Fibromyalgia Syndrome: An Overview

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Abstract
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is a chronic pain disorder of unknown etiology characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches and pains, stiffness, and general fatigue. Frequently misdiagnosed, FS is often confused with myofascial pain syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis, hypothyroidism, metastatic carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus, any of which may occur concomitantly with FS.1,2 Fibromyalgia syndrome is the third most commonly diagnosed rheumatic disorder (after osteoarthritis and RA). The median age of onset for FS is from 29 to 37 years, whereas the age of medical presentation (formal diagnosis) for FS is 34 to 53 years, indicating that most patients endure symptoms for several years before receiving an appropriate diagnosis.3(p228) In the United States, 3 to 6 million people may have symptoms of FS, and an estimated 15% to 20% of patients (90% of them women) seen in rheumatology practices have fibromyalgia.4(p24)

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