Chronic Conditions
Fibromyalgia
Widespread musculoskeletal pain with fatigue, sleep disturbance and heightened pain sensitivity.
What fibromyalgia is
Fibromyalgia is a disorder of pain processing: the nervous system amplifies signals that would not ordinarily register as painful. It is real, it is measurable in how the nervous system behaves, and it is not a diagnosis of exclusion given when nothing else is found.
Effective management is layered — medication that targets central pain pathways, treatment of any coexisting joint or spine pain generators, sleep restoration, and graded activity.
Common symptoms
- Widespread pain on both sides of the body for months
- Persistent fatigue and unrefreshing sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Tenderness to modest pressure across many areas
Common causes
- A nervous system that amplifies pain signals more than usual, sometimes following a triggering illness or injury
- Sleep disorders that reduce restorative deep sleep
- Genetic predisposition, since fibromyalgia often runs in families
- Chronic stress or a history of significant physical or emotional trauma
- Coexisting conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or migraine that share similar pain-processing pathways
How it is diagnosed
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed based on widespread pain present on both sides of the body and above and below the waist for at least three months, along with associated symptoms such as fatigue, unrefreshing sleep and difficulty concentrating.
There is no blood test or imaging study that confirms fibromyalgia. Instead, bloodwork and imaging are used to rule out other conditions, such as thyroid disease, inflammatory arthritis, or a treatable spine or joint problem, that could explain or contribute to the symptoms.
Because fibromyalgia can coexist with a structural pain generator, such as facet arthritis or a herniated disc, the evaluation looks specifically for any treatable source that might be adding to the overall pain burden.
Treatment options we offer
Which of these applies depends on your examination and, where appropriate, a diagnostic block confirming the source of your fibromyalgia.
- Medication ManagementCareful, monitored use of the right medication class for your pain type, with clear goals and safety oversight.
- Trigger Point InjectionsSmall injections into taut, tender muscle bands that release the knot and reduce referred pain.
- Nerve BlocksTargeted injections that interrupt pain signals along a specific nerve or nerve plexus.
- Joint InjectionsCorticosteroid or viscosupplement placed into a painful shoulder, hip, knee or other joint under image guidance.
When to see a specialist
- Widespread pain on both sides of the body lasting three months or longer
- Persistent fatigue and unrefreshing sleep despite adequate time in bed
- Difficulty concentrating, sometimes described as fibro fog
- Tenderness to modest pressure across many areas of the body
- New, localized severe pain distinct from your usual widespread pain, which deserves separate evaluation rather than being assumed to be a fibromyalgia flare
Common questions
Is fibromyalgia a real medical condition?
Will an X-ray or MRI show fibromyalgia?
Can fibromyalgia and arthritis occur together?
What helps fibromyalgia the most?
Related conditions
- ArthritisDegenerative and inflammatory joint disease of the spine, hips, knees and shoulders.
- NeuropathyNerve damage causing burning, numbness and tingling, most often in the feet, legs and hands.
- Complex Regional Pain SyndromeA disproportionate pain response after injury, with skin, temperature and swelling changes in a limb.
- Cancer PainPain from tumor, treatment or nerve involvement, managed alongside the patient's oncology team.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.