Both cause extreme tiredness, which could cause ME/CSF to be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia.
What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is also called myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME/CFS.
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PeopleImages / Getty Images
Key Differences
Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have many similarities.
But each one has distinguishing features that help tell them apart.
Diagnostic Criteria
Both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia have criteria to diagnose each condition.
The WPI evaluates pain across 19 body areas, awarding one point for each painful region.
Additionally, one of the following score combinations must be met:
This can be a time-consuming process.
Not all healthcare providers are comfortablediagnosing fibromyalgia.
That means you may need to push for tests or a referral to a specialist.
What Is the New Blood Test for CFS?
However, it is still being studied and tested, so its not yet available for diagnoses.
Fibromyalgia can feel different to different people.
However, many people compare the pain to full-body migraines.
Your limbs may feel too heavy to lift at times.
Your brain may feel slow, cloudy, or hard to focus.
The world may be overwhelming to your senses.
You may always feel tired, regardless of how much youve slept.
Can You Have Both CFS and Fibromyalgia?
you’ve got the option to have both chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
In fact, many people do.
These conditions are considered cousins, of a sort.
They belong to the same family of illnesses, which is calledcentral sensitivity syndromes.
The symptoms are extremely similar.
So, it can be difficult to tell if you have just one or both of these conditions.
Until theres better diagnostic testing, it may sometimes be impossible to tell if you have both.
Fortunately, the treatments are similar.
So, you may get the right treatments even if youre not correctly diagnosed.
How They’re Treated
Theres no standard treatment for ME/CFS or fibromyalgia.
Most people end up with multiple types of treatment.
It can take a lot of trial and error to come up with a good treatment regimen.
ME/CFS is known for extreme tiredness that gets worse after doing physical or mental activities, called post-exertional malaise.
It also causes poor sleep, trouble focusing, and flu-like symptoms.
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