Fibromyalgia suggests widespread pain or tenderness of the muscles and associated tissues. Those suffering from Fibromyalgia also seem predisposed to a variety of other pain conditions. Included among this list of conditions are irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome, pelvic pain syndrome, temporomandibular joint syndrome and chronic headaches.

Although diagnosed routinely Fibromyalgia lacks a specific definition. Supposedly the diagnosis includes between 2-4% of the population with significantly more women affected than men. Estimates of disease prevalence vary between 4-10 million from various sources. Most people receive the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia during their early to mid-adult years.

At presentation Fibromyalgia patients complain of widespread pain involving sites above and below the waist. Symptoms appear poorly localized but difficult to ignore and target both the right and left sides of the body. Additional requirements include pain generally present throughout the day and occurring on most days of the week for at least 3 months.

Previously the American College of Rheumatology defined Fibromyalgia on the basis of at least 11 of 18 different tender points at specific locations. More recently this requirement was abandoned.

Other non-specific but common features of Fibromyalgia include pain and stiffness on awakening coupled with unrefreshing sleep. Neuropsychological symptoms often assume an equivalent position to the soft tissue complaints. Sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, problems with short term memory and difficulty concentrating commonly exist. More recently investigators suggest blurring of the lines between Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

As with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, no firm diagnosis of Fibromyalgia exists. No widely recognized laboratory tests or imaging studies are capable of confirming the diagnosis. This means Fibromyalgia exists on a platform of quicksand. No specific treatment exists. Exercise, sleep hygiene and psychological interventions may favorably alter the course. Most accepted drug therapies appear in the antidepressant category of SNRIs related to the SSRIs. Unscrupulous practitioners regularly offer “miracle cures” that remain illusory and may exploit the unwitting.