Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Two Separate Diseases

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue syndrome have become all but synonymous among many people who do not understand these two illnesses. Because both involve fatigue and muscle pain, many people confuse them- in some occasions, even doctors can confuse the two! However, there are several key differences, and I will go into the differences here.

Fibromyalgia is an illness of pain. It is a chronic disorder, characterized by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, mental impairment (known as "fibro fog"), localized pain in key "tender points," and is often accompanied by illnesses such as irritable bowel disorder, migraines, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain, depression, anxiety, dizziness, tingling in the hands and feet, and heightened sensitivity to odors, sounds, and lights. The largest part of fibromyalgia, however, is the pain. In particular, the tender point pain is key to diagnosing fibromyalgia.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is an illness of crippling fatigue. It is characterized by a fatigue that is persistent, debilitating, and does not improve with sleep or bed rest. The fatigue reduces or impairs your daily life for a time of at least six months, and you have no previous history of such fatigue. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is also characterized by these symptoms: short term memory or concentration problems, sore throat, multi-joint pain without swelling or redness, muscle pain, headaches, non-refreshing sleep, post-exertional 'malaise' lasting more than 24 hours. Indeed, 4 or more of those symptoms must be present in order for Chronic Fatigue syndrome to be diagnosed. However, Chronic Fatigue can be accompanied by poor sleep, general achines, brain fog, increased thirst, bowel disorders, recurrent infections, and exhaustion after minimal exercise.

Now, look at all the similarities! There are so many symptomatic links between the two, it is no wonder that many people thought they were the same illness. However, the biggest things to notate are the dissimilarities.

In fibromyalgia, the muscle pain has particular points that are key to use to diagnose it. In chronic fatigue, the sore throat is key. If the patient reports in with widespread pain but no sore throat, it is likely that they have fibromyalgia but not chronic fatigue. Likewise, if they report in with crushing fatigue, a sore throat, but no tender points, they likely have chronic fatigue, but not fibromyalgia.

What about the lucky few who have both?

Well, for them, it will likely take a long time to be diagnosed with both. I, myself, suffer from both, but because my sore throats came and went- my particular chronic fatigue seems to "flare up" and then vanish for a time- it took me years more to be diagnosed with the chronic fatigue, oddly. For some, they will be diagnosed with one illness or the other, and be urged to treat that illness, and until they realize they have both, they may not be diagnosed with both.

How do you treat them?

It should come as no surprise that both illnesses have similar treatments. Lots of rest, avoiding stress, gentle exercise- yoga is highly recommended for both illnesses. There are no medications strictly to treat fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue, but obviously with both illnesses getting good sleep is key. To do that, you should find ways to improve the quality of your sleep. A good bed. Going to bed at the same time every night. Sleeping medications, if necessary, for a short time, are indicated, too.

Overall, however, the best treatment is one that you can do for yourself that will make you feel the best about yourself. Staying healthy is often about mental health, too, so do as much as you can to keep yourself happy and stress-free.

Coping with illnesses like Chronic Fatigue and Fibro is easier when you have the right support systems, so don't forget that! Reach out to friends and family, and try and connect with support groups either online or in person, if they are available to you. Having people around who know exactly what you are going through can be a huge help, particularly when you are confronted with situations you have never been confronted with before!

Finally, don't let your illness take over your life. You are still the same person you were before you got sick- you just have to find a way around these new limitations- and you can! Reach out and let the people who have done it help you live and thrive.

They have, and you can too.