Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Overlapping Conditions

Both fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are usually accompanied by other illnesses or conditions. Sometimes experts disagree as to whether some of these accompanying or overlapping conditions are actually separate illnesses or simply additional symptoms of the FM or CFS. And it is not always clear which illness came first. Is one illness the cause of another? Researchers continue working to unravel the mysteries surrounding these related conditions.

Other illness that may occur with FM or CFS

• Allergies
• Cervical Stenosis
• Chiari Malformation
• Depression
• Endometriosis
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Irritable Bladder
• Lupus
• Migraine Headaches
• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Myofascial Pain Syndrome
• Osteoporosis
• Raynaud’s Syndrome
• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sjogren’s Disease
• Sleep Disorders
• Temporomandibular Joint Pain (TMJ)
• Thyroid Disease

Central Sensitivity Syndrome

The concept that several of these related conditions should be grouped under the unified heading of “Central Sensitivity Syndrome” was first presented by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, rheumatologist, professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, and pioneer in fibromyalgia research.

Dr. Yunus discovered that many of these conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches and restless legs syndrome) shared several characteristics, including pain, poor sleep, fatigue, extreme sensitivity to stimuli, and an absence of abnormal tissue structure. The connecting thread for these conditions appears to be central sensitization, which simply means that the central nervous system has an exaggerated response to stimuli.

Research Continues

Although research has made great strides in recent years, it will probably take many more years to fully determine what the similarities and differences in these conditions mean.

Source: Central Sensitivity Syndromes, "Fibromyalgia AWARE," May-August 2002