Sudden-Onset Widespread Body Pain (Fibromyalgia) with or without an Inciting Event: A Case Series

The presence of sudden-onset fibromyalgia (FM) is poorly understood, characterized, and appreciated in both previous literature and the clinical setting. In this case series, we present 10 cases of sudden-onset FM seen in a community-based pain clinic, to characterize the presentation of this condition, stemming from both external trauma and idiopathic etiology.

This retrospective case series identified 10 patients diagnosed with FM attending the pain clinic. These patients were referred to chronic pain management clinic in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, from January 2019 until December 2021 and met the diagnostic criteria for FM. Information was collected on sex, gender, age, details of signs and symptoms, and FM severity score as well as clinical findings and outcomes.

The case series identified 10 community residents (9 women and 1 man, F/M: 9/1, age range: 34-64 years, mean age: 51.7 years), with symptoms attributed to FM. Majority of patients suffered from total body pain and mental disorders such as depression. 60% of patients were on opioids at the time of referral. Combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological management improved their pain symptoms within 3-6 months on follow-up.

Overall, effectively identifying sudden-onset FM can help clinicians improve patient-oriented outcomes and avoid the use of unnecessary narcotics in addition to better treating their patients.