Fibromyalgia & MS Symptoms

Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis are chronic conditions that share symptoms that can be severe and debilitating. Neither illness has a cure, but both can be managed with medications and therapies.

Features

Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis are potentially disabling conditions. Both conditions have symptoms that may flare up at times and go into remission at other times.

Significance

According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 350,000 people in the United States have multiple sclerosis. Fibromyalgia is more prevalent, and affects about 3 million people.

Symptoms

One of the most prominent symptoms of fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis is fatigue. Patients with these conditions may also experience muscle weakness, muscle stiffness, tingling sensations and numbness. Commonly, patients also suffer from depression.

Treatment

Neither multiple sclerosis nor fibromyalgia can be prevented. Treatments for these conditions include pain medications and physical therapy. Multiple sclerosis may also be treated with corticosteriod medications, to reduce inflammation.

Prognosis

Fibromyalgia is typically not a progressive condition, but it is usually life-long. In contrast, multiple sclerosis is often a progressive condition that worsens over time, sometimes resulting in total disability or even death, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Fibromyalgia
• Mayo Clinic: Multiple Sclerosis
• NY Times: Conditions Similar to Fibromyalgia

Resources

• Fibromyalgia and Associated Disorders
• CDC: Fibromyalgia Statistics
• Cleveland Clinic: Multiple Sclerosis Statistics