Answering common questions about a fibromyalgia diagnosis

You've been experiencing pain without any logical explanation for many months. Your medical team ruled out multiple health conditions before finally landing on a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Getting a diagnosis is a relief, but what's next? You may be filled with lots of questions and uncertainties about what the condition is and how it's treated.

Here are a few FAQs about this health condition that affects 4 million American adults.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a neurological condition that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body. The condition is known to cause an abnormal reaction to pain and is most common among women.

People who have fibromyalgia are much more sensitive to pain than those who don't have it — a phenomenon known as abnormal pain perception processing.

• Fibromyalgia has many general symptoms, including:
• Cognitive problems affecting memory, thinking, and concentration (often called a brain fog or fibro fog)
• Excessive fatigue
• Face or jaw pain
• Headaches
• Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety
• Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
• Sleep difficulties
• Gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome

While researchers haven't yet determined the exact cause of the condition, research suggests it is based in the neurological system, particularly the brain and the spinal cord. Fibromyalgia can run in families, so there may also be a genetic component.

Why is it so hard to diagnose fibromyalgia?

Receiving a fibromyalgia diagnosis is often a lengthy process. There are many reasons for that, but the main reason is there's still relatively little known about the condition.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia are often common for other disorders as well, so fibromyalgia may initially be misdiagnosed as another condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. However, fibromyalgia is not a type of arthritis, although having rheumatoid arthritis increases your risk of having fibromyalgia.

There is no definitive test for fibromyalgia. If your medical provider suspects you may have the condition, you'll likely be referred to a neurologist, who may recommend blood tests or imaging scans to rule out other causes of your symptoms.

Ruling out other conditions is an important part of a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Patients who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia must also have experienced a range of pain-related symptoms affecting as many as 19 parts of the body (known as trigger points) for at least three months at a similar intensity.

How is fibromyalgia treated?

While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, its symptoms can often be effectively managed. Once you've been diagnosed with the condition, your medical team will provide a personalized treatment plan based on your individual needs.

Treatment may include medications to relieve pain and help you get quality sleep, behavioral therapy to create coping methods for handling pain, and alternative therapies such as massage or acupuncture.

Fibromyalgia treatment also includes recommendations for healthy living habits — changes you can make to your lifestyle that can help you feel better. These habits include moving your body more, learning healthy ways to manage stress, fueling your body with healthy foods, and getting enough quality sleep.

It's also important to learn how to slow down. While that may feel like you're letting your condition win, in the long run, you'll feel better if you learn how to effectively pace yourself and preserve your energy.

Because stress is a known trigger for increased fibromyalgia pain, this intentional slowing down can help you manage the condition and minimize pain.

Wondering whether you may have fibromyalgia? A visit with your primary care provider is a good first step. Find a provider here.