Can fibromyalgia be prevented?
Many readers want to know whether fibromyalgia can be stopped before it starts. The first step is to see what the research on risk actually says.
Is there a way to prevent it?
NIAMS says researchers believe that environmental (nongenetic) factors also play a role in a person’s risk of developing the disorder. That means the causes are not limited to what a person inherits. It does not give a step that reliably prevents the condition, so do not take it as one.
What this means for your planning
If you are worried about your own risk, the useful move is a conversation and not a guess. The NIAMS fibromyalgia page lays out symptoms, causes and risk factors in one place, so read it before your visit.
Steps to take now
Take these in order.
- Note any symptoms you already have, such as widespread pain, and when they began.
- Note any family history you know about.
- Read the NIAMS page and the MedlinePlus pain overview and mark questions you want answered.
- Ask a clinician what, if anything, applies to your situation.
If you are in Bloomfield or the towns around it, the American Academy of Pain Medicine offers material on pain medicine that can help you pick whom to ask.
What you can control
Not knowing a way to prevent something is not the same as being powerless. Early notes and an early conversation are the part you can control.