US Medical Term · conditions
Fibromyalgia
Fibromialgia
What it means
Fibromyalgia is a chronic (long-lasting) condition that causes pain all over the body, fatigue, and other symptoms. The main symptoms are chronic pain and stiffness all over the body, which people often describe as aching, burning, or throbbing, along with fatigue and trouble sleeping. Other symptoms may include problems with thinking, memory, and concentration, sometimes called "fibro fog," and numbness or tingling in the arms and legs. The exact cause is unknown, but people with the disorder have an increased sensitivity to pain. There isn't a specific test for it, so providers have to rule out other causes of the symptoms before making the diagnosis. There is no cure, but treatments can help with the symptoms.
Fibromyalgia in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Fibromialgia
- Gender and article
- feminine: la fibromialgia
- Pronunciation
- fee-broh-MYAHL-hyah
Both MedlinePlus en español and the Spanish pages of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) use fibromialgia, and both treat it as a feminine noun: la fibromialgia. The English MedlinePlus page lists "Fibro" and "FMS" after "Also called". For the thinking, memory and concentration problems that English calls "fibro fog," both Spanish sources give two words, fibroniebla and fibroneblina.
MedlinePlus en español describes the condition as una afección crónica (de larga duración), and NIAMS as un trastorno crónico. Other words from those pages are dolor en todo el cuerpo (pain all over the body), fatiga (fatigue, which NIAMS glosses as cansancio), rigidez (stiffness), entumecimiento u hormigueo (numbness or tingling) and problemas para dormir (trouble sleeping). Ruling out other causes of the symptoms before the diagnosis is made is called a diagnóstico diferencial.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | I have had pain all over my body for months. | Llevo meses con dolor en todo el cuerpo. |
| Clinician | How would you describe the pain: aching, burning, or throbbing? | ¿Cómo describiría el dolor: sordo, ardiente o palpitante? |
| Patient | I also have trouble sleeping, and I wake up with stiff muscles. | También tengo problemas para dormir, y me despierto con rigidez en los músculos. |
| Clinician | Do you have numbness or tingling in your arms or legs? | ¿Tiene entumecimiento u hormigueo en los brazos o las piernas? |
| Patient | I have trouble concentrating and remembering things. | Me cuesta concentrarme y recordar las cosas. |
| Clinician | There is no specific test for fibromyalgia, so first we need to rule out other causes. | No existe una prueba específica para la fibromialgia, así que primero debemos descartar otras causas. |
| Clinician | I am going to order blood tests and x-rays. | Voy a pedirle análisis de sangre y radiografías. |
| Patient | My sister has fibromyalgia. Can it run in families? | Mi hermana tiene fibromialgia. ¿Puede ser hereditaria? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Fibromyalgia |
| Spanish (Español) | Fibromialgia |
| Chinese (中文) | 纖維肌痛症 |
| Korean (한국어) | 섬유근육통 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đau xơ cơ |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Fibromyalgia |
| Portuguese (Português) | Fibromialgia |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ไฟโบรมัยอัลเจีย |
| Japanese (日本語) | 線維筋痛症 |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: M79 → Other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classifiedRelated terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Bones, joints and muscles
All terms in this area: Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos
Sources
- Fibromyalgia — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Fibromialgia — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Fibromyalgia Symptoms, Causes, & Risk Factors — National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH)
- Fibromialgia — Instituto Nacional de Artritis y Enfermedades Musculoesqueléticas y de la Piel (NIH)
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026