Introduction
- A syndrome of chronic diffuse pain that affect muscles, soft tissues (eg tendons, ligaments) and other somatic symptoms
- May be related to alterations in the central nervous system pain processing
- Found in approximately 2% of the population and the prevalence increases with age, most common in women 20-55 years of age
Etiology
- Etiology of pain is not known; often considered to be psychosomatic or psychogenic in nature
Signs and Symptoms
Clinical Manifestations
- Widespread pain - initially localized then later involving multiple sites, predominantly involving muscles, muscle-tendon junctions, tendons and joints
- Fatigue
- Disrupted unrefreshed sleep
- Cognitive disturbances - often referred to as “fibro fog”
- Mood disturbances
- Somatic symptoms (eg irritable bowel syndrome, severe menstrual pain, myofascial facial pain)
- Non-pain related symptoms (sexual dysfunction)
Associated Symptoms
- Paresthesias
- Headache - include migraine and muscular or tension type
- Anxiety and depression
- Allergic symptoms and multiple chemical sensitivity
- Weight disturbances
- Pelvic pain, urinary frequency and urgency, and dysmenorrhea
- Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
- Dry eyes, dry mouth
- Raynaud’s phenomenon