Fibromyalgia is, unfortunately, a common problem that affects 3 to 5 million people, which is about 1 out of every 5.
This syndrome is marked by really bad pain all over the body. But just because you have chronic muscle pain doesn’t mean you have fibromyalgia. This condition also causes other symptoms.
If your muscles hurt all the time, you should look at the list of fibromyalgia symptoms to see if you need to get the right treatment or if you can rule out fibromyalgia as a possible cause.
Fibromyalgia symptoms:
Muscle and Body Tissues
Mild to severe pain in different parts of the body
Stiffness in the morning
Muscle twitching
Swelling
Tender and lumpy breasts (Fibrocystic breasts, which is a related condition)
Stomach and Digestion Problems:
Bloating, feeling sick, abdominal cramps, and pelvic pain
IBS
Frequent urination
Allergy and Sinus Problems
Shortness of breath
Itchy ears and earaches
Ringing in the ears
Thick mucus
Allergies, being sensitive to molds and yeasts
A runny nose and post-nasal drip
Heart Problems/Valve problems
Pain similar to that during a heart attack
An irregular heartbeat
Sensory Problems and Sensitivity
Trouble driving at night and seeing in low light
Sensitive to smells, light, noise, temperature, weather changes, and pressure changes.
Sleep Problems
Feeling tired
Feeling like falling when sleeping
Muscle twitching even while sleeping
Difficulty sleeping or having a broken sleep pattern, feeling tired and sluggish every morning
Grinding teeth
Cognitive Difficulties
Having trouble with language and pronouncing familiar words
Having trouble with directions and recognizing familiar places
Poor coordination and balance
Often zoning out, having concentration problems, not being able to tell the difference between color shades, and having short-term memory problems.
Burning or tingling in the upper limbs
Hair, Skin, and Nails
Hair loss
Nails that are overly ridged or curved
Skin that bruises or scars easily or looks mottled
Mental Health Problems
Mood swings, being irritable for no reason
Anxiety, depression, panic attacks
Reproductive Problems
Loss of sexual desire
Premenstrual syndrome and other menstrual problems
Impotence
Other Symptoms
Unexpected weight gain or weight loss
Headaches and migraines
Vision changes
Family history
Sweating a lot
Craving carbohydrates and chocolate
These symptoms aren’t specific, which means they can also be caused by other health problems. So don’t jump to conclusions yet.This condition isn’t easy to diagnose either. It can be mistaken for other problems, and there aren’t any specific fibromyalgia tests that are 100% accurate.
To rule out other conditions and diagnose fibromyalgia, doctors use a set of diagnostic tests, like:
A complete blood count
Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)
Rheumatoid factor
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
X-rays
MRI
Thyroid tests
