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A New Free Report - What Is Fibromyalgia?
This fascinating new report from UK-based publishing house Health Research Today answers some of the most-asked questions about this baffling disease :
- What's the medical definition of Fibromyalgia?
- What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
- What are tender points and what are trigger points? What's the difference?
- What are the known causes of Fibromyalgia?
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Fibromyalgia and Other Medical Conditions
This article is an extract from the ebook Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
Fibromyalgia and Lupus
Diagnosing fibromyalgia can actually take a significant amount of time. After all, most doctors want to rule out all other possibilities before making a final diagnosis. However, because fibromyalgia’s symptoms mirror those of so many other illnesses, there is plenty of room for misdiagnosis. For some who actually have fibromyalgia, lupus is mistakenly given as the diagnosis.
Similar to fibromyalgia, lupus has no known cause and there is currently no cure. In reality, however, fibromyalgia and lupus are quite different. Lupus is an auto-immune illness whereby the body suffers from chronic inflammation throughout. Lupus also affects the body’s organs. Many lupus patients have mild symptoms with the illness affecting several organs. Lupus can be a debilitating, life-threatening illness, especially if many organs are affected.
Neither fibromyalgia nor lupus is easy to diagnose. There’s no laboratory test that can be taken to pinpoint the lupus or the fibromyalgia. To be diagnosed with lupus, one must meet at least four of eleven symptoms set by the American College of Rheumatology. Diagnosis of lupus takes a thorough examination by your physician.
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, the eleven symptoms are: malar rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, arthritis, serositis, renal disorder, neurological disorder, hematologic disorder, antinuclear disorder, and immunologic disorder. Just like fibromyalgia, Lupus is diagnosed after a thorough examination of the patient.
While there is only one form of fibromyalgia, lupus can be found in three forms: discoid (cutaneous) lupus, systemic lupus, and drug-induced lupus. Briefly, discoid lupus affects only the skin and shows itself in rashes throughout the body. According to the Lupus Foundation of American, approximately 10 percent of those patients with discoid lupus, regardless of treatment, will evolve into systemic lupus.
Systemic lupus is generally much worse than discord lupus, and affects the body’s organs. Not all patients with systemic lupus have organ problems, with the lupus affecting only the joints and the skin. And like fibromyalgia, lupus, particularly systemic lupus, has varying symptoms depending on the patient.
Finally, drug-induced lupus is the result of taking such medications as hydralazine and rocainamide. The good news is not everyone who takes such medications will suffer from drug-induced lupus. Generally, if the patient ceases taking the medication, the symptoms dissipate. Unlike fibromyalgia, lupus that is drug-induced can permanently go away.
Like fibromyalgia, lupus has a long list of symptoms that generally vary from patient to patient. Among the many symptoms of Lupus are: joint pain, fatigue, muscle pain, anemia, rashes, pleurisy, sensitivity to both light and sunlight, loss of hair, seizures, ulcers, and Raynaund’s Phenomenon. Raynaund’s Phenomenon occurs when the patient’s fingers turn either white or blue when it’s cold.
While weather and stress can signal a flare-up of fibromyalgia, lupus patients generally experience flare-ups after a cold, stress, and/or infection. Additionally, with both fibromyalgia and lupus, the main sufferers are women.
Just as treatment can help alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia, lupus treatments can also help patients lessen their symptoms. Because symptoms vary so widely from patient to patient, treatment must be highly individualized to meet the patient’s needs. Common treatments for lupus include exercise, therapy whereby the patient can discuss the frustration of living with a chronic illness, and staying out of the sun.
And, like with fibromyalgia, lupus patients should steer clear of alcohol and should avoid smoking at all costs. Making lifestyle adjustments is essential for those suffering from lupus, as the fatigue and other symptoms can often prove to be overwhelming. Most lupus patients also opt for medications to help alleviate their symptoms.
Unfortunately, both those with fibromyalgia and lupus often find it takes time to find the right combination of medications to help their symptoms. Common medications that lupus patients try include anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, Cytotec, Arthrotec, etc), acetaminophen (Tylenol), steroids, and Antimalarials (Aralen).
Regardless of whether the patient has fibromyalgia or lupus, there’s one thing for certain. While there is no cure for either illness, fibromyalgia and lupus patients can – with time and experimentation – find the right combination of medication and therapy to alleviate their symptoms and allow them to live productive lives.
Unfortunately, like with fibromyalgia, lupus patients will go through flare-ups. The key is for those with chronic illnesses to surround themselves with loved ones and things they love, making flare-ups a little easier to deal with.
© Health Research Today
Read the rest of this article in Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
