{"id":6065,"date":"2024-05-31T12:24:10","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T12:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/the-29-1-invisible-symptoms-of-fibromyalgia\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T18:59:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T18:59:50","slug":"the-29-1-invisible-symptoms-of-fibromyalgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justpaste.in\/blogs\/the-29-1-invisible-symptoms-of-fibromyalgia\/","title":{"rendered":"29 + 1 Hidden Symptoms of Fibromyalgia That Everyone Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

“I’m sorry? What do you have? Fibromyalgia? Isn’t that a made-up thing? You sure don’t look sick.” How many times have we, as fibromyalgia sufferers, had to justify that our ailment is real!<\/p>\n

Oftentimes, when you tell someone you are sick, they give you the quick once over and retort back hurriedly that nothing appears wrong. At that point, we must explain our symptoms and how they affect our daily lives.<\/p>\n

Are you for real?<\/span><\/h2>\n

But to no avail! We are still met with skepticism and snark. They don’t say anything while thinking, “Right. Just a way to get attention.” Or even worse, they do say something along the lines of, “Are you faking it to get out of work?<\/p>\n

Did an actual doctor diagnose you? Are you a drug seeker?” This is quite humiliating, to be honest. No one wants to be subjected to that type of negative scrutiny.<\/p>\n

Each time I hear those nasty comments, I want to scream, “Of course, it is a real diagnosis! Why would I fake this?” But that would only bring more questions, sarcasm, and ignorance. And quite frankly, no decent human being would dare say those things to a cancer patient, an amputee, or a wheelchair-bound individual.<\/p>\n

Invisible symptoms? Is that a thing?<\/span><\/h2>\n

We don’t have to accept the general public’s incredulity silently. Our role, as part of the Fibro Army, is to educate people. How can we expect others to know what it is like if they don’t know what it is like?<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, fibromyalgia<\/a> comes with a battery of invisible symptoms. What’s an invisible symptom, you ask? Well, unlike a missing limb or a gaping wound, the symptoms of fibromyalgia are symptoms that are felt deep in the body.<\/p>\n

No one can ever tell when you are suffering because from the “outside,” you look just like any other healthy individual. But on the “inside,” you are affected by various impairments that impact your life in major ways.<\/p>\n

Fibro can be a pain in your…<\/span><\/h2>\n

Fill in the blank; there is no wrong answer! Fibromyalgia affects your entire body, and the pain can be extremely intense. It is said that the most common symptoms are widespread muscle pain<\/strong><\/a> and tenderness.<\/p>\n

As a matter of fact, one of the early detection tools for doctors is to push on certain trigger points in your body. This will result in accuse pain.<\/p>\n

Different trigger points are commonly tested. In fact, there are nine pairs of trigger points in the body: the back of the neck, the collarbone, the upper ribs, the elbows, the interior of the knees, the shoulders, the shoulder blades, the hips, and the sacroiliac joint (where your lower back connects with your pelvis).<\/p>\n

Doctors will often use these trigger points as a detection method.<\/p>\n

What hurts today?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Where it becomes difficult to understand for people who do not suffer from fibromyalgia is that the pain travels.<\/p>\n

Yep. You can view your pain as being a tourist, going from place to place, staying a while, or leaving the next morning.<\/p>\n

People have a difficult time comprehending that one day, their left knee hurts, and the next, their right elbow hurts.<\/p>\n

We have been conditioned to think that pain is localized in one spot, and that’s all there is. But when it comes to fibromyalgia, the location of the pain can be unpredictable.<\/p>\n

\"Invisible<\/p>\n

Now you see me… now you don’t!<\/span><\/h2>\n

The pain can be dull, or sharp; lingering, or acute; diffuse, or specific. It can happen at night, during the day, at certain times, or not at all for days (but that is rare).<\/p>\n

You may feel it in your muscles, abdomen, or neck and back regions. It can be hard to lift your legs or kneel.<\/p>\n

Add to that the fact that the pain comes and goes. Some days, everything goes in the right direction (buy a lottery ticket!). But some days, you can be bedridden with what experts call a flare-up.<\/p>\n

Like the name suggests, your symptoms get more noticeable and, unfortunately, more painful. Those are the times you wish people would see you because they would know how bad it gets.<\/p>\n

Due to the “all over” nature of fibromyalgia pain<\/strong><\/a>, it is sometimes hard to diagnose. Often, the symptoms will mimic those of a different ailment. However, when your pain is more or less generalized, it is a strong indication that fibromyalgia may be the culprit.<\/p>\n

\"fibromyalgia<\/p>\n

I can’t stomach this anymore!<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of the lesser-known symptoms of fibromyalgia is stomach upset. Fibromyalgia can affect your entire body, including your gut.<\/p>\n

Many systems in the body rely on the gut to give them an overall sense of how you are doing as a person. The reverse is also true. If you\u2019re not feeling well, your gut will not feel well either.<\/p>\n

Think about it: when you feel stressed out or anxious, you may have an upset stomach.\u00a0 Likewise, constipation is not an uncommon complaint among fibromyalgia sufferers.<\/p>\n

In fact, IBS, or Irritated Bowel Syndrome, has been known to co-exist with fibromyalgia. While each relationship between the two conditions has not been established, it has to do with the fact that both conditions affect the central nervous system.<\/p>\n

They are considered functional disorders. In other words, things that should work smoothly do not work as well as they should.<\/p>\n

Are you even listening to me?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Clouded consciousness\u00a0is,\u00a0unfortunately, a prevalent occurrence in fibromyalgia patients. We even have a name for it: Fibromyalgia brain Fog<\/a><\/strong>. It can be summed up as am overall fuzzy feeling.<\/p>\n

Your brain feels like it is wrapped in cotton candy. You can hear, feel, and participate in activities, but you cannot use 100% of your brain. It\u2019s almost like looking at the world through a window covered in raindrops.<\/p>\n

Speech and comprehension<\/strong><\/a> are greatly altered, and from an observer\u2019s point of view, it may seem as if one is not paying attention or not interested.<\/p>\n

I must admit that Fibro Fog has been at the root of a few arguments at my house.\u00a0 It is one of the most difficult symptoms for your loved ones to handle.<\/p>\n

I think my arm fell asleep. Again.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Pins and needles are everywhere each time you sit down or fall asleep. That is no one\u2019s idea of a fun, relaxing moment. Yet, it is something that fibromyalgia sufferers experience regularly.<\/p>\n

Numbness and tingling could result from a co-morbid condition called paresthesia. Fibromyalgia is a disturbance in the neural pathways.\u00a0 Simply put, fibromyalgia signals your nerve receive from your skin, for example, are not relayed properly to your brain.<\/p>\n

So you may feel a gentle brush on your arm as strongly as if someone was cutting it off.\u00a0 It sounds like an exaggeration, but for some fibromyalgia patients, it is their reality.<\/p>\n

Think about your neural pathways as highways within your body that help carry information from your nerve endings to your brain on a truck. Now imagine several detours along the highways, and some information gets lost.<\/p>\n

Now, someone steals some of your cargo, and you pick up a hitchhiker or two along the way who leaves some of their stuff in your truck. The information that reaches your brain now is nothing like the information at the beginning of the trip.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what is happening with fibromyalgia. The information gets jumbled within your body, and your brain receives a signal that may not even be real. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you get your hypersensitivity to cold, hot, pain, you name it.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s also why your body thinks your left foot is dying when you simply squat down to pet your dog. I guess your brain is like a second grader: it interprets everything literally without using context clues.<\/p>\n

Costo-what?!?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Costochondritis\u2014yes, it\u2019s a word, yes, it\u2019s a medical condition, and yes, it\u2019s painful.<\/p>\n

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the tissues between your upper ribs, particularly where your ribs attach to your sternum\u00a0or breastplate.<\/p>\n

Unsurprisingly, it is one of the trigger points doctors look for when first examining patients who exhibit signs of fibromyalgia. This is one of the most painful invisible symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.<\/p>\n

It feels like your ribs cannot move any longer, and your chest gets heavy. It\u2019s almost like pressure on your upper chest, and patients have been known to sometimes mistake costochondritis for heart-related incidents.<\/p>\n

There is not much you can do about costochondritis. Some like to go to physical therapy to regain some range of motion in the ribs, but realistically, costochondritis will eventually go away on its own. Now the question is, can you wait that long?<\/p>\n

I mean\u2026 it hurts\u2026 a lot\u2026<\/p>\n

Quick tip from my bag of tips: capsaicin cream works well if you can handle the hot pepper feel on your skin. It helps decrease inflammation, which in turn helps decrease the swelling and pain associated with it.<\/p>\n

\"fibromyalgia<\/p>\n

Wake me up when you go-go…<\/span><\/h2>\n

Fatigue and tiredness\u00a0are not surprisingly major symptoms of fibromyalgia. People will sometimes label you as lazy, and that truly makes it worse. Here is what is hard to understand: some days, you have enough energy to take on an entire class of kindergarteners on the obstacle course. And the next day, you can\u2019t even open your eyes.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0fact that the fatigue comes and goes at the most inopportune times is mind-boggling for the observers. You will hear things like, \u201cYou have enough energy to hang out with So-and-so, but you don\u2019t have time for me? I see\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The reality is that chronic fatigue can hit you at any time. You know the adage, \u201cModeration is key?\u201d Well, it works for fibromyalgia too.\u00a0 You are the only person who can tell if your fatigue is temporary or chronic, just as you can only decide how much is too much.<\/p>\n

Just because you have tons of energy, one day doesn\u2019t mean you should spend it all.\u00a0 Because if you do, you risk paying for it during the entire week ahead\u2026<\/p>\n

I think I’m going to faint…<\/span><\/h2>\n

Malaise, or an overall yucky feeling, is one of the least recognizable invisible symptoms of fibromyalgia. Sometimes accompanied by muscle spasms, malaise just makes you feel\u2026 blech.<\/p>\n

You have no energy; you feel noxious but not really; you experience dull aches without being able to point to the exact site of your pain; you feel an overall discomfort, but you can\u2019t explain it or put it into words.<\/p>\n

Malaise is the feeling that will make you say, \u201cI don\u2019t feel so good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Often, fibromyalgia sufferers have this general uneasiness they cannot explain. Again, this is one of those symptoms everyone will experience at some point. But for Fibro Warriors, it\u2019s an all too familiar state.<\/p>\n

Pass me that bucket!\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many fibromyalgia patients will report having felt nauseated when the pain is ongoing. A primal instinct, nausea, is that deep feeling in the pit of your stomach that tells you when you are about to throw up.<\/p>\n

We have all heard stories of people being so badly hurt that they threw up from the pain. It is what is known as a vagal response or a vasovagal syncope. Big words, I know.<\/p>\n

In a nutshell, your vagal nerve is the biggest in your nervous system. When you have fibromyalgia, your nerves are severely impacted by the ailment, so your vagal nerve is also overstimulated.<\/p>\n

This vagal response signals to your brain that you are in danger. The uncontrollable reflex induces a feeling of nausea, as it dilates all your blood vessels to allow more \u201cfresh\u201d blood to reach your body.<\/p>\n

What does that mean concretely? You want to throw up.<\/p>\n

Yuck.<\/p>\n

I love you! I hate you! Am I dying? Oh, look, butterfly!<\/span><\/h2>\n

The mood swings. Oh, the mood swings! I can go from sweet as pie to mean as a viper in 10.2 seconds. It is quite uncanny how much fibromyalgia affects the mood<\/strong><\/a>. Just as unpredictable and diverse as the pain can be, the same can be said of mood.<\/p>\n

Add to that the blatant lack of sustained concentration and the anxiety of not knowing how your body will feel in an hour from now, and you have the recipe for emotional disaster.<\/p>\n

Panic attacks and depression are ailments to look out for when you suffer from fibromyalgia. Sadly, as your mood fluctuates throughout the day, meaningful relationships may be affected by our health concerns.<\/p>\n

\"Invisible<\/p>\n

It’s freezing in here!<\/span><\/h2>\n

A surprising, and maybe less common, invisible symptom of fibromyalgia is acrocyanosis, accompanied by excessive perspiration.<\/p>\n

Go ahead. You can stare blankly at your screen while thinking, \u201cAcro-whaa?\u201d<\/p>\n

It is simply a medical term for cold hands. Fibromyalgia can be accompanied by the sensation of always having cold hands and sometimes having sweaty (that\u2019s the perspiration part), even blueish hands.<\/p>\n

The reason is easy to understand: as we have established, fibromyalgia affects the nervous system. When the nerve signals are \u201call mixed up,\u201d our bodies may think that environmental factors influence the signals. In return, the nerve thinks it needs to cut off the blood supply to the extremities, so it constricts the blood vessels.<\/p>\n

No blood flow = cold hands.<\/p>\n

This invisible symptom is probably the most visible one! Rest assured that while it can be impressive, acrocyanosis is not dangerous at all. Nothing needs to be done, and the hands periodically cycle from hot to cold.<\/p>\n

Shhhhh… just… shhhh…<\/span><\/h2>\n

OK, maybe I\u2019ve taken advantage of this once or twice. Not my proudest moment, so don\u2019t hate me for admitting that I may have claimed I had a bad headache just so my kids would leave me alone. Don\u2019t judge me.<\/p>\n

But here is what is real: fibromyalgia, as we know, affects the nervous system, which contributes to vasoconstriction (when the blood vessels contract). Constricted blood vessels are the most common explanation for a headache.<\/p>\n

So yes, you\u2019ve guessed it. Fibromyalgia patients will, almost 100% of the time, experience headaches ranging from a dull sensation to a full-blown migraine. Nothing fun, that\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n

Now, on top of the frequent headaches, fibromyalgia sufferers can also count on being irritable. Actually, I would dare say that they go hand in hand, and that makes sense. Imagine having a blaring headache. Wouldn\u2019t you be a bit irritable, too? That symptom is, therefore, quite self-explanatory.<\/p>\n

\"fibromyalgia<\/p>\n

I’m so tired I can’t sleep!<\/span><\/h2>\n

And here we go. One of the greatest paradoxes of fibromyalgia. You are so tired all the time, yet you cannot fall asleep for your life. Try explaining that to your loved ones without sounding like a lunatic.<\/p>\n

A large majority of people affected by fibromyalgia also experience sleep disturbances. And truly, it is not far-fetched to say that since you just cannot get comfortable due to the pain, it is hard to fall asleep.<\/p>\n

You know what else makes sense? Fibromyalgia patients do not reach the deep, reparative stage of sleep very easily. Why? Let\u2019s look at it this way: every time you toss and turn in your sleep (which we all do), a new ache or pain is triggered. Even if you do not wake up fully, it is certainly to blame for not allowing you to sleep tight.<\/p>\n

It is also important to note that there are two common conditions among fibromyalgia patients; they are more likely than the \u201cgeneral population\u201d to suffer from RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) and Sleep Apnea.<\/p>\n

Once again, if we stop to look at how fibromyalgia works, it makes perfect sense. Nerve signal disturbances are indistinguishable from real nerve signals in the brain.<\/p>\n

Just as we saw above, pins and needles were a common comorbidity for fibromyalgia sufferers; the same can be said of Restless Leg Syndrome.<\/p>\n

As for Sleep Apnea, a type of sleep apnea called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome is more prevalent. And you know it: it is nerve-related sleep apnea. It\u2019s like we\u2019re running in circles\u2026<\/p>\n

I can predict the weather with my knees!<\/span><\/h2>\n

Remember your Great-Grandma Bertha\u2019s amazing ability to predict the weather without looking at a barometer? And how was the storm’s severity not expressed in barometric pressure but in degrees of pain in her knees?<\/p>\n

I feel like that sometimes. It\u2019s a bit crazy, really. But my joints are so sore from the fibromyalgia that if there is a drop in atmospheric pressure, I can tell you all about it before the weatherman on Channel 4.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m trying to put a positive spin on this one because I will cry if I don\u2019t laugh about it.<\/p>\n

Joint stiffness is no laughing matter, though. It can be quite incapacitating. There are days when crawling out of bed is a feat. Between the stiff joints and the sore trigger points, the physical pain is real, and it\u2019s bad.<\/p>\n

If you have joint stiffness, it may be one of the invisible symptoms of fibromyalgia, whether dull, achy, acute, sharp, lingering, chronic, or stabbing.<\/p>\n

I just can’t do this anymore.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Once in a while, the reality of it all will hit me. I have a chronic condition that has no cure.<\/p>\n

No. Cure.<\/p>\n

It seems fitting that depression would be an invisible symptom of fibromyalgia. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say it is an invisible side effect.<\/p>\n

For some people, the depression will hit first. You are tired all the time. Your social life is impacted because you have no energy to meet your friends or are in too much pain to deal with a night in town.<\/p>\n

Depression<\/strong><\/a> is unfortunately only one of the invisible symptoms affecting your mental health.<\/p>\n

Many fibromyalgia patients will also experience nervousness. Our innate fight-or-flight response triggers this. When we feel we are in danger, our body either gets the urge to run away or gets the urge to fight back.<\/p>\n

With fibromyalgia, running away is definitely out of the question. So, we are left with the righting reflex. Except that fighting means tensing up, and tensing up means added pain. It is then normal for fibromyalgia patients to constantly feel nervous about the world out there for fear of having to \u201cfight.\u201d<\/p>\n

The anxiety felt by many fibromyalgia sufferers can be life-altering. Never knowing if today will be a good day or a bad day makes it difficult to look forward to tackling the day. And if it is a good day by chance, the fear of overdoing things and paying for it the next day is not a fun prospect.<\/p>\n

If you add on the general soreness and the recurring headaches, your head is soon filled with negative thoughts on the verge of spiraling out of control.<\/p>\n

You are not alone. We<\/u> are not alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If things are that<\/em> bad, why even bother to keep going?<\/p>\n

Simply put, because life is worth living.<\/p>\n

Sure, it\u2019s not all happiness, rainbows, and unicorns. But let\u2019s face it: no one\u2019s life is perfect. The difference between Fibro Warriors and the rest of the world is that when we do have a good day, we know how to appreciate it to the fullest!<\/p>\n

There is no wasted time trying to figure out if we should or shouldn\u2019t do something. Rather, we think in terms of a\u00a0can or cannot do things.\u00a0 And if we can, the world is our witness, we will!<\/p>\n

No one lives so fully as people who suffer from chronic conditions that impede their daily lives. That clich\u00e9, you know the one: \u201cEvery moment counts.\u201d Well, that clich\u00e9 is our motto.\u00a0 This is how life should be for everyone!<\/p>\n

Plus, as long as we have each other, it’s all good!<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s not forget that we need to do our part. We need to take the time to educate the people around us\u00a0so that there are no more stigmas about fibromyalgia.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a shameful diagnosis. It\u2019s not a fake diagnosis. And it sure is not an easy diagnosis. But knowledge is power, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

Let’s review.<\/span><\/h2>\n

So in a nutshell, we went over 30-some invisible symptoms of fibromyalgia. Not everyone will experience every symptom. Of course, the best way to obtain an accurate diagnosis is to talk to your doctor.<\/p>\n

Hopefully, this list will help you identify some symptoms and maybe get some answers. I do not wish a diagnosis of fibromyalgia to my worst enemy, but I am grateful I know what ails me. This way, I can be better prepared for my future.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, the invisible symptoms of fibromyalgia can be:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1- muscle soreness<\/p>\n

2- muscle spasms<\/p>\n

3- lower back pain *<\/p>\n

4- neck pain *<\/p>\n

5- knee pain *<\/p>\n

6- upper chest pain<\/a> *<\/p>\n

7- sacroiliac pain<\/a> *<\/p>\n

8- shoulder pain *<\/p>\n

9- elbow pain<\/a> *<\/p>\n

10- collarbone pain<\/a> *<\/p>\n

11- shoulder blade pain *<\/p>\n

12- abdominal pain<\/p>\n

13- digestive issues<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

14- clouded consciousness or Fibro Fog<\/p>\n

15- pins and needles in extremities (arms, hands, legs, feet)<\/p>\n

16- costochondritis or rib pain<\/p>\n

17- fatigue<\/p>\n

18- malaise<\/p>\n

19- anxiety<\/p>\n

20- nausea<\/p>\n

21- lack of concentration<\/p>\n

22- mood swings<\/p>\n

23- irritability<\/p>\n

24- headaches<\/p>\n

25- difficulty falling asleep<\/p>\n

26- joint stiffness<\/p>\n

27- trigger point sensitivity<\/p>\n

28- musculoskeletal pain<\/p>\n

29- depression<\/p>\n

30- urge to educate people about invisible symptoms.<\/p>\n

Okay. That last one isn’t really a symptom. But it sure is something we want and should do!<\/p>\n

What are the symptoms you first noticed that led you to think you may have fibromyalgia? Have you been diagnosed, or are you waiting for an official diagnosis? How do you handle the invisible symptoms of fibromyalgia? Any tip you can share in the comments would be welcome!<\/p>\n

The invisible symptoms marked with a * are the common trigger points specialists will look for. In other words, if there is marked tenderness when any of the 9 pairs of trigger points are touched or pushed, then there is a good chance the diagnosis will be fibromyalgia. <\/em><\/p>\n

The American College of Rheumatology has published guidelines for the detection of fibromyalgia; they established that if 11 out of the 18 recognized trigger points (9 pairs = 18 trigger points) are sensitive to pressure, then a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is appropriate.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n