Disease of the month: Fibromyalgia

clock • 6 min read

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition causing pain all over the body and although anyone can develop the condition, it affects around seven times more women than men; writes Fergus Bescoby.

The condition typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50 but can occur in people of any age, including children and the elderly. The word fibromyalgia means pain (algia) coming from the muscles (my) and fibrous tissues (fibro) such as tendons and ligaments. Most people with fibromyalgia also have other symptoms in addition to the pain. The condition is therefore sometimes called fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). It is a persistent (chronic) condition that is not a life threatening illness but can often be life changing. It is not clear exactly how many people suffer from fibromyal...

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