What can mimic fibromyalgia?

Misdiagnosing Fibromyalgia: Why It's Common
  • Lupus. Like fibromyalgia, lupus affects women primarily, who experience pain in their joints as well as fatigue, memory issues, and headaches and stomachaches. ...
  • Multiple Sclerosis. ...
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis. ...
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica. ...
  • Axial Spondyloarthritis. ...
  • Thyroid Disease. ...
  • Diabetes. ...
  • Anemia.
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What can be mistaken for fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia may be mistaken for one of the following six conditions, among others:
  • Celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity.
  • Hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's disease.
  • Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis)
  • Myofacial pain.
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How do you know if you have fibromyalgia or something else?

Fibromyalgia symptoms often mimic those of other conditions. Determining the true cause of your symptoms is key to receiving proper treatment. Fibromyalgia symptoms include widespread body pain, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep and mood problems. But all of these symptoms are common to many other conditions.
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What conditions can fibromyalgia be mistaken for due to fatigue?

10 Conditions Often Mistaken for Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome (also called ME/CFS) is the condition that is probably most often confused with fibromyalgia. ...
  • Hypothyroidism. ...
  • Lupus. ...
  • Osteoarthritis. ...
  • Rheumatoid arthritis. ...
  • Multiple sclerosis. ...
  • Depression. ...
  • Lyme disease.
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What can fibromyalgia pain be compared to?

Share on Pinterest Symptoms of both polymyalgia and fibromyalgia may include pain in the neck. Polymyalgia and fibromyalgia are often confused because they both cause muscle pain throughout the body, and they have similar names.
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Fibromyalgia: It's Real, It's Manageable, What You Can Do



How is polymyalgia different from fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia can occur at any age, but polymyalgia rarely occurs before age 50. The average age of onset is 70. And whereas fibromyalgia is chronic, often lasting a lifetime, polymyalgia usually resolves itself within two years. Treatment differs, too.
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What does polymyalgia pain feel like?

The signs and symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica usually occur on both sides of the body and might include: Aches or pain in your shoulders. Aches or pain in your neck, upper arms, buttocks, hips or thighs. Stiffness in affected areas, particularly in the morning or after being inactive for a time.
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Will Ana be positive with fibromyalgia?

Most of the false-positive ANAs were of low titer, but even a high-titer ANA is not proof of an underlying connective tissue disease. Therefore, not surprisingly, ANA testing is frequently positive in patients with fibromyalgia.
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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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Does fibromyalgia hurt all the time?

The pain from fibromyalgia can be intense and constant. It can be severe enough to keep you home from work and other activities. In a National Health Interview Survey, 87 percent of participants reported having pain on most days or every day of their lives. Fibromyalgia can also cause intense emotional symptoms.
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What is the 18 point test for fibromyalgia?

In the past, one way that doctors tried to narrow down a diagnosis of fibromyalgia was by exerting pressure on 18 small spots located throughout the body to elicit the sensations of tenderness and pain. These spots are known as tender points.
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Why do doctors not believe in fibromyalgia?

“Physicians do not have adequate and homogeneous knowledge of the fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria. Approximately half of physicians did not adhere to the criteria. Poor knowledge and adherence … may increase diagnosis delays and misdiagnoses.
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Does fibromyalgia show up on CT scan?

In people with fibromyalgia blood tests fail to show any serious abnormalities. CT and MRI scans looking for abnormalities affecting the brain, spinal cord or nerves are normal or inconsistent with the persons symptoms.
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Can MS be mistaken for fibromyalgia?

Fatigue, or feeling tired all the time, is a common symptom of MS and fibromyalgia. Other similarities include: Age.
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Can anxiety cause fibromyalgia like symptoms?

It's possible that anxiety triggers a neurotransmitter response that increases nerve firing or inflammation within certain parts of your body. It's also possible that the stress from anxiety damages something in your body that makes fibromyalgia occur.
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Can thyroid symptoms mimic fibromyalgia?

Hypothyroidism – people with hypothyroidism may exhibit symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as fatigue, depression, and muscle or joint pain. Hashimoto thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease and the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Fibromyalgia is prevalent among 30 - 40% among people with Hashimoto thyroiditis.
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What are the 8 symptoms of fibromyalgia?

8 FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD KNOW
  • Pain and Tenderness. The most common and well-known symptom of fibromyalgia is the all-over aches and pains many people experience. ...
  • Fatigue. ...
  • Sleep Issues. ...
  • Mood Disorders. ...
  • Morning Stiffness. ...
  • Swelling or Tingling in Your Extremities. ...
  • Headaches. ...
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
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What is the root cause of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is often triggered by a stressful event, including physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers for the condition include: an injury. a viral infection.
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What are the 18 signs of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia also causes a number of other symptoms, such as:
  • fatigue.
  • lack of energy.
  • trouble sleeping.
  • depression or anxiety.
  • memory problems and trouble concentrating (sometimes called “fibro fog”)
  • headaches.
  • muscle twitches or cramps.
  • numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
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Does lupus mimic fibromyalgia?

The common similarity between lupus and fibromyalgia is pain. In both diseases, pain can be exacerbated during flares of the condition. However, lupus symptoms show more visible distinctions. While both disorders can disrupt quality of life, lupus can pose more life-threatening complications.
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Do I have lupus or fibromyalgia?

Joint and muscle pain are common in both conditions. But people with lupus often have stiffness and swelling in their joints. It can be hard for people with this condition to move. In people with fibromyalgia, on the other hand, the joints move normally and aren't swollen.
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Is lupus the same as fibromyalgia?

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that involves widespread inflammation and impacts many organs throughout the body. Fibromyalgia a disorder that causes widespread chronic pain and tenderness. Unlike lupus, fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory or autoimmune disease.
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Does polymyalgia rheumatica always show up in blood tests?

There's no specific test for polymyalgia rheumatica, but it's likely that a series of blood tests will be done. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are blood tests that can be used to check the levels of inflammation in your body.
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What can polymyalgia be mistaken for?

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) causes symptoms similar to those of several other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and fibromyalgia. For this reason, doctors can misdiagnose it.
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What is the difference between fibromyalgia and Polyarthralgia?

However, they are different disorders with different causes. In fact, it is possible for a person to have both polymyalgia and fibromyalgia. The difference between fibromyalgia and Polyarthralgia is polyarthritis causes inflammation to the joints, whereas there is no inflammation with polyarthralgia.
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