Arthritis Foundation Logo
Español ES
Your Local Area
Sign In
Popular Search
arthritis gout home ja
Suggested Content
Article
Rx for Access
Online resource that helps patients better understand health coverage options, choose the right coverage, manage the denial process and reduce health care costs.
Article
Do I Have Arthritis?
Think you may have arthritis? Learn about the four most common warning signs.
Article
Gout
Gout is an inflammatory type of arthritis that can come and go.
Arthritis Foundation Logo
  • About Arthritis
    Common Topics
    woman holding her wristWhat Is Arthritis?

    Arthritis is not one disease. Learn about the different types of arthritis, how they differ and why it’s important.

    microbesInflammation and the Immune System

    Body-wide inflammation is at the root of most chronic diseases — and you may have more control over it than you think.

    Patient talking with nurseNewly Diagnosed With Arthritis

    A new arthritis diagnosis can be overwhelming. These tips can help.

    • Understanding Arthritis
    • Arthritis Types
    • More About Arthritis
    • Where it Hurts
    • Related Conditions
  • Treatments
    Common Topics
    Managing Arthritis Care Costs

    Learn the basics about health care costs and financial tools available to you.

    About Biosimilars

    More of these biologic medications will soon be available. Learn what they are, whether you should consider them and what to ask your doctor.

    Man with head in hands on bedWebinar: Arthritis Fatigue Causes and Solutions

    Learn the various causes of arthritis-related fatigue and strategies to combat weariness.

    • Treatment Plan
    • Drug Guide
    • Joint Surgery
    • Complementary Therapies
    • Insurance Management
  • Healthy Living
    Common Topics
    Woman with upset stomachMicrobiome, Gut Health & Arthritis

    Microbiome, microbes, microorganisms – these terms may be confusing, but the types of bacteria living in and on our bodies can impact arthritis. Learn what helps or harms the microbiome and the health of your gut and discover dietary changes that can make a difference. This episode was originally released on January 19, 2021.

    woman consoling anotherArthritis and Mental Health

    Learn about the connection between arthritis, depression and anxiety and how these conditions can make your arthritis worse.

    Woman ExercisingYour Exercise Solution (YES)

    Movement is the best medicine, even when your joints hurt. Your Exercise Solution (YES) is a resource to help you create a physical activity routine with modifications developed and approved by physical therapists.

    • Ease of Use Products
    • Managing Pain
    • Recipes & Nutrition
    • Physical Activity
    • Emotional Well-being
    • Daily Living
    • Family & Relationships
  • Juvenile Arthritis
    Common Topics
    JA Family Summit

    Learn about the National Juvenile Arthritis Conference, a place for families to connect, share and learn.

    JA Camps

    The Arthritis Foundation’s JA camp programs give kids with arthritis and related childhood rheumatic diseases the chance to make lasting memories.

    Juvenile Arthritis Volunteer

    • About Juvenile Arthritis
    • Treatment
    • Managing Pain
    • Medical Decisions
    • Nutrition
    • Emotional Well-being
  • Providers
    Common Topics
    Transforming Clinical Interactions

    The Live Yes! Arthritis community connects patients with others online and in-person for support and education, and encourages patients to play an active role in their health care.

    Partners 4 Patients with Arthritis

    The Arthritis Foundation recently launched an initiative to build stronger relationships and increase recognition of our most engaged practices. 

    Fellowships

    See how we're aiming to address the growing shortage of arthritis specialists, especially in under-served parts of the country.

    • Better Living Toolkits
    • Our Issue Briefs
  • Science
    Common Topics
    OACS Forum Series

    The Osteoarthritis Clinical Studies Forum Series features OA thought leaders from across the globe discussing the future of how the disease can be treated to improve patient outcomes.

    man bandaging boy's kneeConquering Childhood Arthritis

    The Arthritis Foundation is mobilizing patients and their families to engage in studies comparing the effectiveness of treatments for juvenile arthritis and funding research for more options.

    Focus

    • Awards
    • Funding Opportunities
    • OACS Forum Series
    • Osteoarthritis Focus
    • Participate in Clinical Trials
    • Partnerships
    • Publications
  • Get Involved
    Common Topics
    Capital hillAction Center

    Take action today - use the resources here to learn who your elected officials are, what opportunities we have to advocate from the comfort of your own home, federal and state legislation, and more!

    woman listening to podcastLive Yes! With Arthritis Podcast

    You may have arthritis, but it doesn't have you. The Arthritis Foundation’s one-of-a-kind podcast. Hosted by patients, for patients.

    Walk to cure arthritisWalk To Cure Arthritis

    Join the movement and make an impact by honoring those who rock your world at the Arthritis Foundation’s signature walk event, Walk to Cure Arthritis. Register as an individual or form a team and Rock the Walk in your community!

    • Advocacy
    • Ways to Give
    • Fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Partnership
Donate
Back

Fibromyalgia 

Fibromyalgia causes pain, tenderness, fatigue, sleep problems, and other health conditions.

Fibromyalgia causes bodywide pain and extreme tiredness. It can be confused with arthritis because it may cause pain in joints, muscles and soft tissues. But doctors consider fibromyalgia a pain disorder. It’s not life-threatening, but the symptoms can affect many aspects of daily life, including sleep and memory. People with fibromyalgia are 20% more likely to also have depression or chronic anxiety. That’s why it’s important to use complementary therapies and seek professional help to manage emotional symptoms.   

People with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or other autoimmune diseases are more likely to develop fibromyalgia, which is not an autoimmune disease. Symptoms usually appear between ages 30 and 55. Although fibromyalgia is more common in adults, children (especially adolescent girls) can develop fibromyalgia. 
 

Causes

Fibromyalgia’s cause is not clear. Researchers think that people with certain genes are affected by a trigger (e.g., physical or emotional stress or an illness). Then, the pain signals sent through their central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) get turned up too high, called centralized pain or central amplification. That’s why people with fibromyalgia react more strongly to pressure, heat, sound or light than people without the condition.

Symptoms

Imagine having a bad case of the flu with extreme tiredness, pain throughout the body and fuzzy thinking. That’s how some people with fibromyalgia describe the disease.

Pain and Tenderness

Pain may start in one area, such as the neck and shoulders, and spread to other areas over time. The pain affects both sides of the body, above and below the waist. It can be mild or severe. Sensitivity to touch (tenderness) is another hallmark of fibromyalgia pain. The American College of Rheumatology identified 18 “tender points” (9 pairs) on the body that can be very sensitive to touch for people with fibromyalgia.  

The pain has been described as burning, aching, stabbing, tingling, throbbing, soreness or numbness (loss of feeling). It may change based on the time of day, activity level, weather (especially cold or damp conditions), sleep patterns and stress. Although the pain can come and go, some people report that some pain is always present.

Fatigue and Sleep Problems

Sleep problems vary from person to person. Some find it hard to fall asleep or they wake up often during the night. Others wake up feeling unrefreshed, even after sleeping through the night. Research shows that poor sleep can worsen pain. These symptoms can cause people to confuse fibromyalgia with another condition called chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Some people with fibromyalgia have low energy and feel tired all the time. The fatigue can be severe and pose more of a problem than the pain.

Memory and Thinking Problems

The term “fibro fog” is often used to describe; difficulty paying attention or performing simple mental tasks and being forgetful or having poor judgment. 

These problems may come and go and happen most often when someone is very stressed or fatigued. People with fibromyalgia may have trouble learning, understanding and remembering.

Track your Fibromyalgia symptoms with this pain tracker.
 

Health Effects

Fibromyalgia tends to happen together with other health conditions. It is not clear if one causes the other. These related health problems include:

Restless Leg. This condition causes uncomfortable feelings in the legs and the need to move them often. It’s more common in people with fibromyalgia and can be related to their sleep problems.

Depression. Living with widespread pain and tiredness can be very stressful. This may lead some people with fibromyalgia to develop chronic anxiety or become depressed. Anxiety and depression, in turn, can make pain and fatigue worse.

Headaches. Tension headaches, migraines and pain in the jaw or face may affect people with fibromyalgia. 

Stomach and Bowel Problems. People with fibromyalgia have a greater risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome than people without the condition. They are more likely to get bloated, feel cramping and stomach pain, or have episodes of constipation and diarrhea.

Overactive Bladder. Some people may feel the need to urinate more often than is necessary. 

Endometriosis. People with fibromyalgia are at a higher risk of developing this condition, which occurs when tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of it. It can cause painful and irregular menstrual cycles. 

Diagnosis

Fibromyalgia can’t be diagnosed with laboratory tests. An accurate fibromyalgia diagnosis is based on a medical history, a physical examination and details about symptoms, including:
  • Widespread pain index (WPI) score: The WPI lists 19 areas of the body where it’s common for people with fibromyalgia to have pain and tenderness. 
  • Symptom severity (SS) score that’s based on scoring these areas on a scale of 0–3: 
    • Fatigue. 
    • Sleep patterns.
    • Problems related to memory, thinking, focusing and problem solving.
    • Physical symptoms such as headache, weakness, dizziness, numbness/tingling, bowel problems and hair loss. 
These symptoms must be present for at least three months. The doctor may run blood tests and take X-rays to rule out other conditions that cause chronic pain and fatigue. 

Treatment

There is no cure for fibromyalgia. The goal is to tackle different symptoms (pain, fatigue, sleep and emotional problems) at the same time. Treatment options for fibromyalgia help to reduce pain, stress and fatigue, treat depression, improve sleep and help people understand what triggers symptoms and how to manage them. In some cases, fibromyalgia may require a healthcare team that may include a primary care physician, a rheumatologist, a physical therapist and a mental health professional.

Medication
Three medications are specifically approved to treat fibromyalgia. Duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran(Savella) work by changing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain that help control pain. Pregabalin (Lyrica) targets brain chemicals that affect how much pain you experience.

Other medications can be used to treat pain, sleep and mood. These include anti-inflammatories, antidepressants and sleep medicines.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This therapy has been proven effective for managing fibromyalgia symptoms. With the help of a trained mental health counselor, a person learns how to change negative thought patterns and behaviors to relieve pain, promote better sleep and improve functioning. 

Relaxation Techniques
These techniques focus on deep breathing and the release of muscle tension can ease pain and relieve stress. Massage therapy can also promote relaxation and pain relief.

Mindfulness/Meditation Practices
These practices can be done either alone or in groups led by a certified professional. They include focused attention on physical sensations (body scanning), chanting/mantras, thoughtful walking or visualization.

Exercise
Movement can be medicine. Engaging in moderate exercise a few days a week can help to reduce pain, improve sleep and daily functioning, increase energy and boost mood. Make sure to talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

Self Care

Practicing these habits can help to improve fibromyalgia symptoms.

Get restful sleep
Set a regular schedule to go to sleep and wake up and keep your room cool, dark and quiet at bedtime. Don’t drink coffee, tea or soda containing caffeine in the evening or even in the afternoon if you’re sensitive to caffeine. Some foods like chocolate have small amounts of caffeine. Don’t exercise too close to bedtime (at least three hours before).

Reduce stress
Find ways to reduce or avoid stress by finding a support group, listening to music, sharing your feelings with friends and family and enjoying hobbies. 

Choose a healthy lifestyle 
Eating healthy food, doing regular exercise, drinking in moderation and not smoking can help to promote good overall health.
 
Read Previous

Fibromyalgia, Lupus, or Both?

Read Next

Treatments for Fibromyalgia

Stay in the Know. Live in the Yes.

Get involved with the arthritis community. Tell us a little about yourself and, based on your interests, you’ll receive emails packed with the latest information and resources to live your best life and connect with others.

 
Get Involved
  • Live Yes! Connect Groups
  • Live Yes! Online Forum
  • Local Office
  • Fundraising
  • Webinars
  • Volunteer
  • Store
About
  • About Us
  • Annual Report
  • Careers
  • Code Of Ethics
  • Financials
  • News and Stories
  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms of Use
  • Español
Join Us
  • Jingle Bell Run
  • JA Camps
  • Pathways Conference
  • Living Well Events
  • Walk to Cure Arthritis
  • Fundraise Your Way
  • JA Family Summit
Home Office
  • 1355 Peachtree St NE Suite 600
  • Atlanta, GA 30309
  • Helpline: 1-800-283-7800
  • Contact Us
 
75th anniversary logo
Ashburn, VA
70° Arthritis Index Beneficial
See More Details
Arthritis Foundation is a qualified 501(c)(3) EIN 58-1341679
I Want to Contribute
I Need Help
  • Donate

    Donate

    Every gift to the Arthritis Foundation will help people with arthritis across the U.S. live their best life.

  • Volunteer

    Volunteer

    Join us and become a Champion of Yes. There are many volunteer opportunities available.

  • Partner

    Partner

    Proud Partners of the Arthritis Foundation make an annual commitment to directly support the Foundation’s mission.

Donate


Ways to Give

Every gift to the Arthritis Foundation will help people with arthritis across the U.S. live their best life. Whether it is supporting cutting-edge research, 24/7 access to one-on-one support, resources and tools for daily living, and more, your gift will be life-changing.

Make a Donation

Help millions of people live with less pain and fund groundbreaking research to discover a cure for this devastating disease. Please, make your urgently-needed donation to the Arthritis Foundation now!

Become a Member

Become an Arthritis Foundation member today for just $20 and you'll receive access to helpful tools..... and more. 

Make an Honor or Memorial Gift

Honor a loved one with a meaningful donation to the Arthritis Foundation. We'll send a handwritten card to the honoree or their family notifying them of your thoughtful gift.

Gift Planning

I want information on ways to remember the AF in my will, trust or other financial planning vehicles.
 

Other Ways to Give

  • Match Gift
  • Donate a Car
  • Donor-Advised Funds

Volunteer


Volunteer Opportunities

The Arthritis Foundation is focused on finding a cure and championing the fight against arthritis with life-changing information, advocacy, science and community. We can only achieve these goals with your help. Strong, outspoken and engaged volunteers will help us conquer arthritis. By getting involved, you become a leader in our organization and help make a difference in the lives of millions. Join us and become a Champion of Yes.

Become a Volunteer

More About Volunteering

  • Walk to Cure Arthritis
  • Jingle Bell Run
  • Fundraise Your Way
  • JA Camp
  • Start a Live Yes! Connect Group
  • Be an Online Community Moderator
  • Local Leadership Board

Partner


Meet Our Partners

As a partner, you will help the Arthritis Foundation provide life-changing resources, science, advocacy and community connections for people with arthritis, the nations leading cause of disability. Join us today and help lead the way as a Champion of Yes.

Trailblazer

Our Trailblazers are committed partners ready to lead the way, take action and fight for everyday victories. They contribute $2,000,000 to $2,749,000

Visionary

Our Visionary partners help us plan for a future that includes a cure for arthritis. These inspired and inventive champions have contributed $1,500,00 to $1,999,999.

Pioneer

Our Pioneers are always ready to explore and find new weapons in the fight against arthritis. They contribute $1,000,000 to $1,499,999.

Pacesetter

Our Pacesetters ensure that we can chart the course for a cure for those who live with arthritis. They contribute $500,000 to $999,000.

Signature

Our Signature partners make their mark by helping us identify new and meaningful resources for people with arthritis. They contribute $250,000 to $499,999.

Supporting

Our Supporting partners are active champions who provide encouragement and assistance to the arthritis community. They contribute $100,000 to $249,999.

More About Partnerships

  • Partner with Us
  • Ease Of Use Commendation
  • Let's Get a Grip On Arthritis
  • Promotions that Give Back