{"id":701,"date":"2019-04-02T11:36:45","date_gmt":"2019-04-02T11:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwithfibromyalgia.net\/?p=701"},"modified":"2019-07-19T03:11:01","modified_gmt":"2019-07-19T03:11:01","slug":"can-fibromyalgia-cause-multiple-sclerosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fibromyalgiacause.com\/can-fibromyalgia-cause-multiple-sclerosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Fibromyalgia Cause Multiple Sclerosis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the worries that many fibromyalgia sufferers have is that this fibromyalgia is going to turn into another issue that they will have to deal with their entire lives.<\/p>\n

This is a huge part of the stress and worry that goes along with fibromyalgia. As if the person doesn\u2019t have enough to deal with!<\/p>\n

Those who are diagnosed and suffering from fibromyalgia are going to find that they often have the feeling that they are tired, no matter how much sleep they get.<\/p>\n

They are often in pain and this pain can be excruciating for many. Dealing with being tired and having the pain all the time, the person can become weaker.<\/p>\n

Top this with the mental issues that they may be facing<\/a><\/strong>, the constant worry and stress of what this illness is doing to their life, and it makes for a very difficult life.<\/p>\n

The good news is that there are tons of people in the world who have fibromyalgia and who are living a life that is pain-free and relaxing.<\/p>\n

The key is to find that balance. One of the best ways to do this is to educate yourself on what can be done and all those other fears that you are having.<\/p>\n

Education is power in this case, as you need to know what could happen and how to deal with is happening currently.<\/p>\n

As stated before, many fibromyalgia patients have a fear that this illness is going to turn into something else.<\/p>\n

One of the main fears is that fibromyalgia can turn into multiple sclerosis? This is not a farfetched question as they do share some common symptoms.<\/p>\n

For example, both fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis share:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The constant fatigue<\/li>\n
  2. The pain that is felt<\/li>\n
  3. Having issues with sleep<\/li>\n
  4. Cognitive problems<\/li>\n
  5. Having headaches and migraines frequently<\/li>\n
  6. Problems with the bladder or the bowels<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Due to the symptoms of each being similar, it can be easy to confuse one with the other.<\/p>\n

    It is not uncommon to hear of people who have been diagnosed with one or both of these conditions at the same time.<\/p>\n

    This is why it is important to know the information about each of these issues.<\/p>\n

    Who is Affected?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Both fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis or MS can affect whoever they choose.<\/p>\n

    However, it should be noted that fibromyalgia is much more common than MS.<\/p>\n

    In the United States alone, fibromyalgia affects around six to ten percent of those who live here, while MS affects below ten percent of those who call the US home.<\/p>\n

    Therefore, the chances of developing MS are much lower than compared to fibromyalgia.<\/p>\n

    It should be noted though that both fibromyalgia and MS are affected more women than men. Men and children too can get this, but it is mostly seen in women.<\/p>\n

    Diagnosing these Issues<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Since the symptoms of each are so similar, diagnosing which the person has can become an issue.<\/p>\n

    Doctors are going to have to look at various aspects to ensure that they are treating for the right condition and that they have properly diagnosed this.<\/p>\n

    For those who are being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the following criteria are what a person must meet:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. They must have a Widespread Pain Index Score of 7 or greater and the Symptoms Severity scale score is 5 or greater<\/li>\n
    2. They have a Widespread Pain Index Score that is from 3 to 6 and the Symptom Severity Scale is 9 or greater<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Either condition should be met. The doctor is not only going to look at where the pain is originating from, but also how the person responds to the pain that they are having.<\/p>\n

      For those who are being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, they are going to find that diagnoses rely heavily on\u00a0upon:<\/p>\n