Fibromyalgia explained

Lack of deep sleep makes people with or without FS feel achy, tired and less able to concentrate. Sleep problems could therefore not only be a symptom of FS, but also an underlying cause of many of the symptoms.

The following are classic FS symptoms, and are in addition to the pain, sleeping difficulty and fatigue experienced by most fibromyalgia sufferers:

• Stiffness, particularly in the early morning, after prolonged sitting or standing, or with changes in temperature or relative humidity
• Increased headaches or facial pain, including frequent migraine tension, vascular headaches or pain behind the eyes
• Abdominal discomfort, often referred to as irritable bowel syndrome, which can include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhoea (some of this discomfort may be due to bacterial overgrowth)
• Irritable bladder symptoms with frequency or urgency of urination
• Sensitivity to the cold, especially in the hands and feet, often accompanied by colour changes; this condition is known as Raynaud's phenomenon
• Parenthesia - a numbness or tingling - often in the hands or feet
• Skin problems, including blotchy or itchy skin; also, a sensation of swelling, particularly in the extremities - such as a ring suddenly not fitting - is a common symptom
• Sensitivity to sound and light