05/12/2026
NATIONAL FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY
Each year on May 12th, millions of people observe National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. This day shares the spotlight with other May 12th awareness days such asInternational Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases or International Awareness Day for MCS, ME/CFS and FM, which are observed globally.
Fibromyalgia affects more than 12 million Americans. It is a musculoskeletal syndrome and causes a variety of symptoms. Some of them include:
widespread pain
tender points
incapacitating fatigue
anxiety
depression
migraines/chronic headaches
irritable bowel syndrome
irritable bladder
insomnia
hypersensitivity to cold/hot
swelling
fibro fog (inability to concentrate/focus)
difficulty remembering
numbness
stiffness
decreased energy
noise, light and odor sensitivity
skin sensitivity
Symptoms may come and go, lasting a few minutes, an hour, a day, a week, a month, or a year. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of treatments and therapies focus on reducing the amount and frequency of pain. They also aim to improve sleep. Therapies such as exercise, massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic care aim to manage symptoms without pharmacological interventions. Prescriptions manage pain, improve sleep, and combat depression, too.