Introduction

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of unknown causes that results in chronic, sometimes debilitating, muscle pain and fatigue. Fibromyalgia is also fibrositis or fibromyositis.

General Description of Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Pain. The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is pain. Pain can hurt in one place or all over. Precise locations of pain are called tender points.   The pain of fibromyalgia is often is described as follows:

• Tender point pain occurs in local sites, usually in the neck and shoulders. The pain then spreads out from these areas. The actual pain originates from the muscles. The joints are not affected. There are no lumps or nodes associated with these points and no signs of inflammation such as swelling. Those who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia feel pain in at least 11 of 18 specific tender points. [See section on Diagnosis: Criteria for Classifying Fibromyalgia in this report.]
• Widespread pain is similar to that of arthritis and has been described as stiffness, burning, radiating, and aching. Most patients report feeling some pain all the time, and many describe it as "exhausting." The pain can vary, depending on the time of day, weather changes, physical activity, and the presence of stressful situations. The pain is often more intense after disturbed sleep.

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Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances. Another major complaint is fatigue, which some patients report as being more debilitating than the pain. Sleep disturbances, particularly restless legs syndrome, are also very common. Fatigue and sleep disturbances are, in fact, almost universal in patients with fibromyalgia. If these symptoms are not present, then some experts believe that doctors should seek a diagnosis other than fibromyalgia.