the.com/fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia makes the nervous system amplify pain signals, causing real, often invisible, chronic suffering.
means A chronic condition causing widespread pain, fatigue, and tenderness, believed to stem from the nervous system amplifying pain signals rather than any damage to muscles or joints themselves.
from Built from medical Latin and Greek like a diagnostic stack: 'fibro-' from Latin fibra (fiber, referring to the fibrous tissues of tendons and ligaments), 'my-' from Greek mys (muscle), and 'algia' from Greek algos (pain). So, literally, 'fiber-muscle-pain' — a name coined in the late 20th century when doctors renamed what used to be called 'fibrositis,' once pain was understood to come from nerve signaling rather than inflammation of tissue.
- not inflammation
- joints and muscles look completely normal on scans
- real cause
- brain amplifies pain signals that shouldn't hurt this much
- who gets it
- mostly women, often after stress, trauma, or infection
- other symptoms
- Fatigue, trouble thinking clearly and poor sleep often accompany the pain