| display many of the same symptoms and are | | | | fibromyalgia by signing up for the free newsletter |
| both often misunderstood, but what are the | | | | below. |
| fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome similarities? | | | | Both CFS and FM affects the lives of the patients |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition whose | | | | and also the people around them. Regardless if a |
| origin is still unknown, pretty much like | | | | person suffers from CFS or FM, patients do need |
| fibromyalgia. Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is | | | | ample support from family and friends to help |
| characterized by extreme fatigue as its main | | | | them adapt to the limitations the disorders bring. |
| symptom but it also has a numerous of other | | | | Family and friends must learn to be patient and |
| symptoms. It has been observed that | | | | understanding to the needs of those afflicted with |
| fibromyalgia and CFS overlap in around 75% of | | | | these disorders. There is a lot of social stigma |
| cases. | | | | that accompanies CFC or FM, with people wrongly |
| It was also observed that patients suffering from | | | | believing that it’s ‘all in your |
| CFS manifest symptoms very similar to those | | | | head’ and you should just ‘pull |
| that are used to diagnose fibromyalgia. Other than | | | | yourself together’. |
| overwhelming fatigue, CFS patients have | | | | What remains crucial when suffering from either |
| symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome, | | | | of these conditions is that you don’t lose |
| temporomandibular joint pain, headache including | | | | your social contacts no matter how much effort |
| migraines, flu-like symptoms and mental fogginess | | | | it may seem. True friends will stick around and |
| and other forms of myalgia (muscle pain). | | | | help you through and they can provide some |
| Moreover, clinical depression and anxiety were | | | | much needed emotional support even if they |
| also observed to be common in CFS sufferers. | | | | can’t help in other ways. |
| Interestingly, when we look at fibromyalgia (FM), | | | | There are a number of treatment options for |
| we see that it is not all that different form CFS. | | | | both CFC and FM and as you may expect they |
| For FM patients widespread muscloskeletal pain is | | | | are fairly similar. There are conventional and |
| the main symptom and this is accompanied by | | | | natural treatments to choose from or which can |
| stiffness, fatigue, sleep problems and cognitive | | | | be used in conjunction with each other for an |
| difficulties, among others. The main symptoms of | | | | integrative approach. |
| pain and stiffness in FM patients compared to the | | | | Experts, attest that the best results they have |
| extreme fatigue in CFS are what differentiate the | | | | come to observe so far are when patients |
| two conditions. | | | | employ combinations of medication and various |
| In order to be diagnosed as having FM, patients | | | | conventional and natural treatment program. This |
| must be experiencing consistent pain in most of | | | | means becoming involved in your treatment |
| the upper and lower parts of the body for three | | | | rather than relying solely on medication to |
| months, with between 11 – 18 of the | | | | improve your health. |
| specific tender points as set out in the diagnostic | | | | At present there is no known cure for either CFC |
| criteria. | | | | or for FM, however people do manage to |
| Even though the pain can be unbearable and very | | | | overcome their symptoms and lead lives that are |
| discomforting for some most of FM patients, the | | | | either with manageable symptoms or |
| reassuring thing is that the syndrome is not fatal. | | | | symptom-free. |
| FM does not damage tissues and is not | | | | One of the safest ways to treat the two |
| progressive, although a number of sufferers do | | | | conditions (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome) |
| report a decrease in mobility and the severity of | | | | is by knowing the symptoms, discovering what |
| the syndrome varies from patient to patient, so | | | | triggers them for you, learning how to control |
| treatment correspondingly varies also. | | | | your environment, adjusting your eating habits |
| Continue reading for more information on FM and | | | | and making necessary changes to your way of |
| CFS and discover natural ways to combat | | | | life. |