In many cases, fibromyalgia is accompanied by other illnesses. In fact, there are specific medical conditions that do increase the likelihood that you will, at some point, develop FMS.
The conditions together make it much more difficult to give an accurate diagnosis because of the fact that the symptoms typically overlap. Often, in order to get a diagnosis, it takes efforts of a skilled physician in order to determine whether two or more very different conditions are present.
Following are some of the conditions that typically occur in conjunction with fibromyalgia.
- CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
- Chronic Myofascial Pain
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Lyme Disease
- Other Various Illnesses
CFIDS
Individuals suffering from CFIDS, or Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome, are experiencing an extreme fatigue that lasts for many months, without responding to rest. In fact, in order to be considered to be CFIDS, this extreme level of fatigue must last for at least six months or more.
In addition to the fatigue, individuals with CFIDS typically also suffer with joint and muscle pain, headaches, fever, sore throat, and an impaired memory. In order to rule out other conditions and reach a diagnosis of CFIDS, a blood test must be done.
Some researchers and physicians believe that CFIDS is the same thing as fibromyalgia. However, one of the characteristics of fibromyalgia is tender points. CIFDS is not characterized by tender points. Additionally, there is some evidence that indicates that CFIDS is cause by a virus, but this evidence is currently controversial. No matter what though, those with fibromyalgia typically also suffer from CFIDS.
Chronic Myofascial Pain
Chronic myofascial pain, also referred to as CMP, typically goes hand in hand with fibromyalgia and is characterized by persistent pain- and small spastic knots- in the muscles. When you, or someone else, presses on these knots, the result is pain, which in some cases, will be removed from the knot itself.
Chronic myofascial pain can be in a single muscle or an entire muscle group. It can happen due to a trauma such as a car accident, injury, or other major stressor or chemical changes in the nerve endings- which causes them to release large amounts of the chemicals that cause muscle contraction.
The high concentration of these chemicals in a localized area causes the knots to restrict blood flow, which results in more of a spasm, and creates a vicious cycle that lets the trigger point continue. The fact that the blood flow is low in these areas, the pain it causes is typically described as being similar to that of a toothache.
As already mentioned, it is quite common for individuals to suffer from both chronic myofascial pain and fibromyalgia at the same time. After all, they do have a lot of the same symptoms.
However, the two are still very distinct and separate. The main difference between the two is that individuals with fibromyalgia experience pain due to the hypersensitivity of their nerves while individuals with myofascial pain experience pain when their muscles are in a spasm. The key to an accurate diagnosis is to figure out whether you’re experience one or the other- or both.
Lupus
SLE, or systemic lupus erythematosus, is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by the immune system attacking the chromosomes of its own cells. SLE is a chronic inflammatory condition resulting in a red rash, persistent fever, extreme fatigue, and painful joints.
In some cases, systemic lupus can actually affect vital organs, such as the brain or kidneys- and could possibly be fatal. Another form of lupus, known as discoid lupus, is much less severe and typically only affects the skin.
Over 90 percent of individuals diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus have muscle and/or joint pain at some point during their illness. The main cause of pain in SLE is inflammation of the tissues due to being attacked by the immune system. However, in some cases, the pain could also result from another condition- such as fibromyalgia. Among those who have been diagnosed with lupus, about ten to forty percent will eventually develop fibromyalgia as well.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disorder like lupus. However, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system begins to attack the membrane lining of the joints, which causes a decrease in the range of motion, as well as an increase in stiffness, pain, swelling, and inflammation in the areas that are affected.
It can be very easy to get confused between the symptoms of fibromyalgia and the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Both conditions are characterized by morning achiness, pain, and stiffness. However, with rheumatoid arthritis, there is also inflammation in the joints, whereas with fibromyalgia, there is not. Additionally, like lupus, about ten to forty percent of individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis will also develop fibromyalgia in the future.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a disorder that is transmitted by deer ticks. It is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. When a tick that is infected with this bacteria bites an animal or a human, it can pass it along, which then gets into the bloodstream of the victim and can cause a variety of symptoms. Some of these symptoms can be quite severe.
Most of the time, Lyme disease starts with a circular rash, resembling a bullseye around the bite, and the victim will begin to display flu-like symptoms. If it is caught early on, it can be treated with a round of antibiotics. However, if it goes on, later stages can bring along arthritis, numbness, and neurological problems. In some cases, Lyme disease can also trigger the onset of fibromyalgia. Researchers have proven that even prompt antibiotic treatments will not alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Other Illnesses
When you’re dealing with fibromyalgia, knowing what is causing your symptoms is not enough to provide relief. You must be aware of the presence of any other conditions. The ones listed above are the primary conditions that co-exist with fibromyalgia. However, they’re not the only ones. There are some other conditions that can also co-exist with fibromyalgia, including the following:
- Hypothyroidism
- IBS
- Osteoarthritis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Chronic yeast infections
- Clinical depression
- PTSD
- TMJ
- Vulvodynia
If you believe that you have any of these conditions, you should speak with your physician. If you can treat these conditions, you may also be able to get relief from your symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Further reading:
Associate Conditions of Fibromyalgia http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_ac.html
Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome-A Dilemma http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2900090/
Fibromyalgia: https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/Fibromyalgia/
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