in the phosphagen system to produce ATP. The study found that low creatine and low phosphocreatine were associated with high pain, and that high stress, including PTSD, may contribute to these low levels.
Low phosphocreatine levels may disrupt glutamate neurotransmission within the brains of those with fibromyalgia. Glutamate/creatine ratios within the bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex were found to be significantly higher than in controls.
A 2006 study showed that people diagnosed as having FM had reported higher rates of illness and health care resource use for at least 10 years prior to their diagnosis.
Diagnosis of fibromyalgia is hampered by the lack of any single pathological feature, laboratory finding, or biomarker. In most cases, people with fibromyalgia symptoms may have laboratory test results that appear normal and many of their symptoms may mimic those of other rheumatic conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis.
Nonetheless specific diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia have evolved.
The 2016 diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology require all of the following:
Among diagnosis methods in the US, the ACR 2016 criteria have been found to most accurately match pre-existing FM diagnoses, and have been judged as the best diagnosis criteria available. The UK RCP also recommends these criteria for FM diagnosis. A similar diagnostic approach is taken in Germany.
Some people can move into and out of an FM diagnostic level over time as their symptoms vary.
In 2019, the American Pain Society in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration developed a new diagnostic system using five dimensions.
In accordance to the 2016 diagnosis guidelines, the presence of another medical condition or pain disorder does not rule out the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Nonetheless, other conditions should be ruled out as the main explaining reason for the patient's symptoms.
This diagnosis criteria set was influenced by the theory of central pain processing.
Some research has suggested using a multidimensional approach taking into consideration somatic symptoms, psychological factors, psychosocial stressors and subjective belief regarding fibromyalgia. These symptoms can be assessed by several self-report questionnaires.
The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) assess three domains: function, overall impact and symptoms. It is considered a useful measure of disease impact.
Other measures include the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Multiple Ability Self-Report Questionnaire, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale.
As of 2016 the ACR criteria include that a diagnosis of fibromyalgia does not exclude the presence of other clinically important illnesses.
As of 2009, it was judged that as many as two out of every three people who were told that they have fibromyalgia by a rheumatologist may have had some other medical condition instead. Fibromyalgia could be misdiagnosed in cases of early undiagnosed rheumatic diseases such as preclinical rheumatoid arthritis, early stages of inflammatory spondyloarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, myofascial pain syndromes and hypermobility syndrome. Neurological diseases with an important pain component include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and peripheral neuropathy. Other medical illnesses that should be ruled out are endocrine disease or metabolic disorder (hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, vitamin D deficiency), gastro-intestinal disease (celiac and non-celiac gluten sensitivity), infectious diseases (Lyme disease, hepatitis C and immunodeficiency disease) and the early stages of a malignancy such as multiple myeloma, metastatic cancer and leukemia/lymphoma. Other systemic, inflammatory, endocrine, rheumatic, infectious, and neurologic disorders may cause fibromyalgia-like symptoms, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, psoriatic-related polyenthesitis, a nerve compression syndrome (such as carpal tunnel syndrome), and myasthenia gravis. In addition, several medications can also evoke pain (statins, aromatase inhibitors, bisphosphonates, and opioids).
The differential diagnosis is made during the evaluation based on the person's medical history, physical examination, and laboratory investigations. The patient's history can provide some hints to a fibromyalgia diagnosis. A family history of early chronic pain, a childhood history of pain, an emergence of broad pain following physical and/or psychosocial stress, a general hypersensitivity to touch, smell, noise, taste, hypervigilance, and various somatic symptoms (gastrointestinal, urology, gynecology, neurology), are all examples of these signals.
Extensive laboratory tests are usually unnecessary in the differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Common tests that are conducted include complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and thyroid function test.
FM global prevalence has been estimated at around 2.7%. German Federal Ministry of Health guidance is that about 2% of adults in Germany suffer from fibromyalgia. A 2017 review found that fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 1.8% of the population. Information about FM prevalence in many parts of the world is limited by lack of information and by differing diagnosis standards.
Historically diagnosed FM cases have been between 80-96% female. As a result historically most FM research has focused on women.
However a 2018 review said that males make up 40% of people with fibromyalgia symptoms in the general population. As of 2024, estimates are that female/male split within fibromyalgia incidence is 60/40.
Men have experienced difficulties in accepting and communicating about FM as it was sometimes seen as a "woman's disease" and could thus impact their self-image.
There has been debate about whether men experience differences in FM symptoms compared to women. Two small studies found that males with FM had lower intensity of FM than females with FM, but n were small and differences may be subjective. Evidence suggests that men are generally less sensitive to pain than women, perhaps due to differences in brain activity and structure.
These factors may have led to past under-diagnosis of FM in men.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia were regarded as persistent in nearly all patients. The German Federal Ministry of Health guidance on FM refers to a longitudinal study (n = 1555) in which 10% of patients had substantial improvement in pain, 15% had moderate improvement, and 39% worsened. FM severity worsened in 36%. No average meaningful change in symptoms was found, and high levels of self-reported symptoms and distress continued for most patients.
Levels of pain can vary significantly over time, from severe pain to almost symptom-free phases.
A 2023 meta-analysis found that FM people were at a standardized mortality ratio (i.e. observed mortality rates in the study population, compared to expected levels based on a standard population) of 3.37 (95% CI 1.52 to 7.50) for mortality due to suicide. A 2021 review found that people with FM had suicide ideation OR 9.12, suicide attempt OR 3.12, suicide risk OR 36.77 and suicide events HR 1.38, but commented that FM impact could not be separated from the effects of comorbidities and sleep deprivation. A 2020 review found that FM was associated with significantly higher risks for suicidal ideations, suicide attempts and death by suicide compared to the general population.
A meta-analysis found that FM people were at a standardized mortality ratio of 1.95 (95% CI 0.97 to 3.92) due to accidents, and 1.66 (95% CI 1.15 to 2.38) due to infections. SMR due to cancer was a decreased rate of 0.82 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.97), perhaps because greater interaction with the health systems of people with FM leads to earlier cancer detection. The studies showed significant heterogeneity.
Recommended approaches typically focus on symptom management and on improving patient quality of life. A personalized, multidisciplinary approach to treatment that includes pharmacologic considerations and begins with effective patient education is most beneficial. Self-help can play a role.
Several associations have published guidelines for the diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia. These include:
German guidance includes that people with FM differ significantly in what they find beneficial. Attitudes encouraged are to focus on coping with symptoms (instead of fighting the syndrome), on aspects of life which are important to them, on ceasing perfectionism, and on establishing and respecting their own limits.
Aspects of coping with FM include achieving acceptance of FM, and making adjustments to lifestyle.
In 2017 exercise was the only fibromyalgia treatment given a strong recommendation by the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR). There is evidence indicating that exercise improves fitness, sleep and quality of life and may reduce pain and fatigue for people with fibromyalgia. Exercise has an added benefit in that it does not cause any serious adverse effects.
There are a number of hypothesized biological mechanisms for exercise benefits in FM. Exercise may improve pain modulation through serotoninergic pathways. It may reduce pain by altering the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and reducing cortisol levels. It also has anti-inflammatory effects that may improve fibromyalgia symptoms. Aerobic exercise can improve muscle metabolism and pain through mitochondrial pathways.
When different exercise programs are compared, aerobic exercise is capable of modulating the autonomic nervous function of fibromyalgia patients, whereas resistance exercise does not show such effects. A 2022 meta-analysis found that aerobic training showed a high effect size while strength interventions showed moderate effects. Meditative exercise seems preferable for improving sleep, with no differences between resistance, flexibility, and aquatic exercise in their favorable effects on fatigue.
Despite its benefits, exercise is a challenge for patients with fibromyalgia, due to the chronic fatigue and pain they experience. They may also feel that those who recommend or deliver exercise interventions do not fully understand the possible negative impact of exercise on fatigue and pain. This is especially true for non-personalized exercise programs. Adherence is higher when the exercise program is recommended by doctors or supervised by nurses.
Sufferers perceive exercise as more effortful than healthy adults. Depression and higher pain intensity serve as barriers to physical activity. Exercise may intimidate them, in fear that they will be asked to do more than they are capable of.
A recommended approach to a graded exercise program begins with small, frequent exercise periods and builds up from there. In order to reduce pain the use of an exercise program of 13 to 24 weeks is recommended, with each session lasting 30 to 60 minutes.
Aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia patients is the most investigated type of exercise. It includes activities such as walking, jogging, spinning, cycling, dancing and exercising in water, with walking being named as one of the best methods. A 2017 Cochrane summary concluded that aerobic exercise probably improves quality of life, slightly decreases pain and improves physical function and makes no difference in fatigue and stiffness. A 2019 meta-analysis showed that exercising aerobically can reduce autonomic dysfunction and increase heart rate variability. This happens when patients exercise at least twice a week, for 45–60 minutes at about 60%-80% of the maximum heart rate. Aerobic exercise also decreases anxiety and depression and improves the quality of life.
Combinations of different exercises such as flexibility and aerobic training may improve stiffness. However, the evidence is of low-quality. It is not clear if flexibility training alone compared to aerobic training is effective at reducing symptoms or has any adverse effects.
In resistance exercise, participants apply a load to their body using weights, elastic bands, body weight, or other measures.
Two meta-analyses on fibromyalgia have shown that resistance training can reduce anxiety and depression, one found that it decreases pain and disease severity and one found that it improves quality of life. Resistance training may also improve sleep, with a greater effect than that of flexibility training and a similar effect to that of aerobic exercise.
The dosage of resistance exercise for women with fibromyalgia was studied in a 2022 meta-analysis. Effective dosages were found when exercising twice a week, for at least eight weeks. Symptom improvement was found for even low dosages such as 1–2 sets of 4–20 repetitions. Most studies use moderate exercise intensity of 40% to 85% one-repetition maximum. This intensity was effective in reducing pain. Some treatment regimes increase the intensity over time (from 40% to 80%), whereas others increase it when the participant can perform 12 repetitions. High-intensity exercises may cause lower treatment adherence.
A 2021 meta-analysis found that meditative exercise programs (tai chi, yoga, qigong) were superior to other forms of exercise (aerobic, flexibility, resistance) in improving sleep quality. Other meta-analyses also found positive effects of tai chi for sleep, fibromyalgia symptoms, and pain, fatigue, depression and quality of life. These tai chi interventions frequently included 1-hour sessions practiced 1-3 times a week for 12 weeks. Meditative exercises, as a whole, may achieve desired outcomes through biological mechanisms such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, reduction in sympathetic activity and modulation of glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity.
Several reviews and meta-analyses suggest that aquatic training can improve symptoms and wellness in people with fibromyalgia. It is recommended to practice aquatic therapy at least twice a week using a low to moderate intensity. However, aquatic therapy does not appear to be superior to other types of exercise.
Limited evidence suggests vibration training in combination with exercise may improve pain, fatigue, and stiffness.
Studies have shown that not being overweight is helpful for reducing FM impact.
A 2023 review found that limited evidence existed to recommend any specific diet to people with FM.
However a 2022 review indicated that weight control, modified high-antioxidant diets, and nutritional supplementation were beneficial in alleviating symptoms in patients with FM.
The consumption of fruits and vegetables, low-processed foods, high-quality proteins, and healthy fats may have some benefits. Low-quality evidence found some benefits of a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Although dietary supplements have been widely investigated concerning fibromyalgia, most of the evidence, as of 2021, is of poor quality. It is therefore difficult to reach conclusive recommendations. It appears that Q10 coenzyme and vitamin D supplements can reduce pain and improve quality of life for fibromyalgia patients. Q10 coenzyme has beneficial effects on fatigue in fibromyalgia patients, with most studies using doses of 300 mg per day for three months. Q10 coenzyme is hypothesized to improve mitochondrial activity and decrease inflammation. Vitamin D has been shown to improve some fibromyalgia measures, but not others.
Due to the uncertainty about the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia, current treatment approaches focus on management of symptoms to improve quality of life, using integrated pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. There is no single intervention shown to be effective for all patients. In a 2020 Cochrane review, cognitive behavioral therapy was found to have a small but beneficial effect for reducing pain and distress but adverse events were not well evaluated. Cognitive behavioral therapy and related psychological and behavioural therapies have a small to moderate effect in reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia. Effect sizes tend to be small when cognitive behavioral therapy is used as a stand-alone treatment for patients with fibromyalgia, but these improve significantly when it is part of a wider multidisciplinary treatment program.
A 2010 systematic review of 14 studies reported that cognitive behavioral therapy improves self-efficacy or coping with pain and reduces the number of physician visits at post-treatment, but has no significant effect on pain, fatigue, sleep, or health-related quality of life at post-treatment or follow-up. Depressed mood was also improved but this could not be distinguished from some risks of bias. A 2022 meta-analysis found that cognitive behavioral therapy reduces insomnia in people with chronic pain, including people with fibromyalgia. Acceptance and commitment therapy, a type of cognitive behavioral therapy, has also proven effective.
Patient education is recommended by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) as an important treatment component. As of 2022, there is only low-quality evidence showing that patient education can decrease pain and fibromyalgia impact.
Sleep hygiene interventions show low effectiveness in improving insomnia in people with chronic pain.
Patients with chronic pain, including those with fibromyalgia, can benefit from techniques such as manual therapy, cryotherapy, and balneotherapy. These can lessen the experience of chronic pain and increase both the amount and quality of sleep. Patients' quality of life is also improved by decreasing pain mechanisms and increasing sleep quality, particularly during the REM phase, sleep efficiency, and alertness.
A 2021 meta-analysis concluded that massage and myofascial release diminish pain in the medium term. As of 2015, there was no good evidence for the benefit of other mind-body therapies.
A 2013 review found moderate-level evidence on the usage of acupuncture with electrical stimulation for improvement of overall well-being. Acupuncture alone will not have the same effects, but will enhance the influence of exercise and medication in pain and stiffness.
Several forms of electrical neuromodulation, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have been used to treat fibromyalgia. In general, they help reduce pain and depression and improve functioning.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is the delivery of pulsed electrical currents to the skin to stimulate peripheral nerves. TENS is widely used to treat pain and is considered to be a low-cost, safe, and self-administered treatment. As such, it is commonly recommended by clinicians to people suffering from pain. On 2019, an overview of eight Cochrane reviews was conducted, covering 51 TENS-related randomized controlled trials. The review concluded that the quality of the available evidence was insufficient to make any recommendations. A later review concluded that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation may diminish pain in the short term, but there was uncertainty about the relevance of the results.
Preliminary findings suggest that electrically stimulating the vagus nerve through an implanted device can potentially reduce fibromyalgia symptoms. However, there may be adverse reactions to the procedure.
Noninvasive brain stimulation includes methods such as transcranial direct current stimulation and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Both methods have been found to improve pain scores in neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.
A 2023 meta-analysis of 16 RCTs found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of over 4 weeks can decrease pain in patients with fibromyalgia.
A 2021 meta-analysis of multiple intervention types concluded that magnetic field therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation may diminish pain in the short-term, but conveyed an uncertainty about the relevance of the result. Several 2022 meta-analyses focusing on transcranial magnetic stimulation found positive effects on fibromyalgia. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improved pain in the short-term and quality of life after 5–12 weeks. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation did not improve anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Transcranial magnetic stimulation to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was also ineffective.
A systematic review of EEG neurofeedback for the treatment of fibromyalgia found most treatments showed significant improvements of the main symptoms of the disease. However, the protocols were so different, and the lack of controls or randomization impede drawing conclusive results.
A 2024 review found that currently available pharmacological options appeared to be limited in efficacy for FM.
A few countries have published guidelines for the management and treatment of fibromyalgia. As of 2018, all of them emphasize that medications are not required. However, medications, though imperfect, continue to be a component of treatment strategy for fibromyalgia patients. The German guidelines outlined parameters for drug therapy termination and recommended considering drug holidays after six months.
Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved pregabalin (an anticonvulsant) and duloxetine (a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) for the management of fibromyalgia. The FDA also approved milnacipran (another serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), but the European Medicines Agency refused marketing authority.
The medications duloxetine, milnacipran, or pregabalin have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of fibromyalgia.
Antidepressants are one of the common drugs for fibromyalgia. A 2021 meta-analysis concluded that antidepressants can improve the quality of life for fibromyalgia patients in the medium term. For most people with fibromyalgia, the potential benefits of treatment with the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors duloxetine and milnacipran and the tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, are outweighed by significant adverse effects (more adverse effects than benefits), however, a small number of people may experience relief from symptoms with these medications.
The length of time that antidepressant medications take to be effective at reducing symptoms can vary. Any potential benefits from the antidepressant amitriptyline may take up to three months to take effect and it may take between three and six months for duloxetine, milnacipran, and pregabalin to be effective at improving symptoms. Some medications have the potential to cause withdrawal symptoms when stopping so gradual discontinuation may be warranted particularly for antidepressants and pregabalin.
A 2023 meta-analysis found that duloxetine improved fibromyalgia symptoms, regardless of the dosage. SSRIs may be also be used to treat depression in people diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
While amitriptyline has been used as a first-line treatment, the quality of evidence to support this use and comparison between different medications is poor. Very weak evidence indicates that a very small number of people may benefit from treatment with the tetracyclic antidepressant mirtazapine, however, for most, the potential benefits are not great and the risk of adverse effects and potential harm outweighs any potential for benefit. As of 2018, the only tricyclic antidepressant that has sufficient evidence is amitriptyline.
Tentative evidence suggests that monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as pirlindole and moclobemide are moderately effective for reducing pain. Very low-quality evidence suggests pirlindole as more effective at treating pain than moclobemide. Side effects of MAOIs may include nausea and vomiting.
Central nervous system depressants include drug categories such as sedatives, tranquilizers, and hypnotics. A 2021 meta-analysis concluded that such drugs can improve the quality of life for fibromyalgia patients in the medium term.
The anti-convulsant medications gabapentin and pregabalin may be used to reduce pain. There is tentative evidence that gabapentin may be of benefit for pain in about 18% of people with fibromyalgia. It is not possible to predict who will benefit, and a short trial may be recommended to test the effectiveness of this type of medication. Approximately 6/10 people who take gabapentin to treat pain related to fibromyalgia experience unpleasant side effects such as dizziness, abnormal walking, or swelling from fluid accumulation. Pregabalin demonstrates a benefit in about 9% of people. Pregabalin reduced time off work by 0.2 days per week.
Cannabinoids may have some benefits for people with fibromyalgia. However, as of 2022, the data on the topic is still limited. Cannabinoids may also have adverse effects and may negatively interact with common rheumatological drugs.
The use of opioids is controversial. As of 2015, no opioid is approved for use in this condition by the FDA. A 2016 Cochrane review concluded that there is no good evidence to support or refute the suggestion that oxycodone, alone or in combination with naloxone, reduces pain in fibromyalgia. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) in 2014 stated that there was a lack of evidence for opioids for most people. The Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany in 2012 made no recommendation either for or against the use of weak opioids because of the limited amount of scientific research addressing their use in the treatment of fibromyalgia. They strongly advise against using strong opioids. The Canadian Pain Society in 2012 said that opioids, starting with a weak opioid like tramadol, can be tried but only for people with moderate to severe pain that is not well-controlled by non-opioid painkillers. They discourage the use of strong opioids and only recommend using them while they continue to provide improved pain and functioning. Healthcare providers should monitor people on opioids for ongoing effectiveness, side effects, and possible unwanted drug behaviors.
A 2015 review found fair evidence to support tramadol use if other medications do not work. A 2018 review found little evidence to support the combination of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and tramadol over a single medication. Goldenberg et al suggest that tramadol works via its serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition, rather than via its action as a weak opioid receptor agonist.
A large study of US people with fibromyalgia found that between 2005 and 2007 37.4% were prescribed short-acting opioids and 8.3% were prescribed long-acting opioids, with around 10% of those prescribed short-acting opioids using tramadol; and a 2011 Canadian study of 457 people with fibromyalgia found 32% used opioids and two-thirds of those used strong opioids.
Capsaicin has been suggested as a topical pain reliever. Preliminary results suggest that it may improve sleep quality and fatigue, but there are not enough studies to support this claim.
Sodium oxybate increases growth hormone production levels through increased slow-wave sleep patterns. However, this medication was not approved by the FDA for the indication for use in people with fibromyalgia due to the concern for abuse.
The muscle relaxants cyclobenzaprine, carisoprodol with acetaminophen and caffeine, and tizanidine are sometimes used to treat fibromyalgia; however, as of 2015 they are not approved for this use in the United States. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is not recommended as first-line therapy. Moreover, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cannot be considered as useful in the management of fibromyalgia.
Very low-quality evidence suggests quetiapine may be effective in fibromyalgia.
No high-quality evidence exists that suggests synthetic THC (nabilone) helps with fibromyalgia.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has shown beneficial effects in treating chronic pain by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. However, treating fibromyalgia with hyperbaric oxygen therapy is still controversial, in light of the scarcity of large-scale clinical trials. In addition, hyperbaric oxygen therapy raises safety concerns due to the oxidative damage that may follow it.
An evaluation of nine trials with 288 patients in total found that HBOT was more effective at relieving fibromyalgia patients' pain than the control intervention. In most of the trials, HBOT improved sleep disturbance, multidimensional function, patient satisfaction, and tender spots. Negative outcomes (predominantly mild barotrauma (air pressure effect on ear or lung) that could be resolved spontaneously) were experienced by 24% of the patients, but they were not prevented from completing the treatment regimen, and no serious side effects, complications or deaths were reported.
A 2025 review found that, for enhancing sleep quality in FM, that CBT for insomnia had promise, and that meds such as pregabalin might be beneficial but had potential risks.
In a UK survey FM people reported feelings that FM was 'a troublesome label', 'a heavy burden' and 'a low priority'.
People with fibromyalgia generally have higher healthcare costs and utilization rates. A review of 36 studies found that fibromyalgia causes a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. Annual costs per patient were estimated to be up to $35,920 in the US and $8,504 in Europe.
Well-known people with FM include
Chronic widespread pain had been described in the literature in the 19th century. Fibromyalgia was first recognised in the 1950s.
Many names, including muscular rheumatism, fibrositis, psychogenic rheumatism, and neurasthenia had been applied historically to symptoms resembling those of fibromyalgia. The term fibromyalgia was first used in 1976, when Phillip Kahler Hench used it to describe widespread pain symptoms, and it was used by researcher Mohammed Yunus in a scientific publication in 1981.
A 1977 paper on fibrositis by Smythe and Moldofsky was important in the development of the fibromyalgia concept. The first clinical, controlled study of the characteristics of fibromyalgia syndrome was published in 1981, providing support for symptom associations. In 1984, an interconnection between fibromyalgia syndrome and other similar conditions was proposed, and in 1986, trials of the first proposed medications for fibromyalgia were published.
A 1987 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association used the term 'fibromyalgia syndrome', while saying it was a "controversial condition". The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published its first classification criteria for fibromyalgia in 1990. Later revisions were made in 2010, 2016, and 2019.
In the past fibromyalgia was a disputed diagnosis. Rheumatologist Frederick Wolfe, lead author of the 1990 paper that first defined the diagnostic guidelines for fibromyalgia, stated in 2008 that he believed it "clearly" not to be a disease but instead a physical response to depression and stress. In 2013, Wolfe added that its causes "are controversial in a sense" and "there are many factors that produce these symptoms – some are psychological and some are physical and it does exist on a continuum". Some members of the medical community did not consider fibromyalgia a disease because of a lack of abnormalities on physical examination and the absence of objective diagnostic tests.
In the past, some psychiatrists viewed fibromyalgia as a type of affective disorder, or a somatic symptom disorder. These controversies did not engage healthcare specialists alone; some patients objected to fibromyalgia being described in purely somatic terms.
As of 2022, neurologists and pain specialists tended to view fibromyalgia as a real pathology. It is mostly seen as due to dysfunction of muscles and connective tissue as well as functional abnormalities in the central nervous system. Rheumatologists define the syndrome in the context of "central sensitization" – heightened brain response to normal stimuli in the absence of disorders of the muscles, joints, or connective tissues. Because of this symptomatic overlap, some researchers have proposed that fibromyalgia and other analogous syndromes be classified together as central sensitivity syndromes.
The first widely accepted set of classification criteria for research purposes was elaborated in 1990 by the Multicenter Criteria Committee of the American College of Rheumatology. These criteria, which are known informally as "the ACR 1990", defined fibromyalgia according to the presence of the following criteria:
The ACR criteria for the classification of patients were originally established as inclusion criteria for research purposes and were not intended for clinical diagnosis but have later become the de facto diagnostic criteria in the clinical setting. A controversial study was done by a legal team looking to prove their client's disability based primarily on tender points and their widespread presence in non-litigious communities prompted the lead author of the ACR criteria to question now the useful validity of tender points in diagnosis. Use of control points has been used to cast doubt on whether a person has fibromyalgia, and to claim the person is malingering.
In 2010, the American College of Rheumatology approved provisional revised diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia that eliminated the 1990 criteria's reliance on tender point testing. The revised criteria used a widespread pain index (WPI) and symptom severity scale (SSS) in place of tender point testing under the 1990 criteria. The WPI counts up to 19 general body areas in which the person has experienced pain in the preceding week. The SSS rates the severity of the person's fatigue, unrefreshed waking, cognitive symptoms, and general somatic symptoms, each on a scale from 0 to 3, for a composite score ranging from 0 to 12. The revised criteria for diagnosis were: