Health A-Z: Fibromyalgia

This chronic (long-term) condition causes widespread pain all over the body in your joints, muscles and ligaments. One person in every 25 is thought to be affected by fibromyalgia, and women are 10 times more likely to develop it than men.

Fibromyalgia symptoms vary from one person to another and from day to day. You may experience poor sleep patterns, crippling fatigue, muscle stiffness, increased sensitivity to pain and depression. Although the pain of fibromyalgia can be severe and disrupt everyday life, it isn’t progressive and, unlike arthritis it won’t cause permanent damage to your muscles, bones or joints.