Health Do you have a problem youd like answered? If so, write to us at: Inspire magazine, 1 Cambridge Technopark, Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8PB or email here Ask the doctor Whether its a health niggle or emotional problem, Inspires Dr sarah jarvis gets straight to the point Q my girlfriend has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but she doesnt seem to know whats caused it. Whats going on? Robin Essen, Glasgow You can contact Arthritis Cares free Helpline on 0808 800 4050 for an informal chat in confidence. Were open Monday-Friday, 09:30-17:00. For more information, visit arthritiscare.org.uk/ exerciseandarthritis Dr Sarah Jarvis answers: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain in your muscles, tendons and ligaments (the tough connective tissue that joins muscles to bone and connects parts of the body to each other). Its much more common than we used to think it may affect as many as one in 25 people (thats more than three million adults in the UK) at some point, and its up to 10 times more common in women than men. The causes of fibromyalgia still arent completely understood. Its not a genetic condition that you inherit directly from your parents through a single faulty gene; however, you can inherit a tendency to have the condition. Something in your environment such as a virus or infection is thought to trigger symptoms in those who are pre-disposed to fibromyalgia. It appears to be related to the brain being over-sensitive to pain messages known as central sensitisation. Its well known that people who experience migraine can be hypersensitive to sounds, smells and lights when they have a migraine. This is because their brain over-amplifies the signals it receives from their ears, nose and eyes. In fibromyalgia, a similar problem seems to arise with pain signals sent from muscles, joints and tendons to the brain. This theory is supported by the fact that people with fibromyalgia tend to have higher levels of a chemical called substance P thought to be involved in transmitting pain messages in the fluid surrounding their brain and spinal cord. As well as pain in many areas of the body, it can give rise to extreme tiredness, headaches, restless leg syndrome and irritable bowel symptoms (bloating, constipation and/or diarrhoea and stomach pain). Heated pool treatment, some medication, carefully graded exercise and counselling may help. But what your girlfriend really needs from you is your support.