Has your fibromyalgia evolved as you've gotten older?

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Courtney_J

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08/26/2021 at 12:24 AM

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Courtney_J

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Hi everyone,

How are you today?

If you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you may have experienced a number of stereotypes about the condition firsthand. One persistent misconception is that fibromyalgia affects mostly middle-aged or older people — specifically, older women.

In reality, fibromyalgia affects a wide range of ages, and both sexes. While it’s more likely to be diagnosed at an older age — about 8 percent of people meet the criteria by age 80, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association — this may reflect differences in screening and reporting of symptoms, rather than simply how common the disease is.

But regardless of how likely you are to have fibromyalgia at a given age, the condition often presents different challenges at different stages in life. That’s both because of social and occupational factors — like whether you’re in school, working a full-time job, or raising a family — and because older people are more likely to have other health conditions.

At what age were you diagnosed with fibromyalgia? Have you seen it evolve or change as you've gotten older? Have you had to adapt your lifestyle through the years?
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Take care,
Courtney

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Shougreapey4

08/30/2021 at 11:58 AM

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I was 52 was diagnosed. Took quite a while for the diagnosis.

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Diane

Has your fibromyalgia evolved as you've gotten older? https://www.carenity.us/forum/other-discussions/living-with-fibromyalgia/has-your-fibromyalgia-evolved-as-youve-gotten-older-3699 2021-08-30 11:58:26

Geyweaveat

10/06/2021 at 11:08 PM

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For me I've noticed that my symptoms have evolved over time. What affected me the most at the beginning was fatigue and over the years pain has become a bigger part of it. I've also developed IBS which I didn't have before I was diagnosed.

Cluway542

06/12/2026 at 2:24 PM

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I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and degenerative disc disease at age 30, I am now 63 and I have developed even more pain and discomfort along with so many other chronic conditions. I have severe fatigue and anxiety. Also I have occipital neuralgia, constant left side migraines. Still not over grieving losing my livelihood! It's affected every relationship I have with family and friends. I'm all alone in this miserable battle! Gentle 🤗 hugs!

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Regina McCord

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06/22/2026 at 8:33 PM

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I'm 85 years old, met all the criteria for developing fibromyalgia, so of course I developed it and have been suffering with it for at least ten years. I refuse to take addictive narcotics so rely on aspirin, heat, and rest. I have come to the conclusion, however, that fibromyalgia is not going to kill me - it just feels like it's trying to.

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Judith A Carlson

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09/25/2026 at 1:30 AM

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I was 51. It took 2 years for the symptoms to peak and get a diagnosis. It began in my feet and legs while also causing headaches and tension in my neck, as well as stiff necks. It took a second rheumatologist to diagnose me. In the beginning, medication treatment helped the pain, but nothing helped the stiffmess. The problem is that the medication efficacy wears off and because of that, I had to change meds a lot. I've been on gabapentinin for years, but I am getting breakthrough pain. It's time for a change. As I have aged, I'm 67, I have noticed that the pain, muscle weakness, brain fog, and anxiety have worsened. But I march on. Now that we know that immune cells can migrate into the dorsal root ganglia and cause chronic pain, researchers can determine if there is a biomarker there to help us understand what is happening and fix it!

Has your fibromyalgia evolved as you've gotten older?

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