What is fibromyalgia? The symptoms and treatment of an invisible disease that requires specialist attention

The Pain Management Unit at Quirónsalud Torrevieja Hospital highlights the need to improve healthcare for patients living with fibromyalgia—a complex condition that demands specialised, compassionate, and individualised care. Despite fibromyalgia’s high prevalence worldwide, it is often misdiagnosed.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), between 2% and 4 % of the world’s population suffers from fibromyalgia. Over one million people in Spain are affected. This syndrome is characterised by widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain, extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties—often referred to as “brain fog”—and heightened sensitivity to physical contact.

The Emotional Component of Pain

Fibromyalgia is not just a physical condition, but it also affects the emotional and social wellbeing of afflicted people. The invisibility of pain and the lack of understanding by others can cause anxiety, depression and social isolation.

“At our Pain Units, we don’t just treat symptoms—we support people through their journey. We understand that someone with fibromyalgia doesn’t only need medical treatment but also to feel heard, understood, and respected,” says Dr. Fernando Leone, pain management specialist at Quirónsalud Torrevieja.

How is Fibromyalgia treated?

Treatment at specialised pain units begins with a thorough evaluation of the type of pain each patient experiences—whether nociceptive, neuropathic, or mixed. The medical team will then be able to create a tailored treatment plan that incorporates medication, advanced interventional methods, emotional support, as well as recommendations for improving sleep, mobility, or independence.

A key element of this approach is the continuous follow-up. This allows treatment to adapt to the patient’s progress. This strengthens the therapeutic relationship and helps the patient regain confidence in themselves and the professionals who are caring for them.

The treatment doesn’t end with pain relief. Fibromyalgia can affect every part of your life. Fibromyalgia affects all aspects of a person’s life, including their physical, emotional and social dimensions, as well as their existential dimension. Many patients wait years for a diagnosis or treatment plan that works. That’s why we advocate for a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach that puts the person—not just the disease—at the centre. Our goal is straightforward: To alleviate symptoms and improve quality of living,” Dr. Leone says.

A condition with multiple causes and a difficult treatment

Experts agree that fibromyalgia is multifactorial, even though the cause remains unknown. This condition involves abnormalities of the central nervous systems’ processing of pain, neuroendocrine disorders, genetic and environment factors, as well as sleep disturbances. All of these factors lead to an abnormal amplification in pain signals. Hypersensitivity, fatigue and general discomfort are the result.

The treatment is complex, as there is no cure for the condition and no medication that will address all symptoms. Antidepressants like duloxetine or milnacipran and anticonvulsants like gabapentin and pregabalin are commonly used. These are not always effective or well tolerated.

The clinical guidelines suggest a combination approach, which includes:

• Reduce anxiety by educating the patient and listening actively to their concerns.
• Exercise under supervision (e.g., tai Chi, Yoga, Aquatic Therapy)
• Cognitive-behavioural therapy addresses psychological aspects
• Personalized pharmacological treatment—essentially, a “tailor-made suit” for each patient

The latest options for pain units

In general, primary care does not offer the therapies offered by Pain Units. One of the most effective options is intravenous lidocaine infusions. These are particularly useful in cases of fibromyalgia or neuropathic chronic pain. These techniques are effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life. They target multiple pain pathways.

These specialised units offer an alternative to managing a complex condition like fibromyalgia. Patients benefit from access to a multidisciplinary team that understands the unique nature of this multifaceted syndrome and can coordinate a comprehensive treatment plan—reducing inappropriate medication use and the associated side effects.

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