Fibromyalgia Syndrome: An Invisible Illness Impacting Millions - Here's How To Combat Its Symptoms. Every day, millions of people struggle with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a condition marked by chronic fatigue, muscle and joint pain, as well as other debilitating physical and emotional symptoms. While FMS is more likely to affect women, anyone can suffer from this invisible illness. While there's no cure, there are adaptive strategies that can help improve life and reduce pain, such as exercise, mindfulness, and certain medications. New research is helping to reduce the stigma associated with this chronic condition and raising awareness, offering us all a glimpse of hope.