A syndrome of chronic pain of musculoskeletal origin but uncertain cause. The American College of Rheumatology has established diagnostic criteria that include pain on both sides of the body, both above and below the waist, as well as in an axial distribution (cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine or anterior chest); additionally there must be point tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specified sites. SYN: f. syndrome.
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fi·bro·my·al·gia .fī-(.)brō-.mī-'al-j(ē-)ə n a chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain, tenderness, and stiffness of muscles and associated connective tissue structures that is typically accompanied by fatigue, headache, and sleep disturbances called also fibromyalgia syndrome, fibromyositis
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n.
a disorder characterized by pain in the fibrous tissue components of muscles without any inflammation (compare fibromyositis). Widespread aching and stiffness are accompanied by extreme fatigue and often associated with headache, numbness and tingling, and various other symptonms. Fibromyalgia is frequently triggered by anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation, and straining or overuse of muscles; it appears to be closely related to CFS/ME.
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fi·bro·my·al·gia (fi″bro-mi-alґjə) pain and stiffness in the muscles and joints that either is diffuse or has multiple trigger points.Medical dictionary. 2011.