What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body. The condition affects the muscles, tendons and ligaments (bands of tissue that connect bone to bone), resulting in widespread pain, fatigue, and extreme sensitivity to pain.

The name fibromyalgia comes from the Latin word 'fibro', meaning fibrous tissues (tendons, ligaments), 'my' meaning muscles, and 'algia' meaning pain.

Fibromyalgia used to be known as fibrositis, which literally means inflammation of the muscles and soft tissue. However, the condition was renamed fibromyalgia after studies found that there is no inflammation, or nerve injury.

Who is affected by fibromyalgia?

Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although the condition tends to affect more women than men. In most cases, fibromyalgia occurs between 35-60 years of age, but it can develop in people of any age, including children and the elderly.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but treatment aims to ease the symptoms as much as possible. The condition can be treated using a combination of medicines, complementary therapies and lifestyle changes.