99 Symptoms of Fibromyalgia (Hard to Believe). What are yours?
Fibromyalgia comes with a huge range of symptoms, and it’s not just about pain—there are neurological, digestive, sensory, and even emotional effects. Many people don’t realize how widespread it can be. Here’s a list of 99 possible symptoms that people with fibromyalgia might experience:
1-10: Widespread Pain & Sensory Issues
- Chronic muscle pain
- Joint pain (without swelling)
- Burning sensations
- Deep aching pain
- Tender points on the body
- Stiffness (especially in the morning)
- Feeling bruised all over
- Increased pain with weather changes
- Hyperalgesia (increased pain sensitivity)
- Allodynia (pain from things that shouldn’t hurt, like light touch)
11-20: Fatigue & Sleep Problems
- Extreme fatigue (even after sleeping)
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Insomnia or trouble staying asleep
- Sleep apnea
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
- Feeling exhausted after minor activities
- Midday energy crashes
- Difficulty waking up in the morning
- Trouble falling asleep
- Vivid or disturbing dreams
21-30: Cognitive Issues (“Fibro Fog”)
- Forgetfulness
- Trouble concentrating
- Getting easily distracted
- Confusion
- Trouble finding the right words
- Short-term memory loss
- Losing train of thought mid-sentence
- Mixing up words or numbers
- Trouble multitasking
- Difficulty with decision-making
31-40: Neurological Symptoms
- Tingling in hands and feet
- Numbness in limbs
- Dizziness or balance issues
- Vertigo
- Sensitivity to noise
- Sensitivity to bright lights
- Sensitivity to strong smells
- Electric shock sensations
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Headaches or migraines
41-50: Mental Health & Emotional Symptoms
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Mood swings
- Overwhelm from too much stimulation
- Increased sensitivity to stress
- Irritability
- Feeling detached or dissociated
- Emotional exhaustion
- Lack of motivation
51-60: Skin & Temperature Sensitivity
- Skin rashes or irritation
- Itching for no reason
- Blotchy or mottled skin
- Cold hands and feet
- Sensitivity to heat or cold
- Sweating excessively or not at all
- Feeling feverish without a fever
- Burning or tingling skin sensations
- Sudden red flushes in the face
- Bruising easily
61-70: Digestive & Urinary Issues
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Acid reflux or GERD
- Nausea
- Food sensitivities
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Frequent urination
- Bladder pain (Interstitial Cystitis)
71-80: Heart & Circulation Issues
- Heart palpitations
- Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Low blood pressure when standing (POTS)
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain (costochondritis)
- Feeling faint or dizzy upon standing
- Hands and feet turning purple or red
- Poor circulation
- Sensation of tightness in the chest
- Feeling like your heart is skipping beats
81-90: Muscle & Joint Problems
- Muscle weakness
- Cramping muscles
- Muscle twitches (fasciculations)
- Joint stiffness
- Locking joints
- Clicking or popping joints
- Inability to stand for long periods
- Difficulty walking long distances
- Difficulty lifting objects
- Uncontrollable shaking or tremors
91-99: Other Odd & Random Symptoms
- Sensitivity to medications
- Feeling hungover without drinking
- Vision problems (blurry, double vision)
- Chronic sinus issues or stuffy nose
- Frequent sore throats
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hair loss or thinning hair
- Unusual body odors (from sweat or breath)
- Increased sensitivity to alcohol or caffeine
Hard to Believe? Yes. But Real? Absolutely.
Fibromyalgia is so much more than just pain and fatigue. If your mom has FM, she might experience a bunch of these, but every person is different. It’s heartbreaking that so many doctors don’t take these symptoms seriously because they’re “invisible.” But they are very real to the people suffering.
