CFS VS. Fibromyalgia

I usually post in the fibro and anxiety forums but I have been curious about something for a long time. What is the difference between CFS and fibro? So many web sites seem to say they are the same thing with different names...Thanks

Shelly

Thanks for the response Hippimom! There is so much info on the internet. Some is reliable and some not so good. I was curious because I think there seems to be some important differences between the 2 also, but some don't agree. i think its always best to be well informed and have accurate info on any illnesses we have.

Thanks

Shelly

Hi Shelly,

I have had CFS for 11 years, and Fibro for about 7 years.  I agree that there is a lot of conflicting info out there.  That's because no one really knows what is going on and the ones that have it figured out better arent' being listened to.

As for the differences:  I believe that the research shows that CFS and FMS are different illnesses which have overlapping symptoms.  Like if you had the allergies and then got a head cold.  (Not the best analogy, but the only one I can think of right now)  Anyway, many of the symptoms are the same for allergies and head colds, but they are caused by different things and are in fact very different illnesses.

With CFS, most research shows some sort of infectious process with symptoms like sore throats, low grade fevers, swollen glands, sore spots in mouth and on tongue, rashes, muscle aches and pains, and of course, intense fatigue. 

With FMS, most research shows this to be more of a disorder of the musculoskeletal system.  It involves soft tissue such as muscles but also the joints.  It is more in a class with arthritis and the like.  This doesn't mean that a person won't have other symptoms like fatigue.  That is also a part of it.

So the way to keep them from being confusing is to remember that for CFS, the primary symptoms are viral-like with intense fatigue.  With FMS, the primary symptoms are pain, and yes with some fatigue.  Some FMS patients have more fatigue, some less.

Anyway, that is what the researchers have been able to show so far.  Who knows?  Maybe in the future we will find out that we are all wrong about them both.  But I don't think so.  I believe they are different diseases which have a propensity for each other.  That is why they tend to show up together in patients.  What the  connection is, I don't know, but we will know someday.

Hope this helps.

Musicgirl 

Yes it is possible to have all three.  I have all three and Chiari I Malformation and Syringomyelia and a few other fun things.

Chronic Pain Syndrome is really a large category that encompasses any chronic pain issue, so naturally it would include fibromyalgia, but can include any other chronic pain condition.

Hope this helps!

Musicgirl

Todd00,

I have heard of nervous exhaustion too and yes it is similar to CFS.  However, the causes are quite different.  With nervous exhaustion the fatigue isn't caused from an infection.  In CFS all research points to a viral cause. 

Now having said that, there are a lot of disorders that are being called CFS that aren't truly CFS.  Some are things like nervous exhaustion, others may be of other etiologies.  The research that I have spoken of has been reported in the last several years and is being done by the top guys.  It points to an infectious agent, most likely viral, as the cause.

Hope this helps

Musicgirl