The symptoms of fibromyalgia vary from person to person. Symptoms can last from days to months or years.

The most common symptoms are:

• Widespread deep or burning pain above and below your waist and on the right and left sides of your body. Pain is more common in the trunk, neck, low back, hips, and shoulders. It usually gets worse gradually and can interfere with even simple daily activities.
• Tender points (or trigger points) on the body that hurt when pressed.

People with fibromyalgia may have other problems along with pain, such as:

• Anxiety or depression.
• Fatigue that interferes with work and daily activities.
• Sleep problems, such as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or waking up feeling tired.
• Morning stiffness that lasts less than an hour.
• Headaches.
• Memory problems and trouble concentrating.
• Constipation or diarrhea related to irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptoms tend to come and go. You may have times when you hurt more, followed by times when symptoms happen less often, are milder, or are absent (remission). Flare-ups of fatigue and muscle and joint aches are common, especially after physical or emotional stress.

Some people find that their symptoms are worse in cold and damp weather, during times of stress, or when they try to do too much.