Fibromyalgia creates head-to-toe pain and constant fatigue. Your muscles, ligaments and tendons hurt and ache, making it difficult to get even little things accomplished. Sleeping can even be challenging with fibromyalgia.

Causes

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are no known causes for fibromyalgia, although it may be triggered by illness, genetics, disease or traumatic or stressful events.

Symptoms

Symptoms for fibromyalgia include tingling in your hands and feet, morning stiffness, headaches, irritable bowels, difficulty sleeping and memory problems.

Diagnosis

Doctors typically diagnose a patient with fibromyalgia if symptoms including muscle aches, stiffness, fatigue, and tingling in the hands and feet that last for approximately three months. Typically, doctors will diagnose a patient with fibromyalgia when results from all other diseases come back negative.

Treatment

Treatment for fibromyalgia can be intense, and it may take a team of doctors, rheumatologists and physical therapists. Physical therapy can help relieve muscle ache and tension. Antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs and even simple medications such as acetaminophen may be prescribed.

Alleviating Pain

Eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of rest, taking medications as prescribed and exercising may improve your health and alleviate pain, according to the National Institutes of Health. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, so these do-it-yourself treatments are not cures; they simply decrease the impact of the condition.

Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institutes of Health

Fibromyalgia Network