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Fibromyalgia and pain processing
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Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition in which pain and tenderness spread throughout the body, along with fatigue and sleep that gets disrupted. What the evidence points to isn't the place that hurts but the path the signal travels: the nervous system, which carries and processes it, has become more sensitive than usual. It's like turning up the volume on a stereo, the same thing goes in and comes out louder, so a stimulus feels more painful than you'd expect.
The fact that the problem lies in how the signal is processed doesn't make the pain imaginary: someone with fibromyalgia feels it just as real. And there's one more thing that sets it apart, there's no lab test or scan that on its own is enough to confirm it.
In brief
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder marked by widespread pain and tenderness, fatigue, and sleep problems.
Evidence points to heightened sensitivity in how the nervous system carries and processes pain signals. As a result, a signal may feel more painful than expected. This does not mean the pain is imaginary.
No single lab test or imaging study can confirm fibromyalgia on its own.
Sources (2)
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesFibromyalgia Symptoms, Causes, & Risk FactorsPublished
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesFibromyalgia: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to TakePublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated