Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain in multiple areas throughout the body, affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues. Fatigue, sleep disturbances, problems with concentration and memory (sometimes called "brain fog" or "fibro fog"), and mood changes are other characteristic symptoms. These symptoms can occur in periodic episodes called flares or be present most of the time.
There is no cure for fibromyalgia, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Treatment plans will often include a combination of non-medication therapies like exercise, stretching, mental health and social support, and steps to improve sleep. Medications to manage pain, sleep, and psychiatric symptoms are also often a part of treatment.
A treatment plan will also need to address any coexisting conditions, such as other pain disorders, psychiatric disorders, sleep disorders, and/or gastrointestinal disorders.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that often requires a high degree of self-management from the person diagnosed. If you are living with fibromyalgia, it helps to know where to look when you have a question, need to find a specialist, or want to connect with others who share similar experiences to your own.
The resources below can help you get started.
National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA)
The NFA is a nonprofit organization that supports people living with fibromyalgia. The website offers patient education, information for the newly diagnosed, news on recent research, and information about many other organizations that can be valuable to people living in the fibromyalgia community. If you’re looking for a healthcare provider to treat fibromyalgia, visit the Finding Experts section of the website, which features a Doctor Finder as well as a list of member-recommended doctors from around the US.
Support Fibromyalgia Network (Support Fibro)
Support Fibro is a nonprofit organization founded and led by patients, focused on the overlooked needs of people living with this condition. It brings together people living with fibromyalgia, advocates, healthcare providers, and medical researchers. The section of the website for patients includes general information about fibromyalgia, nutrition resources, online health coaching and webinars, and information specifically for men and pediatric patients.
American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association (AFSA)
AFSA is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing medical research about fibromyalgia and educating people affected by the condition. The website offers comprehensive patient education material, with pages that go into detail about diagnosis, treatment, pain relief, medications, and potential causes of fibromyalgia. There are also pages of information dedicated to lifestyle changes, coping advice from people with fibromyalgia, and building a healthcare team.
American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
The ACPA is a nonprofit organization focused on awareness and support for people living with ongoing pain with a wide variety of causes. While not specific to fibromyalgia, the website has a few resources that might be of interest, especially considering the potential for fibromyalgia to overlap with other pain conditions. One is a library of downloadable PDF resources, which provide simple guides related to follow-up appointments, quality of life, logging pain, and emergency contacts. Another is a contact form for support groups in many states related to chronic pain.
Sources: MedlinePlus. Fibromyalgia. January 28, 2... + 4
- MedlinePlus. Fibromyalgia. January 28, 2025.
- Mayo Clinic. Fibromyalgia. April 26, 2025.
- Arthritis Foundation. Fibro Fog. Accessed June 24, 2026.
- Deepan S. Dalal. Fibromyalgia. Merck Manual Consumer Version. April 2026.
- Juhi Bhargava and Jennifer Goldin. Fibromyalgia. StatPearls. January 31, 2025.
