Fibromyalgia:Adiseasecharacterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints, without detectableinflammation.Fibromyalgiadoes not cause body damage or deformity. However, undue fatigue plagues 90 percent of patients withfibromyalgia. Sleep disorder is also commoninpatients with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia can be associated with other rheumatic conditions, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can occur with fibromyalgia. There is no definitive medical test for thediagnosisof fibromyalgia, so diagnosis is made by eliminating other possible causes of the symptoms. The most effective treatment is a combination of education, stress reduction, exercise, andmedication. Formerly known as fibrositis.
