A person who is very dear to me was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis not too long ago- and just a few days ago, she was told she also has fibromyalgia. I am writing this article for her, but also for all the other people with both illnesses, in the hopes that spelling out the differences and similarities will help them all understand both illnesses better, and cope with both better.
Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. It can range from fairly benign to somewhat disabling to completely devastating depending on what communication centers to the body are disrupted. It is considered an autoimmune disease because the body begins attacking the nerve insulating myelin, however the trigger that begins said attacks is uncertain- some doctors believe it could be a virus with a high fever, others believe an environmental trigger could cause it, still others are researching genetic links.
Most people experience their first MS symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40. The first symptom is often visual- blurred or double vision, color distortion, or even blindness in one or both eyes. Most patients experience muscle weakness, balance and coordination problems, and difficulty walking or standing. In the very worst cases, MS can produce partial or complete paralysis. Most MS sufferers also experience numbness, tingling, and prickling sensations in their extremities. Some may feel pain. Speech impediments, tremors, and dizziness are also experienced by a large number of MS patients. Occasionally, hearing issues are a symptom, as are difficulty concentrating, memory loss, attention deficits, and poor judgment. Depression can also be a symptom of MS.
Similar symptoms to fibromyalgia include the muscle weakness, pain in the arms and legs- though for fibro, the pain will be muscle-specific, and not in the joints or all over. Dizziness is a common fibro complaint, as is difficulty concentrating, memory issues- though not “loss,” and depression. From what I understand, the depression is a rarer symptom in MS, and since it is very common in fibro, I would hesitate to attribute it to the MS if the fibro could be the culprit.
Fibromyalgia causes low-grade fevers, muscle weakness and all over pain (think flu-type body aches), fatigue, sleep disorders, night sweats, migraines or other tension headaches, temporomandibular joint syndrome, heel pain (planar fasciitis), skin sensitivity, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, heat or cold intolerances, weakness in the arms or legs, particularly when attempting to grasp objects, painful or irregular periods, and dry eyes or mouth.
Fibromyalgia and MS both currently have no cure, but both have treatments- recently, Lyrica was approved for the use in treating fibro, and MS has many drugs approved for the treatment of its debilitating symptoms. Both illnesses have various recommended regiments of drugs plus physical therapy and other forms of therapy depending on your particular level of disability to keep the worse effects from taking their toll on your system. A good doctor is a must- if you are not happy with how your doctor is treating you, I highly recommend that you get a second, or even third or fourth opinion in this case. Finding the right doctor for you is imperative.
Once you have the right medical team, however, it is simply a matter of staying with your treatment regimen and having a good support system in place. I believe that when you have illnesses like this, having a support system- people that you can turn to when you are overwhelmed- is imperative. Develop your support system. Alert them to your needs, keep them informed of what is going on with your treatment and your progress, and let them help you. It can make all the difference.
Both of these illnesses are horrible to deal with, but with the right doctor, the right people around you, and the right attitude, you can conquer them.
