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Where do you feel pain with fibromyalgia?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 09, 2026

The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist. Fatigue.

Where do you hurt with fibromyalgia?

The pain of fibromyalgia is generally widespread, involving both sides of the body. Pain usually affects the neck, buttocks, shoulders, arms, the upper back, and the chest. Pain can cause aches all over the body, including painful tender points, deep muscle pain, chronic headaches, unending back pain, or neck pain.

Can fibromyalgia pain be everywhere?

Almost all people with fibromyalgia ache all over. It can feel similar to osteoarthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis, but it's over your entire body. This is usually what makes you go see your doctor. The pain can be deep, sharp, dull, throbbing, or aching.

Can fibromyalgia hurt in one area?

The main symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread pain. You can have pain on the right and left side of the body. It can also be above and below the waist. But the pain may also occur in only one or two places in the body, especially the neck and shoulders.

What are usually the first signs of fibromyalgia?

Main signs and symptoms

  • fatigue.
  • lack of energy.
  • trouble sleeping.
  • depression or anxiety.
  • memory problems and trouble concentrating (sometimes called “fibro fog”)
  • headaches.
  • muscle twitches or cramps.
  • numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
28 related questions found

What does fibromyalgia feel like in legs?

Many people describe it as a deep, dull ache within the muscles that gets worse with strenuous exercise. The pain can also be throbbing, shooting, or burning. And it may radiate from areas of the body known as tender points, and can be accompanied by numbness or tingling in the limbs.

What are the 7 stages of fibromyalgia?

The 7 Types of Fibromyalgia Pain

  • Hyperalgesia.
  • Widespread Muscle Pain.
  • TMJ Pain.
  • Allodynia.
  • Neuropathic Pain.
  • Headaches.
  • Abdominal and Pelvic Pain.
  • Summary.

How would you describe fibromyalgia pain?

The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist. Fatigue.

What can be mistaken for fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia may be mistaken for one of the following six conditions, among others:

  • Celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity.
  • Hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's disease.
  • Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis)
  • Myofacial pain.

What are the 8 symptoms of fibromyalgia?

8 FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD KNOW

  • Pain and Tenderness. The most common and well-known symptom of fibromyalgia is the all-over aches and pains many people experience. ...
  • Fatigue. ...
  • Sleep Issues. ...
  • Mood Disorders. ...
  • Morning Stiffness. ...
  • Swelling or Tingling in Your Extremities. ...
  • Headaches. ...
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Is fibromyalgia pain worse at night?

People with fibromyalgia tend to wake up with body pain and stiffness. For some people, pain improves during the day and gets worse at night.

What happens if fibromyalgia is left untreated?

A major risk of leaving fibromyalgia untreated is that symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, headaches, and depression can become excruciatingly worse over time. Fibromyalgia also has a huge impact on mental health and anxiety and mood disorders can also worsen if you don't treat fibromyalgia.

Can fibromyalgia cause pain in the groin area?

Fibromyalgia

One 2015 article states that females with fibromyalgia report bothersome pelvic floor symptoms and may experience pelvic pain. Fibromyalgia pain can originate at specific tender points throughout the body. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include: fatigue.

Does fibromyalgia cause pain in arms?

People with fibromyalgia may have feelings of numbness and tingling in their hands, arms, feet, legs or sometimes in their face. These feelings can suggest other disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, neuritis or even multiple sclerosis.

What are the 18 tender points of fibromyalgia?

They were previously defined as 18 tender points throughout the body, each about the size of a penny. Fibromyalgia tender points are located in clusters on both sides of the body, both above and below the waist. These clusters are located around the following areas: neck.

Can fibromyalgia give you breast pain?

Breasts. Fibrocystic breast disease is common among Fibromyalgia patients. With this condition, breasts are tender and contain cysts. Patients who are diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease need regular breast examinations and mammograms because of the possibility of cancer.

Does fibromyalgia show up in blood work?

Scientists have managed to detect fibromyalgia in blood samples and differentiate it from other similar conditions. Kevin Hackshaw, a professor in the College of Medicine at the Ohio State University in Columbus and a rheumatologist at the university's Wexner Medical Center, led the new research.

How do I know if I have MS or fibromyalgia?

MS can permanently damage your nerves. Fibromyalgia causes pain and stiffness all over your body, along with other symptoms. Doctors aren't sure what triggers it. They think it might have something to do with how your brain processes pain.

What does fibromyalgia feel like in your back?

Your muscles may feel like they have been overworked or pulled even though you haven't exercised. Sometimes, your muscles will twitch. Other times they will burn or ache with deep stabbing pain. Some patients with fibromyalgia have pain and achiness around the joints in their neck, shoulders, back, and hips.

Does fibromyalgia make your hips hurt?

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes aches and pain all over the body. People with fibromyalgia also have “tender points” throughout their bodies. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs that hurt when pressure is put on them.

What triggers fibromyalgia?

Possible triggers

Fibromyalgia is often triggered by a stressful event, including physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers for the condition include: an injury. a viral infection.

Do hot showers help fibromyalgia?

Heat, especially moist heat, may relieve soreness and stiffness from fibromyalgia by boosting blood flow to the places where you hurt. Apply a warm, moist washcloth to the painful area or try taking a shower or soaking in a bath. You also can reduce the deep muscle pain of fibromyalgia with a cold pack.

Does exercise help fibromyalgia?

“It benefits all of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, including pain, fatigue, and sleep problems.” Exercise can help maintain bone mass, improve balance, reduce stress, and increase strength. Getting regular exercise can also help control your weight, which is important to reducing the pain of fibromyalgia.

Does fibromyalgia cause weight gain?

Numerous studies have pointed out that fibromyalgia can lead to weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle, and that extra weight can lead to more severe symptoms.

Why do my legs throb and ache at night?

Our blood is propelled back to our heart by our heart pumping and by our leg and foot muscles as we walk and move our ankles. that blood is forced into the tissue of our skin making it swell. This can make our legs feel tired, throbbing and painful. You may notice that your ankles swell, especially in the evening.