Fibromyalgia Chronic Fatigue - Are They The Same?

Don't be confused when you hear the term fibromyalgia chronic fatigue syndrome, as this does not describe an actual medical condition. What we have are two different conditions: fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

These two medical conditions have baffled the medical community for quite a while now. It took them years to establish and release official guidelines for the two syndrome's diagnosis.

Both FMS and CFS are non-fatal conditions. And because the conditions do not damage any body tissue, no permanent physical effects have been observed from people who had the syndromes. Nevertheless, the damaging effects might not be present in the body itself, but rather the conditions can greatly affect relationships in families, with friends and employers.

Most evident and most immediately affected by these syndromes are job performance and family relations. This is why it is very important that patients have a solid support group to help them cope with the hardships they will have to face as they treat their conditions.

Fibromyalgia syndrome or FMS is usually categorized by the pain patients feel in their muscles, particularly in the areas like the back of your head, neck, upper chest, elbows, hips and knees. The pain usually needs to be consistent for at least three months before fibromyalgia is considered as the cause.

Also there other symptoms that accompany the disorder which helps doctors distinguish the syndrome from CFS or from other related disorders or diseases for that matter. Aside from the chronic pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, feelings of extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, depression and anxiety are some of the other symptoms of FMS.

While people diagnosed with CFS have symptoms like muscle weakness, digestive disturbances, loss of brain function, hypersensitivity, orthostatic intolerance (the body has an abnormal reactions when standing up), depression, immune system weakness, and even cardiac and respiratory problems. But these are just accompanying conditions and the most prominent symptom of a person with CFS is fatigue. Fatigue can vary from mild to severe; however, these instances of feeling exhaustion can occur in unexpected situations.

For example, patients that have possible CFS will feel exhausted quickly even if he/she is doing very simple, normal activities. Some doctors or experts insists that before the patient is officially diagnosed as having CFS, the condition of fatigue and tiredness be present for a period of six consecutive months. Also, the fatigue felt by patients should not be associated with other medical conditions or disease like cancer.

However, although these are two separate conditions there appears to be quite a significant overlap between them and it is thought they may make up part of a wider spectrum of similar conditions. Your diagnosis of either fibromyalgia or CFS may depend on which symptom presents itself first.

They are both similar conditions to arthritis where the symptoms can come and go and also vary in severity.

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Many of the treatment options for both fibromyalgia chronic fatigue syndrome are similar, which stands to reason given the symptoms are also very similar.

Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you discover more about fibromyalgia chronic. In the newsletter you'll receive regular information like this article on overcoming Fibromyalgia along with additional natural treatments to help alleviate pain.

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