Fibromyalgia

[Agnes]

Fibromyalgia is a common, incompletely understood nonarticular disorder characterized by generalized aching (sometimes severe); widespread tenderness of muscles, areas around tendon insertions, and adjacent soft tissues; muscle stiffness; fatigue; mental cloudiness; poor sleep; and a variety of other somatic symptoms. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment includes exercise, local heat, stress management, drugs to improve sleep, and nonopioid analgesics.
In fibromyalgia, any fibromuscular tissues may be involved, especially those of the occiput, neck, shoulders, thorax, low back, and thighs. There is no specific histologic abnormality. Symptoms and signs of fibromyalgia are generalized, in contrast to localized soft-tissue pain and tenderness (myofascial pain syndrome), which is often related to overuse or microtrauma.
Fibromyalgia is common; it is about 7 times more common among women, usually young or middle-aged women, but can occur in men, children, and adolescents. Because of the sex difference, it is sometimes overlooked in men. It often occurs in patients with other concomitant, unrelated systemic rheumatic disorders, thus complicating diagnosis and management.

[Lanell]

A chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas.