Members of MyFibroTeam report a wide variety of symptoms related to their fibromyalgia. Here are the most common symptoms they report. If you’re experiencing symptoms that affect your quality of life, talk to a rheumatologist or another health care provider right away.

1. Muscle Pain

More than 95,000 members of MyFibroTeam report muscle pain. Some experience these as cramps or spasms, like one who said, “Yes, I’ve been having cramps in my calf muscles for a week now!! Really painful!”

Some have cramps or spasms alongside other fibromyalgia pain. One member explained that they had, “Unbelievable pain and soreness. I want to sleep, but my skin and muscles hurt too bad.”

Muscle pain can ruin a day for some people living with fibromyalgia, but movement helps some members feel better. “I have been having a bad day,” a member shared. “I had to lay down most of the day after my two doctor appointments because I’m in so much pain and still have a lot of pain that I can’t sleep again. I need to start working out more to get my muscles moving again.”

Talk to your doctor about pain relief when you’re living with chronic pain.

2. Fatigue

Fatigue is another common symptom of fibromyalgia, reported by nearly 89,000 members. “The fatigue can be relentless sometimes,” one shared. Another added, “I can hardly walk around because of chronic fatigue.”

This kind of tiredness can be discouraging, like it was for the member who said, “I’m fed up with pain and fatigue.”

Fatigue can also fluctuate. One member explained, “I am not as tired as I was, as I was totally drained, now I can still smile and laugh. I seem to go up then down with fatigue. I don’t know why.” Another shared, “What throws me off is I have had fibro for 10 years, the fatigue was never this bad, even when I had flare-ups those first two years.”

3. Headache

Headaches are another symptom of fibromyalgia for 46,000 team members. “Not sure if others have ‘fibro headaches,’” one explained, “but I’m on day 3. Not a migraine or tension headache, just … because. It doesn’t really matter what the cause is though, they are all miserable.”

Long-lasting headaches happen for other members, too: “One of my symptoms is severe headaches. I’ve had this intense headache now for over a week.”

The pain can spread beyond more traditional headache areas to affect other spots, too. As one member put it, “So I keep getting headaches every day. My neck all the way over to my face hurts.”

Even when headaches don’t ruin a day entirely, they certainly make things worse. “This is a headache day and even though I am functioning, these days when my head hurts all day are the worst,” one member said.

If you experience headaches like this, talk to a health care professional about pain relief.

4. Difficulty Sleeping

Some people living with fibromyalgia have trouble sleeping well at night. More than 40,000 MyFibroTeam members report this symptom.

“Well, I have been awake all through the night. I’ve tried to get to sleep, but no joy,” one said. Another member with sleep problems added, “My body clock is out. I can’t sleep when I want to.”

Sometimes, poor sleep is tied directly to other fibromyalgia symptoms. As one member explained, “Sleep is elusive tonight. I’ve been having a lot of muscle twitches in the past week just as I begin to fall asleep. I feel scared as I’m falling into sleep, then this twitch or jerk or weird sensation keeps me awake with pain again.” Another shared, “I’m always in pain, and I can’t even sleep because of it.”

5. Anxiety

Anxiety is also common among people who live with fibromyalgia — nearly 32,000 MyFibroTeam members report it. “Anxiety and internal jitters are driving me crazy lately,” one said. “Generally exhausted and unable to concentrate. Anxiety is up for no good reason,” another added.

Some people experience anxiety as a sudden and intense onset, similar to a panic attack. A member explained it like this: “Panic and anxiety attacks suck. Trying hard to put my heart back in my chest.”

Anxiety can make life harder than it otherwise is. “I only wish there was something to control the pain and anxiety. It’s hard to live like this,” a member lamented.

Stress-reducing techniques might help you feel less anxious. Guided meditation can also be beneficial.

If you’re struggling with anxiety, talk to your rheumatology or primary care provider about what you’re going through. They can refer you to a mental health professional who can support you.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyFibroTeam, the social network for people with fibromyalgia and their loved ones, more than 288,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with fibromyalgia.

Are you experiencing any of these symptoms of fibromyalgia? What are your most common symptoms? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.