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Lupus and fibromyalgia are both chronic conditions, which have many symptoms that can overlap. Detangling the relationship between fibromyalgia and lupus can be tricky, but it can help you more effectively manage your symptoms and feel better.
Breaking Down the Facts
Lupus is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissue, causing damaging inflammation. Lupus can cause many symptoms and affect many areas of the body. Patients can experience a multitude of symptoms including:
- Fatigue
- Swelling in joints
- Fevers
- A rash that appears on the face across the nose and cheeks
- Sensitivity to the sun that may cause a rash.
- Hair loss.
- Headaches, dizziness, depression, confusion, or seizures.
- Abdominal pain.
- Brain fog
- Trouble sleeping
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in the musculoskeletal system. While the cause of fibromyalgia is not known, researchers think that fibromyalgia affects the way your brain and central nervous system process pain, causing sensitivities and symptoms. Some research is indicating that fibromyalgia develops after trauma, like injury, surgery or extreme emotional distress. Patients often experience:
- Fatigue
- Sleep issues
- Trouble with memory or concentration
- Sensitivity to touch
Untangling the Differences
Despite the differences, distinguishing between fibromyalgia and lupus can be a challenge. Both conditions cause pain, fatigue and brain fog, and both conditions occur more frequently in young and middle-aged women. It is possible to have both, and if you have an autoimmune condition, you are more likely to have fibromyalgia, too.
When it comes to fatigue, lupus patients see an improvement in their energy levels when their inflammation is controlled. With Fibromyalgia, fatigue can be unrelenting or chronic. Fibromyalgia also does not cause mouth sores and a facial rash, like lupus, so this can help rheumatologists start to piece together the clues. Patients with lupus experience inflammation in organs and joints, while fibromyalgia does not cause inflammation.
Diagnosis Dilemma
There are no tests for fibromyalgia or lupus specifically, so your rheumatologist will diagnose you based on your medical and family history, symptoms, age, and other tests to rule out other conditions. Your doctor may test your inflammation levels or test you for antibodies that would be present with an autoimmune condition. You’ll be asked about your pain levels and location in the body; Your doctor might press on certain points in the body, known as tender points, which are typically sensitive or painful to touch in fibromyalgia patients.
For some lupus patients, a fibromyalgia diagnosis comes well after their lupus diagnosis. Once inflammation levels are controlled, patients with ongoing symptoms may be diagnosed with fibromyalgia as well.
Treating Lupus and Fibromyalgia
While there is no cure for lupus or fibromyalgia, your health care team can work with you on a treatment plan that can reduce your symptoms and help you start feeling better again. Lupus is usually treated with NSAIDS for pain, as well as immunosuppressive drugs to control the patient’s overactive immune system. There are many drugs on the market that can help, and your doctor will help you determine what’s best based on the symptoms you are experiencing and how much inflammation is present in your system. Fibromyalgia patients are typically prescribed one of several antidepressants, like Lyrica, that are shown to help reduce fibromyalgia symptoms.
Both lupus and fibromyalgia patients can benefit from making healthy lifestyle choices. Choosing meals that are heart healthy and reduce inflammation is helpful. Sticking to a sleep schedule and limiting caffeine can also help ease symptoms, as well as consciously focusing on movement. Going for a walk, gentle stretches or riding a bike can be beneficial not only physically but mentally too.
When you are experiencing fibromyalgia, lupus or both, you can benefit from support groups for your conditions, either online or in person. It is incredibly helpful to learn about the relationship between fibromyalgia and lupus from someone who has gone through the same experiences. PatientsLikeMe has a vibrant and welcoming community of lupus and fibromyalgia patients who share their experiences daily. Join us for more support and guidance on your health journey!