Can fibromyalgia be mistaken for lupus?

The common similarity between lupus and fibromyalgia is pain. In both diseases, pain can be exacerbated during flares of the condition. However, lupus symptoms show more visible distinctions. While both disorders can disrupt quality of life, lupus can pose more life-threatening complications.

Can lupus be confused for MS?

While it’s unlikely to have both MS and lupus, it’s common for someone with MS to be incorrectly diagnosed with lupus because these diseases share common symptoms. Aside from lupus, MS actually has several other “mimic” conditions, including Lyme disease.

Can MS be confused with fibromyalgia?

While MS and fibro may have some symptoms in common, they are ultimately distinct conditions with very different causes and treatments. Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis are both chronic diseases with no cure. Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis can both cause some of the same symptoms.

Which is more serious lupus or MS?

In general, lupus does more generalized damage to your body than MS, which primarily damages the nervous system.

Do people with lupus also have fibromyalgia?

Studies suggest that about 25% of people who have lupus also have fibromyalgia. It’s important for people who have lupus to know about fibromyalgia for several reasons. Many of the symptoms are the same. For example, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, morning stiffness, hand symptoms without observed swelling,…

Is there a connection between MS and fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia and MS may have some more vague symptoms in common, such as problems with focus and concentration, fatigue, and depression. If you’re Googling potential causes of these symptoms, you may find yourself researching both diseases to see if your symptoms match up.

What medications are used to treat lupus and fibromyalgia?

The medications used to treat lupus are very different from those used to treat fibromyalgia. For fibro patients: Some drugs commonly used to treat depression, called antidepressants, may ease pain and fatigue; these include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella).

Can fibromyalgia be caused by muscle pain?

Further, although muscle pain is one of the hallmarks of fibromyalgia, there does not seem to be anything wrong with the muscle itself – there is no muscle inflammation and biopsies of muscle tender points don’t show any consistent abnormalities.