The pain of fibromyalgia is generally widespread and affects the neck, shoulders, arms, upper back, chest and buttocks. The pain is particularly acute in the ‘tender points’, which are localized tender areas in a person’s body that can produce widespread pain and spasms on touch. These points are commonly located around the back of the head, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and the sides of the breastbone.

A change in weather, psychological stress, physical strain or a random illness can aggravate the symptoms of fibromyalgia. A person may develop tolerance with time but people with the disorder complain that they are,at times, prevented from performing normal activities, such as driving.

The following symptoms are typical of fibromyalgia -

• Chronic, widespread pain
• Tenderness to even gentle touch (allodynia)
• Moderate to severe fatigue
• Migraine headaches
• Muscle spasms/aches
• Facial pain
• Nerve pain
• Numbness
• Tingling in different parts of the body
• Localized pain in the shoulders, neck, hips and lower back
• Weakness in the limbs
• Chronic disturbances in the sleep pattern (alpha –delta sleep)
• Waking up feeling tired
• Anxiety/depression
• Disturbance in bowel movements
• Abdominal pain, bloating and constipation
• Irregular heart rate /breathlessness
• Cognitive dysfunction (‘brain fog’) resulting in impaired concentration and memory
• Mood changes
• Symptomatic hypoglycemia
• Genito-urinary symptoms
• Painful sexual contact
• Dysmenorrhea
• Skin problems
• Interstitial cystitis

Each patient is unique and the symptom may vary with each one. Any of the above-mentioned symptoms may occur intermittently or may present themselves in different combinations.