Fibromyalgia is a chronic rheumatic condition that affects various muscles and other soft tissues around the body. Over 4 million US adults suffer from this condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The symptoms can vary from one case to another, but here are the most common:
1. Widespread Pain
Pain caused by fibromyalgia can either be a continuous aching or burning or sometimes a sharp sensation. These feelings can extend throughout the entire body, but they are usually more pronounced in the neck and back.
If the pain wasn’t bad enough, this next symptom might make it worse…
2. Sensitivity
Fibromyalgia makes the body extremely sensitive, which can increase muscle pain. For example, the slightest exposure to smoke or light can cause considerable discomfort, even more so when in contact with allergens.
The next symptom can also result in discomfort…
3. Stiffness
Chronic stiffness is a major problem for people suffering from fibromyalgia, especially when they have stayed in the same position for a long period of time. Waking up in the morning or sitting down for long periods of time are two ways stiffness can develop.
To ensure the next symptom does not affect you, it’s important to maintain good balance and posture…
4. Clumsiness
Fibro flares can make some people clumsy and poorly coordinated at times because the condition affects fine motor control skills. This, in turn, can cause stumbling, losing balance, or losing grip when holding objects.
All of this pain and clumsiness can also drain your battery…
5. Fatigue
Fatigue caused by fibromyalgia ranges from mild to severe at times and it affects up to 76% of fibro sufferers. Fatigue can be a result of the body trying to fight the pain, thus negatively hindering daily routines and activities.
But that’s not the worst of it, as the next symptom suggests…
6. Poor Sleep Quality
Getting sleep with fibromyalgia can be a real nightmare. Patients often feel unrested and exhausted despite having long hours of sleep, which can worsen their fatigue and overall body pain.
But some parts of the body become more restless than others…
7. Restless Legs
Fibro patients are more prone to having restless legs syndrome (RLS), which causes irresistible urges to constantly move the legs. Some researchers have also linked the aforementioned sleeping problems to this condition.
On the other hand, snoring might become a bit comfortable…
8. Jaw Pain
Temporomandibular joint disease occurs in some cases of fibromyalgia. Its symptoms include clicking or snapping noises whenever the mouth moves, facial pain, and some muscle pain in the neck and head.
Fibromyalgia can affect the least expected parts of the body, too…
9. Bowel Problems
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder that causes stomach pain and bloating. Fibro patients tend to experience IBS more often and occasionally have flare-ups at the same time.
TAs if the pain we’ve already mentioned wasn’t enough, our next symptom proves more aching…
10. Headaches
Fibromyalgia patients suffer headaches more often, in addition to the muscle pain in the head and neck areas. These types of headaches can be described as sharp and usually concentrate on one side of the head. In severe cases, these headaches can cause pain around the eyes, too.
Unfortunately, fibromyalgia’s effects go beyond the physical, as the next symptom shows…
11. Brain Fog
Along with the occasional headaches, you might tend to space out or take longer than usual to remember things. Problems with concentration can also result in serious brain fog.
The final symptom demonstrates additional mental problems…
12. Mental Health Problems
The stress of having to deal with the physical symptoms of fibromyalgia can impact the person’s way of living. Bouts of depression and anxiety can result in feeling the other symptoms of fibromyalgia mentioned in this slideshow.
