In a now-deleted Twitter post, Lady Gaga first revealed in 2013 that she was experiencing chronic pain.
In recent trailers for her new documentary Five Foot Two, we saw the singer, for the first time, suffering intensely on camera. She was seen going in and out of doctors appointments as well as, one presumes from the clip, smoking weed in a car (to help with pain management).
Though we haven't known exactly what has led to these debilitating painful experiences, until now.
Yesterday Lady Gaga Tweeted that the illness she suffers from is Fibromyalgia.
She also explained that the reason why she was taking her suffering public was to 'help raise awareness and connect people who have it.'
She went on to Tweet some of the ways she manages the condition:
'Thought ice helped #Fibromyalgia. I was wrong & making it worse. Warm/Heat is better. Electric Heated Blanket, Infrared Sauna, Epsom Baths.'
According to the NHS, the cause of Fibromyalgia is unknown, 'but it's thought to be related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the way the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) processes pain messages carried around the body.'
Genetics is also at play, although it is also triggered by an emotionally or physically stressful event, such as 'an injury or infection, giving birth, having an operation, the breakdown of a relationship, the death of a loved one.'
Though Gaga has not given birth (as far as we know), she has had all the rest of those things have happen to her.
Her original Tweet from 2013 came around the time she went through surgery on her hip.
She is also said to reveal in the documentary that, 'My love life has just imploded. I sold 10 million [records] and lost Matt. I sold 30 million and lost Luke. I did a movie and lose Taylor. It's like a turnover. This is the third time I've had my heart broken like this.'
Gaga's most recent album was named after her Aunt Joanne, who died 12 years before Gaga was born, but who has had an immense impact on her life and the life of her family.
The symptoms of Fibromyalgia are diverse, but the overarching symptom is widespread pain across the body.
Other symptoms can also include, 'increased sensitivity to pain, fatigue (extreme tiredness), muscle stiffness, difficulty sleeping, problems with mental processes (known as "fibro-fog") – such as problems with memory and concentration, headaches and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS.)'
Unfortunately, there is no current cure for the disorder and only pain management is available.
Back in 2016, she posted an Instagram explaining how she deals with the pain, though she still had not revealed what her particular illness was.
It's terrible to think that all this time she has been suffering so intensely whilst peforming all these shows, though hopefully her documentary will bring greater awareness for chronic pain sufferers.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
![los angeles, california april 16 zendaya arrives at the los angeles premiere of amazon mgm studios challengers at westwood village theater on april 16, 2024 in los angeles, california photo by steve granitzfilmmagic](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/zendaya-euphoria-return-6620d0645de97.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.784xh;0,0.0402xh&resize=360:* "Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios "Challengers" - Arrivals")
