43 Symptoms of Fibromyalgia – Anyone With Muscle Pain Should Read This

Fibromyalgia symptoms:

Fibromyalgia is, unfortunately, a common issue which affects 3-5 million people, or 1 in every five people.

This syndrome is characterized by debilitating pain in the entire body. Yet, chronic muscle pain does not necessarily mean that you suffer from fibromyalgia, as this condition leads to other symptoms as well.

Yet, if your muscles ache all of the time, you need to check the list of fibromyalgia symptoms and see if you need to find a proper treatment or you can rule out fibromyalgia as a potential cause.

Fibromyalgia symptoms:

Muscle and Body Tissues

Mild to severe pain in different body parts

Morning stiffness

Muscle Twitching

Swelling

Tender and lumpy breasts (Fibrocystic breasts, as an overlapping condition)

Stomach and Digestion Issues

Bloating, nausea, abdominal cramps, and pelvic pain

IBS

Frequent urination

Allergy and Sinus Issues

Shortness of breath

Itchy ears and earaches

Ringing ears

Thick mucus

Allergies, sensitivity to molds and yeasts

A runny nose and post nasal drip

Heart Problems

Valve issues

Pain similar to the one during a heart attack

Irregular heartbeat

Sensory Problems and Sensitivity

Difficulty with night driving and seeing in low lighting

Sensitive to smells, light, noise, temperature, climate, and pressure changes.

Sleep issues

Fatigue

Feeling like falling while sleeping

Muscle twitching even while sleeping

Difficulty sleeping/broken sleeping pattern, feeling tired and lethargic each morning

Grinding teeth

Cognitive Difficulties

Language impairments and difficulty pronouncing familiar words

Directional difficulties and recognizing familiar surroundings

Poor coordination and balance

Zone out often, concentration issues, inability to differentiate color shades, and short-term memory.

Burning or tingling in the upper limbs

Hair, Skin, and Nails

Hair loss

Overly-ridged nails or curved nails

Skin that bruises or scars easily or appears mottled

Mental Health issues

Mood swings, irritability without a reason

Anxiety, depression, panic attacks

Reproductive Problems

Loss of libido

PMS and other menstrual problems

Impotence

Other Symptoms

Unexplained weight gain or weight loss

Headaches and migraines

Vision changes

Family history

The sweats

Carbohydrate and chocolate cravings

Yet, these symptoms are non-specific, meaning that they can result from other health issues too, so you should not jump to any conclusions yet.

This condition is not easy to diagnose either, as it can be mistaken for other issues, and there are no specific fibromyalgia tests that are 100% accurate.

A fibromyalgia diagnosis requires one to meet the following criteria set by The American College of Rheumatology:

Widespread pain felt for at least 3 months in all four body quadrants

11 out of 18 tender points, with pain felt when palpated

Negative findings for any other diseases on the diagnostic tests

To rule out other conditions and diagnose fibromyalgia, doctors use a set of diagnostic tests, like:

Complete blood count

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)

Rheumatoid factor

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

X-rays

MRI

Thyroid tests

Source: www.healthy-holistic-living.com