Diagnosing Your Pain: 6 Fibromyalgia Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For

Are you experiencing widespread pain and don’t know why? If so, you might be on the fibromyalgia spectrum.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition known for one surefire symptom—chronic musculoskeletal pain. The pain can be accompanied by lots of fatigue and mental health struggles as well, with no specific cause. There is no cure for this condition nor any diagnostic test to confirm the diagnosis. However, there are treatments such as medications, massage therapy, and even yoga and meditation.

Here are six signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia:

1. You’re a woman

Women are more often diagnosed with the condition—80 to 90% of individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia are female. Doctors are still trying to determine why this disease tends to be female-centric, but there are theories that symptoms may be caused by fluctuating female hormones. However, this does not mean that men and even children are not at risk of developing this condition.

2. You experience brain fog

A common symptom of the condition is fibromyalgia fog or “brain fog.” This symptom usually includes trouble with concentration and memory. It can also include confusion and sleep problems.

3. You have another underlying illness

Fibromyalgia is prominent in people who struggle with other medical conditions. It is common in those who experience frequent migraines, autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, or even depression and anxiety. Those with lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are also at higher risk of developing fibromyalgia.

4. You’ve had a serious injury in the past

If you’ve experienced a serious injury in the past or frequent injuries like those to your knees or joints, fibromyalgia symptoms can make an appearance later on in life.

Related: Ways to Alleviate Joint Pain Naturally

5. You’re always exhausted

Fibromyalgia may cause continued lethargy even if you are getting eight or more hours of sleep every night. If there doesn’t seem to be another reason causing your tiredness, you might have fibromyalgia fatigue syndrome.

Related: 5 Underlying Issues That Could be Causing Your Fatigue

6. You can’t seem to get an answer to your pain

Fibromyalgia is not fully understood and often misdiagnosed for illnesses like hypothyroidism, RA, and lupus. If you’ve visited with your healthcare provider about your unexplainable chronic pain and still don’t have an answer, it might be a good time to consider that you may have fibromyalgia pain. The condition is also more of a possibility if you’ve experienced chronic pain for more than three months.

If you believe fibromyalgia might be the answer to your struggles, visit with your healthcare provider about possible treatments in managing the pain and discomfort associated with the disease.