Fibromyalgia

Home » Fibromyalgia » Differential Diagnosis

Differential Diagnosis

To diagnose fibromyalgia, imaging tests and electrophysiological studies of the nerves and muscles may be performed to rule out illnesses with similar symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Lyme disease, muscle diseases (e.g., myofascial pain syndrome), hypothyroidism, and bacterial and viral infections.

Research shows that 50–70% of patients with fibromyalgia also fit the criteria for CFS. However, patients with CFS usually do not meet the criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia that has been established by the American College of Rheumatology. There is additional physical evidence that the two disorders are distinct.

Pain is the hallmark of fibromyalgia and fatigue is the hallmark of CFS. Patients with fibromyalgia may have high levels of substance P in their spinal fluid and CFS patients may not. CFS is thought to be viral in origin, and while a virus is suspected in fibromyalgia, there is no evidence to support this theory. Symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and swollen glands are more common in patients with CFS. Aerobic exercise often improves muscle function and reduces pain in fibromyalgia, but CFS patients often find that exercise is impossible and worsens symptoms.

Fibromyalgia, Differential Diagnosis reprinted with permission from neurologychannel.com
© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Fibromyalgia Resources

	Join Our Fibromyalgia Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer