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

Example Sentences

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

She questions whether her career was really worth sacrificing her privacy, her sanity and even her health, as punishing live shows exacerbated her fibromyalgia, a condition that cause chronic, full-body pain.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025

Elena, 54, has fibromyalgia and arthritis, and her husband, 62, has had a heart attack.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2025

The former Desert Island Discs presenter stepped back from the programme in 2018 after she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2024