| Fibromyalgia is a frequent cause for musculoskeletal | | | | the course of RA, a patient will also have flares of FM. |
| pain. It is characterized by aching, stiffness, tender | | | | The distinction between a flare of FM versus a flare |
| trigger points, and fatigue. Patients often complain of | | | | of RA may be difficult to make. |
| waking up feeling exhausted. They also state that they | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis is also characterized by aches |
| feel like they've "been beaten up." Patients with | | | | and pains as well as fatigue. Weather changes also |
| fibromyalgia often have other symptoms such as | | | | tend to cause flares or magnify flares. |
| decreased short term memory and hypersensitivity to | | | | Features that sometimes help are the presence of |
| environmental stimuli such as sounds, smells, and lights. | | | | obvious synovial inflammation and elevation in |
| Weather changes seem to aggravate the symptoms. | | | | laboratory measures such as the erythrocyte |
| Fibromyalgia (FM) may either be primary, meaning it | | | | sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein. Magnetic |
| occurs by itself with no other underlying disease | | | | resonance imaging and ultrasound may also be helpful |
| process being present. Or it may be secondary to or | | | | in making the distinction between RA flare versus FM |
| associated with other types of arthritis. For example | | | | flare. Occasionally both conditions flare concurrently |
| FM is frequently associated with rheumatoid arthritis, | | | | making the diagnostic confusion even greater. |
| systemic lupus erythematosus, and Lyme disease. | | | | Making the distinction between a flare of RA versus a |
| It is difficult to estimate what percentage of RA | | | | flare of FM is critical. The treatments are very |
| patients also have FM, since there are features | | | | different. |
| common to both conditions. It is safe to say that during | | | | |