Fibromyalgia and surgery: pain and early recovery may be more difficult
A review found possible increases in postoperative pain and opioid needs, but complications varied across the evidence and data on local anesthetic techniques were sparse.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
People with fibromyalgia may experience more pain and poorer early functional recovery after elective surgery than people without it. Most included studies focused on orthopedic procedures. Complication findings were mixed, and sparse evidence on local anesthetic techniques leaves uncertainty about the immediate period around surgery and its management.
This abstract-based summary cannot establish the size of the reported differences: no pooled effect estimates are supplied. Evidence on the immediate period around surgery and on local anesthetic techniques was limited.
Pain findings covered several experiences
The review covered pain at the surgical site and widespread pain. Greater opioid needs were also suggested and linked to symptom burden. The abstract does not establish which pain-management approach works best.
Other outcomes were mixed
Large cohorts did not identify an overall complication increase, while orthopedic studies reported more early complications. Some studies suggested later improvement in fibromyalgia pain after treating pain sources in internal organs. The findings covered different surgical settings and outcomes.
The original publication
Pain in People With Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) Undergoing or Following Surgery: A Systematic Narrative Review.
Berwick RJ, Siew S, Curtis S et al.
Pain Res Manag · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41585570
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.