LADY Gaga was sadly forced to postpone the European leg of her 2017 world tour due to the pain of fibromyalgia.

Here’s all you need to know about the chronic condition the pop superstar suffers from.

What is fibromyalgia?

Also known as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), fibromyalgia is a long-term condition which causes pain all over the body.

As well as chronic pain, fibromyalgia can cause increased sensitivity to pain, fatigue and muscle stiffness, according to the NHS.

Sufferers can also have difficulty sleeping, as well as memory loss, concentration problems, headaches and irritable bowel syndrome.

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but researchers believe it may be related to chemicals in the brain and could be affected by genes inherited from your parents.

Often, the condition is triggered by a stressful physical or emotional event, like the death of a loved one, the breakdown of a relationship or an operation or physical injury.

Although anyone can develop fibromyalgia, it affects around seven times more women than it does men.

How is fibromyalgia treated?

There is no cure for fibromyalgia, although the symptoms can be controlled to make it easier to live with.

Exercise has been found to help ease many painful symptoms, while others find relaxation techniques can help keep the condition under control.

Treatment could include a combination of lifestyle changes, painkilling medication and counselling or another form of therapy, like CBT.

Is there a test for fibromyalgia?

There’s no specific test for the condition, so diagnosing fibromyalgia can be difficult.

Usually, sufferers will have severe pain in three to six different areas of the body, or milder pain in seven or more different areas.

These symptoms are also likely to have stayed at a similar level for at least three months.

If you think you may have the condition, the NHS advises that you visit your GP.

How did Lady Gaga reveal she has fibromyalgia?

Lady Gaga shocked fans with the news she suffers from chronic pain in her new Netflix documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two.

The star also took to Twitter to reveal the details of her illness, which she now hopes to raise awareness of.

Just days later, the condition forced her to pull out of a concert in Brazil, before shepostponed the European leg of her world tour because of it.

In February 2018 she announced she was cancelling the remainder of her world tour(including dates in London and Manchester), due to ‘severe pain’ – although she did not reveal specific details about the cause.

Reference”https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/4489222/fibromyalgia-symptoms-lady-gaga-treatment/