Is fibromyalgia a form of arthritis?

Fibromyalgia is not a form of arthritis (joint disease). It does not cause inflammation or damage to joints, muscles or other tissues. However, because fibromyalgia can cause chronic pain and fatigue similar to arthritis, some people may think of it as a rheumatic condition.

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Is fibromyalgia linked to arthritis?

Fibromyalgia often co-occurs with other types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and ankylosing spondylitis.

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What is the root cause of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is often triggered by an event that causes physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers include: a serious injury, such as after a car accident. an infection, such as Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme disease.

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Is fibromyalgia a bone or joint disease?

The discomfort from fibromyalgia may feel like burning, soreness, stiffness, aching, or gnawing pain, often times with sore spots in certain parts of your muscles. The pain may feel like arthritis. But it doesn't damage muscles or bones.

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Is fibromyalgia a form of rheumatoid arthritis?

While fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) share symptoms, they are unrelated. The two conditions have different causes, diagnostic methods, and treatments.

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Fibromyalgia, arthritis and pain | Arthritis Talks

27 related questions found

Is fibromyalgia pain worse than rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis causes visible damage to joints. Fibromyalgia does not. Rheumatoid arthritis also gets progressively worse, causing swelling and sometimes deformities. The pain from fibromyalgia is more widespread, while rheumatoid arthritis is concentrated initially to hands, wrists, knees and balls of the feet.

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What are the four stages of fibromyalgia?

Results: There were four parent stages of FM identified and labeled: 1) regional FM with classic symptoms; 2) generalized FM with increasing widespread pain and some additional symptoms; 3) FM with advanced and associated conditions, increasing widespread pain, increased sleep disturbances, and chemical sensitivity; ...

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What painkiller is best for fibromyalgia?

The drugs amitriptyline, duloxetine, milnacipran and pregabalin can relieve fibromyalgia pain in some people. They may cause side effects such as a dry mouth or nausea. Normal painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol) aren't recommended for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

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Is fibromyalgia a disability or chronic illness?

The Social Security Administration recognizes arthritis and fibromyalgia (FM) as qualifying disabilities for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI).

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What are the worst symptoms of fibromyalgia?

The main symptoms of fibromyalgia are:
  • Chronic, widespread pain throughout the body or at multiple sites. Pain is often felt in the arms, legs, head, chest, abdomen, back, and buttocks. People often describe it as aching, burning, or throbbing.
  • Fatigue or an overwhelming feeling of being tired.
  • Trouble sleeping.

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What organ does fibromyalgia affect?

Fibromyalgia was formerly classified as an inflammatory musculoskeletal disease but is now considered to be an illness that primarily affects the central nervous system.

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Does fibromyalgia ever go away?

There's no cure for fibromyalgia, but your healthcare provider will help you find a combination of treatments that relieve your symptoms. Even though experts don't know what causes fibromyalgia, it's real — and so are your symptoms. They might come and go or be hard to describe, but how you feel is valid and important.

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What diseases are linked to fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia often co-exists with other conditions, such as:
  • Irritable bowel syndrome.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • Migraine and other types of headaches.
  • Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome.
  • Temporomandibular joint disorders.
  • Anxiety.
  • Depression.
  • Postural tachycardia syndrome.

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Does fibromyalgia get worse with age?

Fibromyalgia isn't a progressive disease, so it doesn't get worse over time and may even improve. It's never fatal, and it won't harm the joints, muscles, or internal organs.

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What happens if fibromyalgia is left untreated?

A major risk of leaving fibromyalgia untreated is that symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, headaches, and depression can become excruciatingly worse over time. Fibromyalgia also has a huge impact on mental health and anxiety and mood disorders can also worsen if you don't treat fibromyalgia.

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What does a fibro flare feel like?

A fibromyalgia attack is also known as a flare-up. An attack can come on suddenly and cause mild to severe pain. These attacks may cause aching, burning, throbbing, or stabbing.

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Is fibromyalgia a disability Centrelink?

Is fibromyalgia covered by NDIS & Centrelink? Yes!

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What am I entitled to if I have fibromyalgia?

What are you entitled to? As a sufferer of Fibromyalgia you may be entitled to a range of welfare benefits. The benefits you may be entitled to due to fibromyalgia include; Attendance Allowance (AA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

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Can you lose the ability to walk with fibromyalgia?

As a result, patients with fibromyalgia may lose their ability to walk faster or their capacity to maintain balance while standing as their gait changes, according to a study published in Frontiers in Human Science. They may also have difficulty moving about due to pain and stiffness.

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Why am I so tired with fibromyalgia?

Poor sleep quality

Fibromyalgia can affect your sleep. You may often wake up tired, even when you have had plenty of sleep. This is because the condition can sometimes prevent you sleeping deeply enough to refresh you properly. You may hear this described as non-restorative sleep.

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Why does fibromyalgia cause weight gain?

Several aspects of fibromyalgia contribute to these excess pounds. When you have fibromyalgia, the appetite-signaling hormone leptin may be out of sync. That sends inaccurate hunger messages to the brain, making you eat more, says Dr. Holtorf.

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What exercises should you avoid with fibromyalgia?

People with fibromyalgia should generally avoid activities that involve fast, sudden movements and high impact activities, such as running and jumping, although some people may progress to this level of activity.

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What is life expectancy with fibromyalgia?

There are periods of flare-ups followed by periods where symptoms are minimal. However, it is unlikely that they will ever permanently disappear altogether. However, fibromyalgia is not life-threatening and does not reduce life expectancy.

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What age does fibromyalgia peak?

Natelson, MD, director of the Pain and Fatigue Study Center at Beth Israel Medical Center, told Everyday Health, “Fibromyalgia tends to peak when the person is in their 50s, but symptoms can continue well into the 60s and 70s.

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Does fibromyalgia run in families?

Fibromyalgia is known to run in families, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing this disease.

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