Lupus Fibromyalgia: Symptoms and Treatments and Commonalities

As they indeed are, lupus and fibromyalgia are being considered as two varied, prominent medical syndromes with certain sets of symptoms and treatments on their own respectively. The presence of fibromyalgia interferes with the correct diagnosis and treatment of lupus as claimed by some, rheumatologists in certain occasions. These two conditions complicate each other as they co-exists. Lupus, fibromyalgia, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis are known as branches taking root from the same tree.

Diseases considered to be capable of co-existing includes Lupus fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s syndrome (excessive dryness of the eyes and mucous membranes), chronic fatigue syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Particularly both lupus and fibromyalgia are the connective tissue diseases and auto-immune disorders. Although they both have similar symptoms and the lines between these conditions is usually fairly thin.

Lupus and Fibromyalgia – What’s the Connection?
Intense muscle, joint, and connective tissue pain, peripheral neuropathy, sensitivity to heat and cold, a low immunity to viruses of opportunity such as the flu, severe fatigue, sleep disturbances and an inability at times to focus and concentrate, called “brain fog.”, are the many commonalities Systemic lupus and fibromyalgia share.

Referring to fibromyalgia as sub-clinical systemic lupus by many rheumatologists, these two conditions that comes as a key symptoms present in lupus can hardly be differentiated. For the diagnosis of Systemic lupus is based upon the unpopular “butterfly rash” on the chest or face, and a lab test called a “sed rate” test.

Fibromyalgia victims tend to have the same fear of being converted to lupus. Hence, , knowing completely what this would mean for their health, they observe constantly for the butterfly-shaped rash. Only in the absence of these two symptoms would the victims be diagnosed as having lupus fibromyalgia.

Remaining a topic debatable among rheumatologists and immune disorder medical experts, patients are diagnosed with either lupus or fibromyalgia, not both at the same time. Strong steroid drug such as Prednisone is used primarily treat Lupus in minimizing the pain and swelling of muscles, joints and connective tissues.

As Lupus is the source of drastic hair thinning and total hair losing, a serious disorder of the thyroid and/or adrenal gland known as Cushing’s disease will result from the long-term use of such steroid. Physicians are reluctant to treat fibromyalgia, which is symptomologically almost identical to lupus, with steroids. Instead, they choose other medications and remedies that do not result in severe side effects.

“I have lupus fibromyalgia”, would be the common answer by patients in the examination of lupus or fibromyalgia. Patients simply give their ability to do as much to treat the symptoms and leave the controversy to medical researchers who ceaselessly debate over this issue.

Next article: Fibromyalgia with Multiple Sclerosis: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments