Facts

Facts about Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder (or syndrome) characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, and extremely painful and heightened response to pressure.

The following facts about fibromyalgia are of particular interest:

• Up to 12 million North Americans suffer from Fibromyalgia
• Fibromyalgia affects 3% to 6% of the world's population¹
• Women are affected most often (9:1 ratio female to male)
• Some doctors refute fibromyalgia as a disease leading to prolonged suffering for fibromyalgia patients²
• Men with Fibromyalgia commonly go undiagnosed³
• Fibromyalgia can be often misdiagnosed⁴

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

The following signs and symptoms for fibromyalgia have been identified:

• chronic pain
• widespread pain
• chronic fatigue
• pressure pain
• muscle spasms
• tingling skin
• limb weakness
• nerve pain
• bowel problems
• sleep problems
• insomnia

Fibromyalgia Treatments

The following fibromyalgia treatments have shown to be effective in reducing symptoms under controlled and measurable clinical studies:

• Fibromyalgia medications
• Holistic treatments
• Behavioral interventions
• Patient education
• Fibromyalgia exercise
• Paintracking

Sources:

1. A New Way of Diagnosing Fibromyalgia, 2016
2. Fibromyalgia misconceptions: Interview with a Mayo Clinic expert, 2015
3. Men with Fibromyalgia Often Go Undiagnosed, 2013​
4. Why You Shouldn’t Blindly Accept Your Fibromyalgia Diagnosis, 2016