Currently undianosed- awaiting more tests. I have been reading through threads and the one about ms or fibromyglia interests me. I seem to have symptoms that come under both.Can anyone tell me the differences please?
My symptoms include:
tingling, numbness etc to hands, arm and feet
heavy legs with really tight feelings in calves
buzzing going down thighs and legs
optic neuritis in 1 eye
numbness to lip and chin
feeling of toes curling in and pain in arms and hands
Hi, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia nearly seven years ago. Ms and fibro have very similar symptoms, the main thing I can say is fibro is not a progressive illness where as ms is (hence why I’m not being reevaluated) I suffer the same sort as symptoms as you have said, I told the doctor about the pain in my eye, the pain in my arms and hands and he said to me that he has never heard of that in patients with fibro. Obviously, I’m no doctor, and every person can be very different with both illnesses, both are difficult to diagnose. None other than the doc can tell you what it is, as I have found out on here, it could be something much simpler than either conditions. Don’t know if any of this helps much, but, please keep us updated! Kiki x
I don’t know anything much about fibromyalgia, sorry, but I’m pretty sure that ON is not associated with it. ON can occur in a fair few conditions, not just MS, but I would think it would all but rule out fibro. Could be wrong though!
Karen x
PS Just realised: you haven’t really mentioned pain. Pain in lots of parts of the body is the main symptom of fibro as far as I know.
thanks both, I do suffer with pain also, but almost real pins and needles pain in hands and arms.The pain then goes to an ache especially in the evenings.I just wondered how the docs dx between the 2?
Beth - I think fibro is diagnosed by the presence of ‘pressure points’. From what little I understand, you have certain pressure points of pain in fibro which are the giveaway sign. Have a look at this link:
Obviously, you also have no lesions in fibro as you would in MS and your reflexes etc should function normally.
Hi Beth I have MS and my sis in law has fibro. I know for her it took a long time to get a dx. She also had MRI scans. I am not sure if that was to help with dx or eliminate other conditions. I think one difference is that messages to the brain in fibro are interpreted incorrectly, causing some of the symptoms. Where as with ms the lesions in brain and spine where myelin has attacked nerve endings causes the disrupted messages. I think! I only got dx in June so am still learning about everything myself. We do have similar symptoms although currently my sis in laws pain levels are far higher. Like Karen says though I have not heard of ON being a fibro symptom. Hope the rest of your tests bring some answers for you. Mish x
thanks all, the pain is bearable , just aching and tightness along with general heavy feelings, so still unsure to be honest!
I’m still waiting for tests but have been given an apt today for the end of the month to get the results- but still have not got a date to have the tests yet- think I’m going to chase these again next week!