Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition which causes widespread pain and severe fatigue.

It cannot be treated, and people with the condition have to find ways of managing their symptoms.

What is fibromyalgia?

The term combines "fibro" - which means fibrous, with "my" - muscles and "algia" - pain.

It is a collection of symptoms, rather than a specific disease.

As well as pain and fatigue, it can cause headaches or migraines, irritable bowel syndrome and can affect sleep.

Although other conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, can lead to similar symptoms, fibromyalgia is defined as widespread pain for at least three months which is experienced in at least 11 specified points around the body.

If people are severely affected, it can limit their ability to work or have an active social life.

What causes the syndrome?

It appears that it is usually triggered by some kind of trauma, such as a car accident, a viral infection or an operation, although some cases develop without any obvious trigger.

Researchers are still investigating the actual cause of fibromyalgia.

However, scientists have suggested a deficiency in levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which helps deliver messages between cells in the brain.

This can lead to a problem in the way the brain processes messages about pain, meaning people feel pain where others might experience a slight ache or stiffness.

Are there treatments available?

Many people are offered drugs normally used to treat depression. Given at much lower doses, this class of drugs, called tricyclics, blunt pain messages to the brain.

Others use over-the-counter pain-relief medications, or receive treatment at a pain clinic.

Understanding how to relieve symptoms is crucial, experts say.

The Fibromyalgia Association recommends using relaxation techniques.

It also says that heat, from hot water bottles, baths or showers or even soaking hands and feet for a few minutes can relieve overnight symptoms.

Stretching and aerobic exercise can also help.

The association says the most important thing is for people to listen to their bodies, and to slow down when they need to.