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What
the difference and which one do I have or do I have both
Similarities
and Differences in Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome
Fatigue
and chronic pain are both symptoms of Fibromyalgia Sydnrome
(FMS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
The latter is also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
(ME), a term more often used outside of the United States.
In fact, some people believe that they are different
manifestations of the same disorder.
The Arthritis Foundation states that about 50-70% of
those with fibromyalgia also fit the criteria for chronic
fatigue syndrome.
Dennis
Thompson (2011) asserts that fibromyalgia occurs in more
Americans than chronic fatigue syndrome.
The Centers for Disease Control and prevention maintain
that the numbers are about 5 million sufferers of FMS to just
over one million sufferers of CFS.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is growing.
Statistics Canada states that reports of CFS/ME have
increased by an alarming 24% over the past five years.
While
both disorders occur more frequently in women than in men, in
fibromyalgia about 90% of the cases occur in women, while in
chronic fatigue syndrome, about 4 times as many women than men
experience the illness.
Potential
Causes of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Many
cases of fibromyalgia syndrome have been linked to emotional or
physical trauma of some sort, including accidents, surgeries, or
illnesses. Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome, on the other hand, is often thought to have
resulted from viruses (such as mononucleosis or influenza),
infections, vaccinations, parasitic infections or reactions to
environmental toxins. Sources
of research also differ in that fibromyalgia is most often
researched by rheumatologists or arthritis experts, while
chronic fatigue syndrome researchers are most often
immunologists and virus experts.
Symptoms
of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Marked
by extreme fatigue lasting more than six months, chronic fatigue
syndrome also includes muscle pain, aching joints, headaches,
poor memory, and post-exertional malaise.
As there is no specific diagnostic laboratory test for
FMS, the doctor’s exam and information gathering and the
patient’s subjective report is of critical importance.
If one has chronic widespread muscle pain, above and
below the waist and on the left and right hand sides for at
least 3 months and 11 out of 18 tender points, the diagnosis is
more likely fibromyalgia syndrome.
Tender points are areas on the body highly sensitive to
pain even when touched mildly.
While
many with fibromyalgia feel as though they have areas of
inflammation in their body, it is actually in chronic fatigue
syndrome that there are inflammatory processes.
Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include varying levels of
fatigue, sleep disturbances (people with fibromyalgia often
report a.m. awakening as marked by feelings of exhaustion),
“fibro fog” characterized by impairments in memory,
attention and concentration, digestive problems (with irritable
bowel syndrome, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and abdominal
pain occurring in 40-70% of FMS patients), weight gain, and
decreased physical functioning (Dr. Teitelbaum, 2011).
Treatments
for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
is often treated by a combination of anti-depressants and pain
medication. Lyrica,
Savella, and Cymbalta are three medications approved by the FDA
for the treatment of FMS. Some
patients are told to test themselves by temporarily avoiding
milk products, gluten and sugar.
Alternative techniques, including herbs and supplements
have been discussed in a previous article on fibromyalgia
syndrome. Exercises,
such as yoga, tai chi and aquatherapy are often recommended.
Much
information gathering on the part of the doctor is also critical
in diagnosing and treating chronic fatigue syndrome.
Treatments vary widely.
For example, some patients are told to clean their living
spaces from getting rid of mold, carpets, paint cans, harsh
cleansers, newspaper and other allergens (Dr. Jennifer
Armstrong, 2011). Elimination
diets are used here, too, including cutting out dairy, sugar,
gluten and even tap water. Blood
tests are done to search for vitamin deficiencies and metabolic
disturbances and thyroid function.
Infections such as H. Pylori can be treated with anti-bacterials,
while Epstein-Barr can be treated with anti-viral medications.
Exercise is less often suggested due to the post-exertional
malaise phenomenon. Alternative
approaches are gaining in popularity due to the poor showing of
Western medical treatments.
Conclusion
Obviously,
while progress is gradually being made in understanding more
about these conditions, much more remains to be discovered.
Recall that the many similarities between fibromyalgia
and chronic fatigue syndrome can make accurate diagnosis and
thus proper treatment difficult.
Early detection and follow-up, seeing the right types of
doctors, keeping journals about one’s functioning (including
trying to link events to symptom changes), and trying both
Western medical and holistic, alternative methods are all
recommended.
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