Fibromyalgia is often misunderstood, and reliable information can be difficult to find. Whether you have recently been diagnosed, have been managing the condition for years, or are supporting someone who has it, our guides aim to make things clearer.

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition involving widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. It is increasingly understood as a condition that affects how the central nervous system processes pain signals, rather than a disease of damaged muscles or joints.

What is fibromyalgia?: a plain-language introduction to the condition and how it affects the body.

Causes and triggers: what is currently understood about why fibromyalgia develops, and what triggers day-to-day flares.

Fibromyalgia and overlapping conditions: the high rate of co-occurrence with ME/CFS, IBS, migraine, and other conditions.

The defining feature of fibromyalgia is widespread pain: pain in multiple areas of the body lasting three months or more. Alongside pain, most people also experience fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and cognitive difficulties often called ‘fibro fog’.

Fibromyalgia symptoms: the main symptoms explained in plain language.

Fibromyalgia flares: what a flare is, what can trigger one, and how to manage when symptoms worsen.

How fibromyalgia is diagnosed: the 2016 ACR criteria, the tests that help rule out other conditions, and how to prepare for your appointment.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia yet. Management focuses on reducing pain, improving sleep, and protecting energy through a mix of strategies. Most people find that a combination of approaches works better than any single one.

Managing fibromyalgia: pain management, sleep, gentle movement, and working with your GP.

Living with fibromyalgia: adapting daily routines, home setup, work, and relationships.

The impact of fibromyalgia: how the condition affects work, finances, relationships, and mental health.

Fibromyalgia research has been underfunded for decades, but understanding of the condition has shifted significantly in recent years. Researchers increasingly frame it as a disorder of central pain processing. Over time, that shift may change how the condition is diagnosed and treated.

Fibromyalgia research: current theories, including central sensitisation and nociplastic pain.

Fibromyalgia news: how to spot reliable updates and where to follow real scientific progress.

Fibromyalgia resources: patient charities, research organisations, tracking tools, and communities.

FAQs: answers to the most common questions about fibromyalgia.