There are a number of ways your symptoms can be managed. In many cases, fibromyalgia can be diagnosed and treated by your GP, without the need to see a specialist.

They can advise you on treatments and therapies that tackle specific symptoms. These may include drug treatments. However, physical and psychological therapies can often be a more effective way of managing fibromyalgia than medication. There are also many things you can do for yourself that can change the way your condition impacts upon your life.

What does the future hold for me?

Because fibromyalgia’s symptoms vary from person to person, it’s difficult to predict how long you will have the condition and the impact it will have on your life.

Although there’s currently no cure, there are treatments, therapies and self-management techniques that can improve your quality of life. Fibromyalgia doesn’t seem to cause long-term damage to your body. But it’s important to keep your muscles and joints strong through activity. Gradually increasing how much exercise you do can also improve your symptoms.