Fibromyalgia (FMS)

Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue
disorder for which the cause is still unknown.  Fibromyalgia usually appears
between the ages of 20 - 55, but children and men are also diagnosed with
FMS.  It  is not degenerative or terminal, yet FMS and CFIDS can be
more disabling  then Multiple Sclerosis  or Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

Fibromyalgia means pain in the bodies soft tissues (bursa, muscles, joints,
ligaments and tendons).  The soft tissue pain is described as: aching, stabbing
or burning.  Severity of symptoms fluctuate from person to person.  The
FMS patient may feel all different types of pain at the same time.  Researchers
have discovered that FMS patients have up to 3 X the amount of a substance
called "substance P" in their spinal fluid.  Substance P tells the body how
much pain it is feeling.

Fibromyalgia pain can be manageable one moment and incapacitating the next.
Although pain and fatigue are the core symptoms, there are several secondary
symptoms that wax and wane.  Many FMS patients always feel flu-like.
Tenderpoints (sore nodules) under the skin are often the only way a physician
can make a Fibromyalgia diagnosis. Since patients "appear" to look healthy,
many people can not understand how sick these patients are.







What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS, CFIDS, ME)

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an auto immune disease for which the cause is
still unknown.  Unlike FMS, 3% of CFS patients do recover
  This only occurs in the under 25 age group and some researchers attribute
that to the the large amount of growth hormone younger patients have. 

The fatigue in CFS is not just feeling tired. It is a complete shut down of
the body that forces  sleep.  The core symptoms in addition to fatigue
include many types of pain that are often described as: Aching, stabbing,
burning, jolting, twisting and nerve like pain.  Severe pain patients often
take opiods to be able to function with daily living skills. 

Curently there is a name change in progress for this auto immune disease
because it is often confused with the "symptom" of just being fatigued. 


Symptoms Page
THE SYNDROMES