Know the Differences Between Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue tend to impact an individual’s life. Since both conditions are similar, people often find difficulty in differencing between them. Both chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia cause higher discomfort and tiredness and make you exhausted.

In some conditions, these conditions cause cognitive problems, including memory loss, issues concentrating, confusion, etc. As far as symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are concerned, their symptoms generally overlap. There are certain specific differences between these two conditions.

When it comes to fibromyalgia, it’s a chronic pain condition that causes complications like muscle pain and tenderness – chronic fatigue syndrome is mainly characterized by persistent fatigue that doesn’t go by rest.

Though the symptoms of both conditions are similar, it’s essential to understand the differences between these two disorders to find the best diagnosis. It also helps you find the best treatment option.

In this blog, we will discuss the actual differences between chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Before discussing chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia difference, let’s delve into the basics.

What is Chronic Fatigue?

Also famous as myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome often relates to fatigue that doesn’t go by rest. It includes general symptoms such as joint pain, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, cognitive difficulties, etc. It’s also famous for brain fog. Its symptoms can vary in severity and may come and go over time.

Chronic fatigue is present for at least six months and can impact your mental and physical activity.

Causes of Chronic Fatigue

Several things cause chronic fatigue. Some of these include

• Infection
• Changes in the immune system
• Stress system changes
• Energy production changes
• Genetic

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a type of chronic pain related to pain and tenderness. When you suffer from this disorder, you will experience pain throughout your body. You will also face sleep disorders, fatigue, mood disturbance, cognitive difficulties, and more. Unlike chronic fatigue, the pain in fibromyalgia is one of the most prominent symptoms.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

Following are some of the common causes of Fibromyalgia;

• Stressful event
• Hormonal changes
• Infection
• Chronic pain
• Chronic sleep deprivation
• Genetics
• Mood disorders

Differences Between Chronic Fatigue or Fibromyalgia

As mentioned above, most symptoms of Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia are the same. But, there are indeed certain specific differences between them. Let’s find out all those differences.

Fatigue

Both chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia cause fatigue. But, chronic fatigue causes more severe fatigue than fibromyalgia, which causes fatigue like lack of energy or feeling exhausted. Chronic fatigue causes symptoms such as sore throat, headache, muscle aches, etc.

Pain

Pain is a common symptom of both chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. It’s the most prominent symptom of fibromyalgia. In this, pain tends to be severe and causes several other disorders, including burning or aching. Apart from these complications, pain also causes sensitivity or tenderness to touch. Meanwhile, pain is not always present in the case of chronic fatigue. In this, the patient experiences less pain that causes persistent ache that is not present in any specific body part.

Sleep Disorder

When it comes to sleep disorder, it’s another common symptom of both chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Moreover, sleep disturbance tends to be more severe in fibromyalgia. It tends to include insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome. People suffering from chronic fatigue often face several disorders like unrefreshing sleep. Even if patients sleep for several hours still they feel more exhausted.

Cognitive Difficulties

Be it fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue, both lead to cognitive difficulties. Meanwhile, the type of cognitive difficulty generally differs in both disorders. In chronic fatigue, you may face difficulties like brain fog which also can include several issues with memory concentration, and also processing details. In fibromyalgia, patients face cognitive difficulties that may include different issues with executive function and attention, including decision-making and planning.

Other Symptoms

Apart from fatigue, pain, cognitive difficulties, and sleep disturbances, there are also several other symptoms for both chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. For instance, patients suffering from chronic fatigue often experience orthostatic intolerance, which is generally lightheadedness or dizziness. These discomforts take place, especially when standing up from a lying or seated position. On the other hand, people who are suffering from fibromyalgia often face complications like irritable bowel syndrome, which is gastrointestinal.

Treatment of Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

Though there’s no standard treatment available to cure chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, you can still try the following options to get fast relief.

Medication

Medication is one of the effective ways of curing chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Medical experts advise patients to consume various medicines such as antimicrobials, painkillers, antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, and sleeping drugs.

Therapy

Several therapies are effective and help you relieve these disorders quickly. Some of these therapies are cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Graded Exercise Therapy (GET).

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

It’s a common treatment for both chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. These treatments include massage, acupuncture, yoga, biofeedback, and hypnotherapy.

Supplements

Several supplements help you cure these disorders most effectively. These supplements include magnesium malate, vitamin b12, vitamin D, turmeric, omega-3, and more.

Lifestyle Changes

If you suffer from these disorders, you can improve your condition by changing your lifestyle. Medical experts suggest patients improve their sleeping habits through mild exercises, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness.

Conclusion

So, after going through the above information regarding chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, you may easily differentiate between them. It’s crucial to differentiate between them to get effective treatment. RMA MyClinq offers the best treatment for both of these disorders.