There are some schools of thought which are saying that Fibromyalgia is a pain sensitisation condition, whereby the brain is interpreting normal signals in the body as exaggerated pain. Functional MRI scans seem to have shown pain perception areas of the brain being activated by minimal stimulus in Fibro patients but no activation in controls.

I'm sure there could be some truth to this theory but I have an essential problem with it.

As a person with now diagnosed Fibromyalgia I have about 25 symptoms (waxing and waning over 2.5years). Whilst pain is a 24/7 component, it is certainly not the only component. If this theory is purported to be the full basis of Fibromyalgia why do I have at least two symptoms which are 1). observable but with no pain - that is fasciculations (muscle twitches) and 2). gastroparesis (paralysed stomach) testable and provable therefore quantifiable by a GES (Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy)?

Gastrointestinal motility problems, anywhere from the oesophagus to the large intestine is often experienced in Fibromyalgia - these dysmotilities are definitely NOT a pain based symptom but a neurological motor problem, whereas IBS if present could be argued to be pain sensitisation based.

I am more of the opinion that pain sensitisation may be one of the effects but not a cause of Fibromyalgia.

It has been long mooted that a viral basis underlies the M.E. conditions. The recent finding in one study at the WPI Institute, of a retrovirus MXRV in a large percentage of 'CFS' patients is both exciting and scary at the same time. If this study can be replicated and a causal link proved, we may be closer to treatment solutions than we had hoped.

Furthermore, if and when an established cause for these debilitating conditions is discovered and proved, the medical community will no longer treat those who test positive for whatever the proved cause is with disdain. They will simply have to concede that all our symptoms are not just "in our head". Let's hope it is in our lifetime!

Any comments?

Megan

What I have seen at the recent pain conferences is that Fibro may be TRIGGERED by many things. That is, it can co-exist with other conditions.

Vaccines
Trauma
Arthritis
PN

were the most commonly mentioned. So Fibro does not tend to exist alone. One thing they have recently discovered is that it occurs in families, and is now thought be be genetically acquired.