so I'm reading another news report on fibromyalgia.. fifth day in a row.
this one called "Fibromyalgia: overcoming loneliness". I don't get it . as I read these articles and symptoms I say. wow this is RSD. but then you look it up and find that fibro is less painful then RSD.. Im a little lost. one how can they tell the difference between fibromyalgia and RSD, if there is a difference how many people are misdiagnosed with one , or the other.. It seems the same.again "seems" if any one here really knows the difference please share it.. cause fibro is getting a lot of press. and RSD doesn't get noticed.. . if they are basically the same why not group them together . if not then maybe still they should group it in news as a comparison or something.. every time I see an article listed as a painful debilitating condition or rare painful condition I look with hope that we might get known... .but really just curious ..

Fibroymalgia is a problem with the fibers that run through the tissues where rsd is reflex sympathetic disorder. A problem with the sympathetic nervous system.

Is that the only difference??? it seems like it would be difficult to differentiate between the two.. unless fibro shows up easily on tests??

This page explains the difference.

http://www.rsdhope.org/crps-or-fibromyalgia.html

I have both, and they do feel different to me. I believe "they" say that most people with RSD develop Fibro. A couple years ago, I had RSD spread to my upper back. I have temperature, color changes and sensitivity in addition to pain. I asked the doctor I was going to for RSD about it and the doctor said RSD does not spread, that my back is caused by my Fibromyalgia getting worse. This is the same doctor that has diagnosed me with RSD in right foot, then a couple years later in left arm and shoulder. So, then I went to my rheumatologist, who is an expert in Fibro, and she said has never seen the color or temperature change in Fibromyalgia.

So, I stopped going to that pain management doctor.

The neurologist I go to, who originally diagnosed the RSD years ago, thinks RSD can become Central Pain Syndrome, which he thinks accounts for the spread.

All the doctors seem to have different ideas and opinions.

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.