6 Unexpected Conditions Linked to Fibromyalgia

About 10 million Americans have fibromyalgia, which is characterized by painful, tender joints along the body; fatigue; sleeplessness; and cognitive issues known as fibro fog. Unfortunately, people with fibromyalgia are more likely than people in the general population to have certain other conditions too. If you have fibromyalgia, here are six other health concerns.


Migraines

A significant number of people with fibromyalgia also experience migraines and/or tension headaches, says Robert Duarte, MD, director of the Pain Institute at the North Shore–Long Island Jewish Health System, in Manhasset, N.Y. “An underlying disturbance in the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine plays a role in causing headaches and fibromyalgia,” he says.

Antidepressants that target these brain chemicals may relieve migraine pain, he adds. Tension headache may also respond to biofeedback.

Autoimmune disease

Up to one-quarter of people with inflammatory autoimmune diseases—including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, and ankylosing spondylitis—also experience fibromyalgia symptoms. The precise nature of this connection is not yet understood.

Fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory disease, but some research suggests that RA and other inflammatory diseases may somehow increase the risk for fibromyalgia.\

Restless legs

Sleeplessness and other sleep problems are common for fibromyalgia patients, says Lesley Arnold MD, a psychiatrist at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Restless legs, or the overwhelming urge to move your legs when resting, may be up to 11 times more common in people with fibromyalgia than those without it.

Exactly how the two are linked is not fully understood, but many fibromyalgia treatments also improve restless legs, not to mention overall sleep quality.

Irritable bowel disease

Irritable bowel disease (IBS) is marked by abdominal cramps and bouts of constipation and/or diarrhea. Between 30% and 70% of people with fibromyalgia have IBS too. “Like fibromyalgia, IBS is a pain syndrome,” says Dr. Arnold.

Pelvic pain

People with fibromyalgia are more likely to report pelvic pain, bladder irritability, and menstrual cramps, and some of the medicines that relieve fibromyalgia symptoms can also ease these other pains. More research is needed to understand how these pain conditions are related to fibromyalgia.

Depression and anxiety

More than half of people with fibromyalgia also experience mental or emotional problems, such as depression and anxiety, at some point in their lives. “It is less of a causal or chicken-and-egg relationship,” Dr. Arnold says. “(But) they may share common, underlying causes.”

A deficit of the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine is involved in both mood and pain disorders, she says. Many medications used to treat fibromyalgia are also antidepressants.

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Pinterest
Reddit
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

READ NEXT

8 Things That Can Damage Your Liver

Most people associate alcohol abuse with damage to the liver, but other factors can also play a role. These are the health conditions, drugs, and lifestyle habits that can cause

6 Natural Ways to Improve Your Memory Easily

A little bit of jogging is always a good idea Jogging regularly balances your heart rate, which increases the flow of blood to your brain, thereby boosting your memory power.

8 Signs You Might Have Hypothyroidism

Disorders regarding the thyroid gland are pretty common. In fact, approximately 12 percent of Americans will deal with a thyroid issue at some point. Sadly, it appears that 60 percent

6 Reasons Why You’re Losing Your Hair

Have you ever thought why you are losing your hair? There are many causes, but the most certain thing is that men are more likely to lose their hair than

12 Frozen Meals You Should Avoid at All Costs

Gluten-Free Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese Just because it’s gluten-free, it doesn’t mean it’s healthy. This apparently delicious option, for example, contains 31 grams of mostly saturated fat. The problem,

Clear Signs You’re Having an Allergic Reaction

As you know, your immune system guards your body against harmful bacteria and viruses. In certain cases, your immune system will also defend against substances that normally don’t pose a

8 Signs You Might Need an Eye Exam Immediately

According to the report for the 2016 National Health Interview Survey, 25.5 million Adult Americans 18 and older reported experiencing vision loss. No one wants to experience vision loss, so

Scroll to Top