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What is fibromyalgia? See pictures explaining symptoms, muscle pain, fatigue, tests, causes, and treatments in this WebMD slideshow.
- Fibromyalgia Slideshows
9 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fibromyalgia Pain and Fatigue...
- Fibromyalgia Slideshows
- “We had to leave about 10 minutes after this photo was taken because of the excruciating pain I had throughout my entire body. I was ecstatic when a part of my body would go numb so I had a little reprieve from the pain for a few minutes.
- “In this picture my service dog is actively tasking. She has alerted to my problems with balance, either a sign of weakness from fibro or an oncoming syncope episode, is giving pain relief to my aching feet and ankles, and is warming my feet due to a Raynaud’s flare up.
- “Migraine, fatigue, bone-deep pain, nerve pain, brain fog, too weak to sit up or stand, cold sweats, severe abdominal cramps, severely nauseated.”
- “Fourth day of migraine, nerves are pinging, right leg and arm are numb/weak, and the pain is screaming at me from every fiber of my being. Nothing seems to relieve my symptoms, but I will continue with heat packs and kitty cuddles.
- Overview
- Pain
- Fibro fog
- Restless legs
- Sleepiness and fatigue
- Migraine attacks
- Sensitivity to stimuli
- Rash and other skin symptoms
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
Fibromyalgia may often cause “invisible” symptoms, such as sleepiness and migraine. Sometimes, though, fibromyalgia may cause visible skin symptoms, like rash.
It’s not easy to spot fibromyalgia. This is one condition that does not have many visible symptoms. Most symptoms of fibromyalgia — such as pain and fatigue — are hard to see.
Fibromyalgia symptoms are also similar to those of other conditions.
Because of this, it can be difficult to get an accurate diagnosis and find the treatment you need. Read on to learn how to recognize fibromyalgia.
Pain is a constant presence in fibromyalgia. The pain feels as though it’s starting in the muscles, but there are no signs of damage to the tissues. It’s often described as dull.
People with fibromyalgia may be more sensitive than usual to the feeling of pain or to stimuli that cause pain. The discomfort is usually felt all over the body, and it can be made worse by many factors, including stress and a lack of sleep.
Do you ever feel as though you cannot clear your head? Confusion, trouble concentrating, and difficulty remembering are all associated with fibro fog, a feeling that people with fibromyalgia sometimes have.
What causes fibro fog is not clear, but it may have to do with the effects of pain on the brain or a lack of sleep.
Fibromyalgia pain is not the only symptom of this condition that can steal sleep. Many people with fibromyalgia experience a creeping, crawling feeling in their legs at night. The feeling is so uncomfortable that it makes you want to move, which wakes you out of a deep slumber.
The resulting lack of sleep can have a real impact on your ability to function the next day. Learn more about restless leg syndrome.
When you’re in pain, it’s harder to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. People with fibromyalgia are also more likely to have conditions that interrupt their sleep, such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.
Even when you can sleep, you get less of the deep rapid eye movement (REM) sleep that helps your body restore itself. Long nights spent lying awake or tossing and turning can lead to morning fatigue.
One 2015 survey found that 55.8 percent of people with fibromyalgia experienced migraine.
During a migraine attack, your head throbs, and you may feel sick to your stomach and throw up. Some people are so sensitive to light and sound during a migraine attack that they have to turn out all the lights and lie down in a dark room until their head pain goes away. Discover other triggers of migraine attacks.
When you have fibromyalgia, the world can be a noisy, bright, and painful place. Fibromyalgia makes you more sensitive to sounds, light, and touch. The slightest pressure on your skin can make you yelp in pain, and you may feel the urge to cover your ears in loud situations, such as concerts. Some people are also sensitive to changes in temperature...
In some cases, fibromyalgia can cause a rash. It’s one of the few outward symptoms of the condition. The rash may be accompanied by itching.
Fibromyalgia may also cause other skin-related symptoms, such as dryness or hyperhidrosis (excess sweating).
When you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), knowing the location of the nearest restroom can become a serious concern. IBS affects the large intestine and can unexpectedly cause:
•abdominal pain
•bloating
•gas
•diarrhea
The condition is more common in people with fibromyalgia, and it can have a serious effect on your everyday life if you do not seek treatment.
Some people with fibromyalgia also have a condition called temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). TMJ causes pain in the jaw area.
If you have TMJ, you’ll notice that your jaw makes snapping or popping noises when you open and close your mouth. You may have trouble opening your mouth all the way to chew or speak. Sometimes TMJ also causes headaches and pain around the ears.
- “My fibromyalgia linked to another condition but this was one of my good days. I went with my family and service dog to Lowe’s. It may seem little but these little outings are meaningful.”
- “I had to use voice to text because I can’t even type due to pain. I’ve had a migraine for over a week and any task I do makes me want to lay down and sleep for a week.
- “Holter test… again. Those stickers itch like crazy!” – Melanie C.
- “The bottom pic is during a fibro flare in my feet and the top is the contrast pic. They swell and get so tight, it feels as if I’m walking through water and the pain is unbearable.
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Issues. “Increased allergies, thick mucus/phlegm and other ENT issues. Here’s a photo of me post-surgery following a turbinectomy after spending years with a permanently blocked nose!
- Easy Bruising. “I remember hitting my other leg because I fell into furniture, but the bruise appeared in a totally different place. This happens all the time: unknown bruising, or bruises showing up in a different spot than the place I was bumped.
- Scalp Pain. “My love for head scarves. I’m always in pain having more than one illness. So not being able do my super thick hair they are a lifesaver, not to mention it hurts to do my hair also because my scalp hurts as well.
- Frequent Sweating. “Sweating, sweating, sweating.” — Lex F. “Having to wear sweat bands even in winter because I always run hot and have hot flashes. I also wear wrist compression gloves to help with hand and wrist pain.
Oct 27, 2023 · This article explores where you might feel pain, the nature of that pain, what flares feel like, what is happening with pain signals in your brain, and how to live better with fibromyalgia pain. Photo composite by Lecia Landis for Verywell Health; Getty Images
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If you have fibromyalgia, one of the main symptoms is likely to be widespread pain. This may be felt throughout your body, but could be worse in particular areas, such as your back or neck. The pain is likely to be continuous, although it may be better or more severe at different times.
