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Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome

© Lisa Griggs

Fibromyalgia is only one of the many conditions that seems to have a link with Interstitial Cystitis. For some yet unknown reason, IC patients are much more likely to develop this condition than people who do not have IC. According to the Interstitial Cystitis Association, almost 25% of IC patients exhibit symptoms of fibromyalgia, compared to approximately 3% of the general population.

Fibromyalgia has been described by doctors as far back as the early 1800's. It has been labeled "chronic rheumatism," "myalgia," and "fibrositis." In 1987, the disorder was finally recognized by the American Medical Association as a true, disabling illness.

Fibromyalgia affects millions of Americans, primarily women. The diagnosis must be based on the patient's symptoms, because there are currently no lab tests that can identify the disease. Many patients describe tender, stiff muscles, widespread pain, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms.

Fibromyalgia's symptoms can mimic other diseases, sometimes making the diagnosis extremely difficult. The American College of Rheumatology recognizes 18 "tender points" on various regions of the body. When a patient experiences tenderness in at least 11 of these sites, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia may be made.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome is another ailment that seems to be similar to fibromyalgia. The information I'm seeing is conflicting, with some doctors saying that the two conditions are actually the same thing, and others saying that each disorder is definitely distinct. The effects seem to be generally the same, although the cause and cure for each could be completely different.

I have not personally experienced the effects of these diseases, but many of the interstitial cystitis patients that I come in contact with suffer from fibromyalgia and/or MPS. These can both be extremely painful conditions, and can be especially disabling when one also suffers from IC or other chronic conditions.

There are many, many websites with good information about fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. I will share with you the sites that I personally have visited.

Fibromyalgia:

http://ichelp.org/RelatedDiseases/Unders...

http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/fibromyalgia/

http://www.sover.net/~devstar/

http://www.medinex.com/fibromyalgia.shtml

http://thedailyapple.com/Level3/ds3/fbhm...

http://www.healthy.net/clinic/dandc/fibr...

http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/2801...

http://hometown.aol.com/fibroworld/index...

http://www2.rpa.net/~lrandall/

Myofascial Pain Syndrome:

http://hometown.aol.com/fibroworld/index...

http://www2.rpa.net/~lrandall/

http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/myofa...

http://www.yelmtel.com/~jrleo/

http://www.chronicpainsolutions.com/spon...

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