I have also heard it is not progressive, and I think technically, there is no quantitative damage that can be measured by the tests doctors currently have, so that is the answer they give. Nevertheless, I also feel that my pain has increased over time, and in that way, feels progressive to me. Perhaps one day there will be a test to determine this more empirically that is accepted by the medical community as evidence of disease progression. Currently, as I understand it, and I could be wrong, FMS is not even considered a disease, but a "condition."

My Dr and I both agree it's progressive, as in as you get older symptoms get more exaggerated and often effect you more easily than they did before, you get tired easier, you strain things easier, and you can take less pain than you used to, in this case it's progressive, but as far as degenerative? There's no actual damage done by FMS it's all done by the cluster conditions, arthritis, ME, chronic pain syndrome, degenerative disc disorder, and so on and so on. These conditions cause degeneration of joints, spine, myofacial muscles, etc. and make FMS even harder to deal with. As far as I know there's still no test to prove FMS just tests to rule out all other like conditions, then see a rheumatologist, to be diagnosed. So without the proper research how will we even know the answer to this question? I know from a friend in the States that you guys have FMS Dr's and even clinics that deal entirely with FMS and their cluster conditions, if they got enough backing I'm sure they'd have enough data to show yay or nay to whether these conditions are either progressive or degenerative? But I've also heard without the right health insurance the first visit is $500 with each following visit $250, that's a lot of money!! I know coz I looked into coming over to see one, with airfares from Australia and the cost of minimum 5 visits, I was looking at $1500 plus airfares, not something a person who can't work can afford to pay.. I just wish someone would take us on and find out more about us rather than put us in the too hard basket, before they've really got to know us. Most of the people on here, either used to work or would rather work, it's that lack of job security that makes it hard! Constantly losing jobs due to time off, means we wonder why bother getting a job that we'll be temporary, rather than the permanent job we seek, we need with just a little bend in when and how we work! Is it possible to work from home in our own time? Can we work flexible hours? I've found the only way I can work is self employed and my eldest Son, to work for me, someone who understands his condition just like my own...
Just my 2 cents worth and early morning babble excuse any spelling or grammatical mistakes I can't be bothered rereading it!
Blessed be those of the page,love and light to all.

Yes it gets worse with time and age. For me the total lack of energy is the most progressive.

I agree it's the cluster conditions that are degenerative like arthritis, and others, these make dealing with the fibro even more of a task, it's hard to either put together or separate these cluster conditions from fibro, but as everyone has different clusters we all need to be treated individually, I've yet to find two fibromites with the exact same cluster of conditions? So to me it's about what else you have on top of fibromyalgia?
Just my opinion, blessed be

Progressive yes, degenerative no, it does get steadily worse, I've been battling 20+ years! but it's not degenerative as in it does no structural damage the pain just worsens the more you do and how hard you push yourself 10 years ago I was working 70+ hours a week! now I struggle with 2-3 hours a day sometimes...