What si the difference between Fibromyalgia and CFS

My apologies if this has been asked before, but I am curious about the differences between Fibromyalgia and CFS? They almost always seem to be described in the same topic in medical articles, and treatment likewise.

Obviously, many aspects of CFS are still a mystery, and it might not even have a correct name. Latest articles seem to indicate that it is a general illness for a range of possible causes/infections, and also possibly treatments.

Hello suncat, i know the way you feel - far too confusing! I suffer with both cfs/me and fibro. this i only found out recently when my new doctor mentioned fibro (all this time i thought thie pain was just a part of my me/cfs) Only then did my new doctor (god bless her she's fantastic) AT LAST I'VE FOUND A GOOD ONE! She told me that there is a difference, pain being the main one.

Hello suncat, i know the way you feel - far too confusing! I suffer with both cfs/me and fibro. this i only found out recently when my new doctor mentioned fibro (all this time i thought thie pain was just a part of my me/cfs) Only then did my new doctor (god bless her she's fantastic) AT LAST I'VE FOUND A GOOD ONE! She told me that there is a difference, pain being the main one.

Suncat, my understanding of what I've read of research on Fibro in the mainstream scientific press is that it now has one distinctive diagnositc feature - microscopic tears in the muscle fibres. Muscles are composed of tiny little fibres shaped like diamonds, (some are quick muscle for speed and some are slow muscle for longer term stamina) and these fibres have been found to have a high proportion of tears in them, which is presumably what causes the pain. The latest thinking from what I remember - it was just a tiny article in New Scientist more than a year ago - is that there is a specific gene related to these types of fibres and other sorts of connective tissue, and that different types of defects in this gene cause all sorts of problems, mainly inherited.

CFS can lead to fibro, fibro is accompanied by mind bending fatigue and the two often occur concurrently but they are different disorders. Part of the fatigue factor has been traced to a deficiency in malic acid in the mitochondria (energy factories) of the cells. Malic acid is necessary for the completion of the Krebs cycle which converts glucose to ATP to energy. This lack is why we seem to only get "non-restorative" sleep. I take 3200mg of malic acid a day to combat the fatigue.

CFS patients often also suffer from S.A.D. (Seasonal Affected Disorder) which has to do with our circadian rhythms and the amount of sunlight hitting our pituitary on a daily and seasonal basis. I use a "Happy Lite", a broad spectrum light in my office and bakery when I won't be getting at least 15 minutes of outside sun time a day.

The pain of fibro is linked to an elevated P substance factor in the cerebral spinal fluid which makes fibros feel pain from simple stimuli such as repeated tapping. There are lots of other differences but these are some of the main ones.

Hi Suncat,

I was told by my Rhuematologist? that chronic fatigue goes hand in hand with FMS. I was also told by a sleep specialist that FMS sufferers have weird sleep patterns that do not allow them to get normal sleep. You are asleep but you do not know you are. It is all part of the "syndrome" of FMS. Not to mention that the pain can deprive you of sleep. These are two seperate disorders, but as I was told run together. I believe that both are present in every FMS sufferer I have ever met. As I have been told if you have FMS you will have CFS also. That is my information from my doctors. I'm sure their are many opinions on this from many sources. I just know that as a FMS sufferer I also have CFS. Not that my information is any better than anything else you have seen here. Hope it helps.

2tmoose

hippimom2 said...
I'm not sure I know the exact difference, but with fibro, there are the tender points that docs use to help diagnose it. Also pain seems to be more of an issue with fibro, whereas with CFS it is the debilitating fatigue. A lot of people with CFS also run low grade temps and have swollen glands and I don't think those things happen as much with fibro. Some people will say they are the same thing, but from what I know and what I have read and what I have experienced, they are two different conditions that share some symptoms. I hope this helps some.

                 Hi Hippimom

                 Fibro is different, i get fevers of 102 about 2 times a week flu like symptoms 

                 But with CFS im tired and ache all over I just want sleep, 

                 I also have

                 rhumatoild

                 arthritis..lucky me.. i

                 have all 3...lol... and with muscle aches and joint aches it no win situation...

                 Im currently taking, lyrica, tramadol, davorcet, trazdone< i dont take it causes me

                 have nightmares<, Im also taking a adderall I think is what it is.. it helps me to

                 stay awake in the day. I have lost a lot of weight with these disease's(sp)

                 I also am taking tylenol3 and a muscle relaxer tizanidine , and carisprodol "

                 soma" then  for arthritis im taking presinone, cortizones anti imflammations pills

                 but i still dont feel. They just give you pill after pill... it seems.Most time I dont

                 take any thing. Because they make me sick to my stomach.

                 

The differences between CFS and fibromyalgia:

. is that fibro patients are diagnosed by 18 distinct tender points (designated points on the body that are painful when four kilograms of pressure are applied), while ME/CFS is distinguished by post-exertional malaise (deep fatigue and exhaustion following physical exertion, which lasts more than 24 hours).

. Substance P (a neurotransmitter that sends pain signals) is elevated in people who have fibromyalgia but not CFS

. RNaseL (a cellular antiviral enzyme) is frequently elevated in chronic fatigue syndrome but not in fibromyalgia

. CFS is triggered by a an infection or flu-like illness and fibromyalgia is usually triggered by a severe physical or emotional trauma.