Difference Between Fibromyalgia and MS (With Table)

Chronic pain is considered a lifelong disease that is quite common among women. Fibromyalgia and MS are two chronic diseases that affect the nerves. These medical conditions have severe symptoms and can damage the nerves critically. Fibromyalgia causes stiffness and has other symptoms as well all over the body.

 Fibromyalgia vs MS

The main difference between Fibromyalgia and MS is that Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition disease that affects a different person differently. Doctors won’t be able to detect the exact reason behind fibromyalgia. It is common among people between the age group 25-60 years and more often to women. On the contrary, Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune condition, often diagnosed in women. The term ‘multiple sclerosis’ is named because it is believed that multiple factors are responsible for this disease.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that leads to fatigue, memory problem, and drowsiness. In this medical condition, severe pain is felt throughout the body. Various risk factors are attached to this disease, including genetic factors, stress, trauma, and surgical interventions. The diagnosis provided depends on the tests and the patient’s history, although there is no specific treatment.

MS is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects nerve impulses and even blocks them. It affects the brain’s ability to regulate vision, talking, etc. Various factors cause the development of this disease, including heredity factors, viruses, autoimmune disease, and environmental factors. The detection and diagnosis of MS are comprised of various tests and medical history.

Comparison Table Between Fibromyalgia and MS

Parameters of Comparison

Fibromyalgia

MS

What is it

It is a chronic medical condition that causes pain throughout the body.

MS is a chronic disabling disease that affects the central nervous system.

Occurrence

Majorly affects people of age group between 25-60 years.

Majorly affects people of age group between 20-40 years.

Symptoms

Muscle pain, insomnia, depression, trouble in concentration, fatigue, dry mouth, headache, numbness, stiffness, and strong sensitivity

Visual disturbances, sensory and coordination disorder, fatigue, limbs numbness, dizziness, and sexual problems. 

Risk Factors

Physical trauma, stress, and surgical intervention

Heredity and environmental factors or autoimmune disease

Treatment

Anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal have a better influence on cognitive function. The treatment also includes antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy

The medication and treatment of MS depend on the severity. Majorly the doctors recommend immunomodulators and corticosteroids

Diagnosis

Fibromyalgia is detected after examining the patient’s medical history. Other tests like blood tests, thyroid hormones are also suggested to avoid the possibility of other diseases.

Multiple tests are required to diagnose MS. This includes lumbar puncture, resonance imaging, and induced potentials.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is one of the common chronic diseases that affect the muscles and bones. A Few consequences that lead to this disease are: if you are a woman because it affects women more often; if you have any mood disorder; genetic factor; PTSD; or you rarely do any physical activity or exercise. Fibromyalgia has various symptoms and feels like tendinitis and bursitis.

Fibromyalgia symptoms include muscle pain, insomnia, depression, trouble in concentration, fatigue, dry mouth, headache, numbness, stiffness, and strong sensitivity. These symptoms are similar to other diseases, and therefore no specific test is applicable to detect fibromyalgia. By analyzing the symptoms, doctors recommend the relevant treatment. Mainly three drugs are approved to treat fibro pain.

What is MS?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition of disabling nature that affects the brain and spinal cord. This medical condition impacts the myelin sheath and causes a problem in the communication between the body and brain, which may also cause permanent damage to the nerves. The severances of the symptoms depends on the nerve which gets affected and their extent. The symptoms vary from one person to another. Common symptoms include visual disturbances, sensory and coordination disorder, fatigue, limbs numbness, dizziness, and sexual problems. 

Factors that lead to MS are heredity and environmental factors or autoimmune diseases. The diagnosis of this medical condition does not rely on a single test. It comprised of medical history and tests like lumbar puncture, resonance imaging, and induced potentials. To treat MS immunomodulators, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants, types of medications are prescribed. 

Main Differences Between Fibromyalgia and MS

  1. Fibromyalgia and MS are chronic diseases that affect the body in one or another way and are often diagnosed in women than men. Fibromyalgia is a chronic medical condition that causes pain throughout the body. On the contrary, Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disabling disease that affects the central nervous system.
  2. Every disease has some symptoms that indicate its presence. Fibromyalgia symptoms include muscle pain, insomnia, depression, trouble in concentration, fatigue, dry mouth, headache, numbness, stiffness, and strong sensitivity. MS, on the other side, has symptoms like visual disturbances, sensory and coordination disorder, fatigue, limbs numbness, dizziness, and sexual problems. 
  3. The medical conditions are the outcome of some risk factors that stimulates a particular disease. Risk factors associated with Fibromyalgia are Physical trauma, stress, and surgical intervention. On the contrary, the risk factors of MS are Heredity and environmental factors or autoimmune disease.
  4. Fibromyalgia can be treated by using anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal as they have a better influence on cognitive function. The treatment also includes antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy. On the contrary, the medication and treatment of MS depend on the severity. Majorly doctors recommend immunomodulators and corticosteroids.
  5. Fibromyalgia is detected after examining the patient’s medical history. Other tests like blood tests, thyroid hormones are also suggested to avoid the possibility of other diseases. On the contrary, Multiple tests are required to diagnose MS. This includes lumbar puncture, resonance imaging, and induced potentials.

Conclusion

If any individual is suffering from chronic discomfort, then it is recommended to consult the doctor and receive a reliable diagnosis. The diagnosis decides the treatment one should need for the disease. Fibromyalgia and MS impact the body in different ways and often in women than men. It is important to get aware and understand the symptoms before they get worst.

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2919307/
  2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2022.153