top of page

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary between sufferers.  The only symptom that is prevalent for everyone with fibromyalgia is pain all over the body.

This pain is usually experienced as a constant dull ache that commences in the muscle but can also manifest as a burning sensation of a sharp and stabbing pain anywhere in the body. 

The current common standard for diagnosing fibromyalgia is to look for widespread pain which lasts a minimum of 3 months, together with the presence of one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue and waking up exhausted

  • Disrupted or irregular sleep patterns

  • Muscle stiffness and spasms

  • Numbness in the hands or feet

  • Sensitivity to cold and heat

  • Headaches

  • Restless leg syndrome (RLS), which is an uncomfortable, jumpy feeling in the legs that often disturbs sleep

  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

  • “Fibro fog” (or brain fog), a condition that impairs the ability to focus on mental tasks such as a difficulty with finding a word, short-term memory loss, and disorientation that lasts for 30 to 60 seconds

  • Depression and anxiety

Symptoms which are unique to women suffering from fibromyalgia include:

  • Endometriosis - a condition caused by tissue growing in other parts of the pelvis. They may also feel pain during sexual intercourse.

  • Less common symptoms are:

    • Allodynia - An intense sensitivity to touch. Simply rubbing an affected person’s shoulder or patting him or her on the back can cause intense pain.

    • Paraesthesia. An unexplained tingling and numbness that’s often related to anxiety or nervousness over the disorder. Paraesthesia is accompanied by rapid, deep breathing, and may lead to acroparaesthesia, a pain in the extremities caused by lack of carbon dioxide.

    • Lipomas - These lumps, which can appear in various parts of the body, are actually fatty benign tumours, and may cause you more discomfort.

    • Sensitivity to fragrance, light, and even sounds.

    • Excessive sweating and a feverish feeling.

bottom of page