What mimics fibromyalgia?

For example, a person could have Lyme disease, arthritis, or obstructive sleep apnea -- all conditions that can mimic fibromyalgia -- and also have fibromyalgia as a secondary condition.

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What can be mistaken for fibromyalgia?

These include sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, polymyalgia rheumatica and lupus. They have symptoms of widespread pain along with joint involvement. Most rheumatic diseases are treated with medication and physical therapy.

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How do I know if I have polymyalgia or fibromyalgia?

Similarities and differences in symptoms of polymyalgia and fibromyalgia include: The location of the pain. People with fibromyalgia often experience pain on both sides of the body, usually in 18 key places. People with polymyalgia typically feel stiffness and pain in their shoulders, back, and hip girdles.

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Are most patients with fibromyalgia misdiagnosed?

Of the 497 people who completed the questionnaires, 121 (24.3 percent) had fibromyalgia, based on the ACR criteria. But only 104 (20.9 percent) were actually diagnosed with the condition by a physician. In all, physicians failed to correctly diagnose 60 (49.6 percent) of those who met the ACR criteria for fibromyalgia.

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What is fibromyalgia pain compared to?

Fibromyalgia pain differs from general chronic widespread pain in many ways. Fibromyalgia pain is not only characterized by its widespread musculoskeletal pain, but the fatigue, cognitive difficulties and other symptoms it causes (i.e. headaches, depression, restless leg syndrome, etc.).

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How painful is fibromyalgia on a scale?

A diagnosis of fibromyalgia may be given when: Widespread pain has been present for 3 months or more. Pain is on both the left and right side of the body and above and below the waist. A WPI is ≥7 with an SS scale ≥5 OR a WPI range between 4‒6 with an SS scale ≥ 9.

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Can MS be mistaken for fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia and MS may have some more vague symptoms in common, such as problems with focus and concentration, fatigue, and depression. If you're Googling potential causes of these symptoms, you may find yourself researching both diseases to see if your symptoms match up.

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Why don t doctors take fibromyalgia seriously?

Because fibromyalgia presents as a cluster of nebulous (vague) symptoms, and there is no definitive cure, treatments are based on trial and error. This can be tremendously frustrating to physicians and that means patients have to cope with the fallout.

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What illnesses trigger or aggravate fibromyalgia?

Researchers believe that environmental (nongenetic) factors also play a role in a person's risk of developing the disorder. These environmental triggers may include having a disease that causes pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression.

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Why won't my doctor diagnose me with fibromyalgia?

Complicating the process, FM is often secondary to other pain conditions or autoimmune diseases, so a diagnosis of one of these conditions doesn't always rule out FM. That's when a specialist is really important, because they're more likely to have the experience to figure out what all is going on.

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What rare diseases mimic fibromyalgia?

  • Gout.
  • Low Back Pain.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Reiter's Syndrome.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis.
  • Scleroderma.
  • Sprains and Strains.
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

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How do doctors tell if you have fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed based primarily on having pain all over the body, along with other symptoms. Currently, there are no specific laboratory or imaging tests for fibromyalgia.

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What are the first signs of polymyalgia?

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition that causes pain, stiffness and inflammation in the muscles around the shoulders, neck and hips. The main symptom is muscle stiffness in the morning that lasts longer than 45 minutes. It may also cause other symptoms, including: high temperature (fever) and sweating.

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Which is worse fibromyalgia or polymyalgia?

Is Polymyalgia Rheumatica Worse Than Fibromyalgia? Every person's experience is different, so it's impossible to say definitively whether one disorder is worse than another. However, there are aspects of fibromyalgia that may make it harder to manage than PMR.

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What is the root cause of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is often triggered by an event that causes physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers include: a serious injury, such as after a car accident. an infection, such as Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme disease.

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What are secondary conditions to fibromyalgia?

Irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety with depression, and arthralgias of all joints are proximately due to the service-connected fibromyalgia.

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What painkiller is best for fibromyalgia?

The drugs amitriptyline, duloxetine, milnacipran and pregabalin can relieve fibromyalgia pain in some people. They may cause side effects such as a dry mouth or nausea. Normal painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol) aren't recommended for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

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Is fibromyalgia a disability in Australia?

Financial help can make a huge difference when you've been forced to stop working due to a disability like fibromyalgia. Financial help for fibromyalgia comes in two main forms in Australia. Disability Support Pensions and TPD insurance claims from your super policy can each give you assistance.

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What is the new blood test for fibromyalgia?

The FM/a ® Test analyzes your immune system's white blood cells for their chemokine and cytokine protein patterns. Those who suffer from fibromyalgia will show an abnormal pattern of these protective proteins.

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Do people with fibromyalgia hurt all the time?

If you have fibromyalgia, one of the main symptoms is likely to be widespread pain. This may be felt throughout your body, but could be worse in particular areas, such as your back or neck. The pain is likely to be continuous, although it may be better or more severe at different times.

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What happens if you don't rest with fibromyalgia?

If you don't spend enough time in deep sleep, your body lessens the production of important hormones. Decreased production of such hormones may increase pain in people with fibromyalgia.

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Does fibromyalgia show up on MRI?

It's unlikely that you'll need an MRI for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome unless your particular set of symptoms is similar to that of a neurological illness that requires evaluation with an MRI. You may also need an MRI at some point to diagnose an injury or a different illness.

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Should I see a neurologist for fibromyalgia?

Many neurologists have an understanding of fibromyalgia, but like rheumatologists, they're not all familiar with it. The pain from fibromyalgia is what typically prompts people to visit a neurologist, and this specialist may prescribe medications to control your pain.

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Does fibromyalgia affect walking?

Previous studies have observed that fibromyalgia women display a reduced walking speed, which could be a consequence of decreases in stride length and cycle frequency, as well as bradykinesia (Auvinet et al., 2006; Heredia Jiménez et al., 2009).

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When does fibromyalgia hurt the most?

Some people say their pain gets worse in extreme temperatures, such as very hot, cold or damp weather. People often say that besides the pain, fatigue is the worst part of fibromyalgia. This can be linked to a difficulty to think clearly or remember things properly, which is sometimes called fibro fog or brain fog.

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