What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and problems with memory and concentration. Many people also experience increased sensitivity to touch, temperature, sound, light, and other sensory input.
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Advances in pain science, genetics, and other areas of research are providing important insights into the biological processes involved in fibromyalgia. While there is still much to learn, our understanding of the condition continues to grow.
Common Symptoms
Fibromyalgia affects each person differently, and symptoms can fluctuate over time.
Common Symptoms
Widespread pain
Fatigue
Unrefreshing or disrupted sleep
Memory, concentration or thinking problems (“fibro fog”)
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Other symptoms may include
Increased sensitivity to touch, pressure, temperature, sound, light, or other sensory input
Headaches or migraine
Numbness or tingling
Stiffness
Digestive symptoms, including IBS
Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also occur more frequently in people with fibromyalgia and can affect overall health and well-being.
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Fibromyalgia also commonly occurs alongside other chronic pain conditions, including migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and pelvic pain conditions. Many of these are known as Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions (COPCs) because they frequently occur together and can share underlying features.
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What causes fibromyalgia?
There is no single known cause of fibromyalgia.
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Current research suggests that fibromyalgia is complex and involves a combination of genetic, nervous system, environmental, and other biological factors.
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Fibromyalgia is considered a leading example of nociplastic pain—pain associated with altered pain processing that cannot be fully explained by tissue damage or a disease or injury of the nervous system.
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Research has found differences in the way the brain and nervous system process and regulate pain and sensory signals. A landmark 2026 genetic study involving more than 2.5 million people identified 26 genetic risk regions associated with fibromyalgia. The genetic findings were particularly enriched in brain tissues and neural cell types, providing strong evidence for the role of the central nervous system in fibromyalgia.
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For some people, symptoms begin or worsen following an illness, injury, surgery, or significant physical or emotional stress. Others cannot identify a particular triggering event.
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Want to learn more about the genetic study? Watch researchers behind the study explain what the findings mean for people with fibromyalgia on The Fibro Show.
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Getting a diagnosis
How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?
There is currently no single blood test, scan, or biomarker routinely used to diagnose fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a clinical diagnosis based on a person's symptoms and medical history. Current diagnostic criteria consider widespread or generalized pain along with symptoms such as fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and cognitive difficulties.
A healthcare provider may perform an examination or order testing to evaluate for other conditions that could be contributing to symptoms. Having another medical condition does not rule out fibromyalgia—fibromyalgia can occur alongside other illnesses.
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Good to know
A tender-point examination is no longer required to diagnose fibromyalgia.
Can Fibromyalgia be treated?
Yes.
Although there is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, treatments and self-management strategies can help reduce symptoms and improve function and quality of life.
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There is no single treatment that works for everyone. Managing fibromyalgia typically requires a combination of approaches rather than relying on any one treatment alone. An individualized treatment plan may include:
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Education
Movement & physical activity
Sleep
Medications
Pain-management approaches
Pacing
Treating other conditions
Self-management & support
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Finding the right combination often takes time and trial and learn. We use “trial and learn” rather than “trial and error” because every experience can teach you and your healthcare team something about what helps, what doesn't, and what to try next.
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Effective treatments exist, but we also need better treatments. Continued research is helping us better understand fibromyalgia and develop new approaches to care.
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You Don't Have to Manage Fibromyalgia Alone
Living with fibromyalgia can affect work, relationships, your sense of identity, sleep, physical activity, and everyday life. Having reliable information and connecting with people who understand can make a difference.
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The Fibromyalgia Association is here to help you learn about fibromyalgia, stay connected to current information and resources, and find community and support.