fibromyalgia

American  

[fahy-broh-mahy-al-juh] / ˌfaɪ broʊ maɪˈæl dʒə /

noun

Pathology.

1. a syndrome characterized by fatigue and chronic pain in the muscles and in tissues surrounding the joints.

---

fibromyalgia British  

/ ˌfaɪbrəʊmaɪˈældʒɪə /

noun

1. a rheumatoid disorder characterized by muscle pain and headaches

---

fibromyalgia Scientific  

/ fī′brō-mī-ăl′jə /

1. A syndrome that is characterized by chronic pain in any of various muscles and surrounding soft tissues (such as tendons and ligaments), point tenderness at specific sites in the body, and fatigue. Inflammation is absent, and the cause is unknown.

---

Etymology

Origin of fibromyalgia

First recorded in 1980–85; fibro- + myalgia

Explanation

Fibromyalgia is a kind of medical condition that causes widespread, persistent pain. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include intense tiredness, difficulty sleeping, and muscle pain. The word fibromyalgia is built from Greek and Latin roots: The Latin root fibro- means "fiber" (as in the fibers of one's muscles); the Greek root myo- means "muscle," and the Greek root -algia means "pain." Medical professionals are not sure what causes fibromyalgia, and there is no definitive test to diagnose the condition or a cure for it. It is believed to be a nervous system disorder that affects how pain signals are processed. Treatment focuses on managing the symptoms.

Example Sentences

Her husband, an electrician, was made redundant during Covid and not long after that he was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a condition that causes extreme physical pain and tiredness.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Five studies examined neuropathic pain, nine focused on osteoarthritis, four looked at chronic low back pain, and one studied fibromyalgia.

From Science Daily • Dec. 25, 2025

Fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and joint pain can be caused by anemia, sleep disorders, mental illnesses, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, ALS, fibromyalgia, cancer, and many other conditions.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2025

Fender learned to play guitar and write songs as a teenager living paycheck to paycheck with a mom suffering from fibromyalgia.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2025

Shannon Doulis' life changed after she contracted Covid-19 four years ago, later developing chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia as a result of long Covid.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2025