Fibromyalgia

As well as widespread pain, people with fibromyalgia may also have:

• Increased sensitivity to pain.
• Extreme tiredness (fatigue).
• Muscle stiffness.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Problems with mental processes (known as "fibro-fog"), such as problems with memory and concentration.
• Headaches.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a digestive condition that causes stomach pain and bloating.

If you think you have fibromyalgia, visit a GP. Treatment is available to ease some of its symptoms, although they're unlikely to disappear completely.

For further information about the symptoms of fibromyalgia see the NHS website.

Although there's currently no cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with.

Treatment tends to be a combination of:

• Medicine, such as antidepressants and painkillers.
• Talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling.
• Lifestyle changes, such as exercise programmes and relaxation techniques.

Exercise in particular has been found to have a number of important benefits for people with fibromyalgia, including helping to reduce pain.

For further information about the treatments visit the NHS website.

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it's thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body.

It's also suggested that some people are more likely to develop fibromyalgia because of genes inherited from their parents.

In many cases, the condition appears to be triggered by a physically or emotionally stressful event, such as:

• An injury or infection.
• Giving birth.
• Having an operation.
• The breakdown of a relationship.
• The death of a loved one.

For further information on the causes please see the NHS website.

Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although it affects around 7 times as many women as men. The condition typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but can occur in people of any age, including children and the elderly.

It's not clear exactly how many people are affected by fibromyalgia, although research has suggested it could be a relatively common condition. Some estimates suggest nearly 1 in 20 people may be affected by fibromyalgia to some degree.

One of the main reasons it's not clear how many people are affected is because fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose. There's no specific test for the condition, and the symptoms can be similar to a number of other conditions.

For further information about diagnosis please see the NHS website.

Many people with fibromyalgia find that support groups provide an important network where they can talk to others living with the condition.

Fibromyalgia Action UK is a charity that offers information and support to people with fibromyalgia. If you have any questions about fibromyalgia, call the charity's helpline on 0300 999 3333.

The charity also has a network of local support groups you may find helpful and an online community, where you can find out about news, events and ongoing research into the condition.

Another support group you may find useful is UK Fibromyalgia.

• Depression on the NHS website.
• Antidepressants on the NHS website.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on the NHS website.
• Headache on the NHS website.
• Medically unexplained symptoms on the NHS website.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome on the NHS website.
• Living with pain on the NHS website.
• The Pain Toolkit on their website.
• Pain Concern on their website.
• Fibromyalgia Action UK on their website.
• UK Fibromyalgia on their website.
• Action on Pain: chronic pain on thier website.
• British Pain Society on thier website.

If you have fibromyalgia, there are several ways to change your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms and make your condition easier to live with.

Your GP, or another healthcare professional treating you, can offer advice and support about making these changes part of your everyday life.

There are organisations to support people with fibromyalgia that may also be able to offer advice.

For further information see the NHS website.