10 Most Common Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

#9 Bowel Troubles

Fibromyalgia can also cause bowel disturbances, putting the patient at risk of developing a condition known as irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. In fact, fibromyalgia and IBS have very high comorbidity rates, suggesting that there is indeed a definitive link between the two. From a general standpoint, the muscle stiffness and generalized pain caused by fibromyalgia often cause patients difficulty in passing bowel movements. Over time, impacted fecal matter becomes even more difficult to clear, which can lead to reliance on and overuse of laxatives, which itself can cause further complications.

In other instances, patients experience diarrhea rather than constipation, or an urge to evacuate the bowels even when the intestines are empty. As with most other symptoms of this mysterious condition, researchers aren’t quite sure of the root causes. Thus, treatment of bowel disturbances is palliative, and aimed at relieving the most pressing symptoms.