Fibromyalgia Through the Centuries: How Fibromyalgia Has Evolved

• 1904: At the turn of the century, the widespread pain was described by Sir William Gowers as fibrositis in 1904. This name would later change to fibromyalgia. Gowers also said that identified that it results from extensive inflammation of subcutaneous tissues, which involve the swelling of fibrous tissues. Fibrositis was given its first description by E. F. Traut, and the description included the manifestations of the disorder throughout the whole body.

• 1972-1975: A more modern description of fibrositis was given by H. A. Smythe in 1972, and this description included multiple tender points and widespread pain. The proposed working criteria of Smythe also restarted interest in fibrositis, as well as clinical research on the disorder. Three years later in 1975, an electroencephalogram or EEG performed by H. Moldofsky showed the difficulties experienced by patients with fibrositis when they sleep.