Ok thanks for this did bit .. unfortunately Im still left scratching my head.. aside from the temperature changes and differences.. its all the same???
because not all RSD dx,d patients suffer the temperature flux

I have both Fibro and RSD, and to me they do seem different. I guess I can explain what I feel this way: Fibro = When I'm poked or hugged tight or bump into something, it feels like it's a deep gouge and the pain is deep and radiates out like a ripple effect and can last for quite awhile. RDS = A burning, stinging (haha almost typed stinking), scraping pain. I first got RSD in my left wrist/hand from a botched wrist surgery, and it will hurt like when you scrape your knuckles on rough concrete...did that alot growing up lol. I have the color change, etc. in that hand/wrist, but not in the new areas as of yet. The RSD pain for me can also be explained as the feeling of rubbing my skin with rough sandpaper. I'm sure, as with so many pain issues, one antagonizes the other. So, as I said, to me they are different.

thank you

From what I understand with fibromyalgia, you have tender points throughout the body (I can't remember how many) and it can effect the muscles, tendons and joints. It does not effect internal organs. This is not the same as RSD. As alt stated, RSD is with the sympathetic nervous system. I understand the pain is much different and worse with RSD. I have had RSD for 20 years now, but not fibromyalgia. I saw a Rheumatologist and he pushed on those tender points and I didn't react to any of them. He said I would've had to react to at least some of them to have fibromyalgia. My mother-in-law has fibromyalgia and suffers with it. All those tender points are tender on her!!

While there are similarities, there are also some big differences.

That's my two cents
Nanc

LOL did I mention I'm dyslecix?! LOL not really but I think my fingers are sometimes!!! (And, yes, I purposely misspelled dyslexic.)

Yes, fibro is noted by those trigger points, but is characterized as an "all over" pain. Think of the difference in fibro and RSD this way...bruise or sunburn. Both suck and make you feel like crap, but they have definite differences in pain type. Fibro will hurt all over, while RSD is specific to the effected area unless it has spread to other parts of the body as mine has recently done. Of course, with both you can have varying degrees of pain moment to moment. RSD is definitely more visible than fibro.

With fibro, I sometimes feel like my body is memory foam because I will feel the touch or hug long after it's over. Now if only it was as comfortable as a temperpedic bed!!

I've started explaining RSD as a bad sunburn that goes down to the bone. It's a pain you can't get away from, and one that wears you down and zaps your energy.

Well, I hope that helped lol.

My understanding is that fibromyalgia is the nerves in the muscles and RSD is the communication between the brain and sympathetic nervous system. When I overdid exercies (lunges; same as I had done b4 RSD) I had more than soreness in my muscles; I felt like someone had taken a cheese grater to the ones in my thighs. I couldn't move for 3 days. With RSD, I have burning and stabbing pain in random places of my injured side. Hope this helps a bit. Prayers.

hey all . I had a couple of minor laughs at my self while reading your comments. here is why.. the dyslexic remark .. in another forum I asked how many people with RSD where dyslexic to see if there was a link(as I am dyslexic ) and it is a family trait. the other comment was the fibro being compared to memory foam.. that made me laugh because the edema from my RSD if something squeezes the area(trust me I try to avoid it) but if it does my swelled area holds the shape of whatever did it.. i.e. there was a quarter on my couch and it wound up under my foot as I was trying to elevate it. when I stood up my kids saw the quarter still attached to my foot , so I took it off and for a whole day I had the details of a quarter on my foot.
again I thank you all for your responses. it so close its really odd that they do not link them in the news columns, or magazine articles. ..could be one way to get the infliction noticed by possible research sponsors.