Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the reason is still unknown. Fibromyalgia means the pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. These muscles, ligaments and tendons are the soft fibrous tissues in the body. Most of the patients having fibromyalgia say that they ache all over. The muscles of theirs might feel like they have been pulled or overworked. Sometimes the muscles twitch and many times they burn. More women than men are affected with fibromyalgia and it shows up in people of all ages. If any person gets afflicted to fibromyalgia one should think of the last time they had a bad flu and the time when every muscle in their body shouted in pain. In this case the patient feels devoid of energy as though someone had unplugged their power supply. The severity of symptoms fluctuates from patient to patient and the fibromyalgia might resemble as a post-viral state.

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is described as a severe, debilitating fatigue, lasting at least six months, associated with at least four of the following symptoms, i.e. impaired memory or concentration, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, muscle pains, joint pains, new headaches, un-refreshing sleep and post-exertion malaise. Other medical and psychiatric conditions that can lead to fatigue should be ruled out, including Lyme's disease. Many of the chronic fatigue syndrome patients after demanding physical exercise have shown impaired cognitive processing.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue

One can say that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia syndrome are at two opposite ends of the same disorder as the chronic fatigue syndrome lays emphasis more on the fatigue whereas the fibromyalgia syndrome gives more emphasis on the pain. Reason as why the fibromyalgia takes place is still in dilemma but there are many a triggering events that are thought to precipitate its onset. There are few examples that would be an infection, an automobile accident or the development of another disorder like that of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or hypothyroidism. All these triggering events do not lead to fibromyalgia but they might awaken an underlying physiological abnormality that is already present.

Recommended Reading:

1. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Fibromyalgia: A Useful Comparison - Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are very similar disorders. These diseases are so similar that earlier chronic fatigue syndrome was...
2. Chronic fatigue clinic – Solution for the Syndrome - Chronic fatigue syndrome is a term given to prolong fatigue. Due to persistent fatigue, other disorders may originate among the...
3. Biology chronic fatigue fibro syndrome - The biology behind chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome is a term given to excessive fatigue and tiredness. Fibromyalgia and...
4. Chronic fatigue syndrome sign and symptom - How to know that you are suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome? Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by extreme fatigue and...
5. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Disability - It is estimated that perhaps as many as half a million people in the United States have a Chronic fatigue...