Yes, lupus is often mistaken for fibromyalgia, and vice versa, because both conditions cause similar symptoms like fatigue, widespread pain, and joint aches, making diagnosis difficult, though lupus involves systemic inflammation (autoimmune) while fibromyalgia is a pain disorder, with key differences in physical exams (swollen joints in lupus vs. tender points in fibromyalgia) and lab results (ANA positive in lupus, normal inflammatory markers in fibro).
It is important for people who have lupus to learn about fibromyalgia because symptoms of both conditions can be similar, but the treatments are different. People who have lupus or fibromyalgia may experience any or all of the following: fatigue. joint and muscle pain.
Lab Tests for Fibromyalgia
Early signs of lupus often include extreme fatigue, joint pain/swelling, unexplained fever, and skin rashes, especially a butterfly-shaped rash on the face, but symptoms vary greatly and can develop slowly or suddenly, including hair loss, sun sensitivity, chest pain, and Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers/toes turning white/blue in cold). Because these symptoms mimic other conditions, seeing a doctor for persistent issues like headaches, mouth sores, or swelling is key for proper diagnosis.
Lupus causes the immune system to make proteins called autoantibodies. These proteins attack tissues and organs in the body, including the kidneys.
Lupus can attack many different parts of the body. Some call it the cruel mystery. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can strike any part of the body, but the wide range of symptoms can be easily mistaken for something else.
Lupus triggers are environmental and lifestyle factors that can cause the disease to develop or trigger a "flare" (worsening of symptoms) in people who are genetically predisposed, with common culprits including sunlight/UV exposure, infections (viruses), high stress, certain medications (antibiotics, blood pressure drugs), hormonal changes (pregnancy), and smoking, though triggers vary by individual and management involves avoiding known triggers and managing stress and health.
Lupus causes swelling and irritation, called inflammation, that may affect joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. Lupus can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms often are like those of other illnesses. A common sign of lupus is a facial rash that looks like butterfly wings across both cheeks.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or "lupus"), as described in medical papers, on the internet, and in public media, generally refers to the disease as seen at its peak onset ages: That is, lupus most often appears when a person is between 15 and 35 years of age – typically with symptoms of arthritis, rash, hair loss, ...
There's no specific fibromyalgia test. But your GP may do some blood tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms to fibromyalgia. Sometimes, your GP may refer you to a specialist for further tests or treatment.
Several rheumatic diseases can mimic fibromyalgia. These include sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, polymyalgia rheumatica and lupus. They have symptoms of widespread pain along with joint involvement. Most rheumatic diseases are treated with medication and physical therapy.
There are no specific tests that can confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia . But you may have lab tests to rule out other diseases.
But your doctor can find out if you have lupus in other ways, including:
Most patients with isolated chronic fatigue, diffuse pain, and a positive ANA test are ulti- mately found to have fibromyalgia.
Lupus and Sjogren's syndrome are both autoimmune diseases. Up to 5.5 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with lupus or Sjogren's syndrome. However, Sjogren's syndrome occurs up to three times more than lupus, but one-third of lupus patients also have Sjogren's syndrome.
Gender: Even though anyone can get lupus, it most often affects women. They're nine to ten times more likely than men to develop it. Age: Lupus can occur at any age, but most are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. Race: Lupus is two to three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasian women.
Careers That May Trigger Lupus Symptoms
In general, some types of jobs may be harder for people with lupus to manage, including: Physically demanding jobs like construction, waiting tables, or nursing. Outdoor jobs like landscaping or lifeguarding.
Corticosteroids help to slow and stop the processes in your body that make the molecules involved in your inflammatory response. These steroids also reduce the activity of your immune system by affecting the function of cells in your blood called white blood cells.
The most common symptoms include:
The 11 criteria included were malar rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity, alopecia, Raynaud phenomenon, oral/nasal ulcers, arthritis (non-erosive arthritis involving 2 or more peripheral joints), serositis (pleurisy or pericarditis), renal disease (proteinuria greater than 500 mg daily or cellular RBC, granular, ...
98% of all people with systemic lupus have a positive ANA test, making it the most sensitive diagnostic test for confirming diagnosis of the disease. The test for anti-nuclear antibodies is called the immunofluorescent antinuclear antibody test. In this test, a blood sample is drawn and sent to a laboratory.
The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infects more than 94% of people on Earth. While EBV has long been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the mechanism(s) by which it may promote disease has remained unclear — until now.
The medicines used most often to manage lupus include:
Tests to Make a Lupus Diagnosis
Complete blood count (CBC): checks for low counts of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Complement tests: measures the level of complement — proteins in your blood that help destroy foreign substances. Low levels of complement can indicate lupus.