Bothfibromyalgiaandpolymyalgia rheumatica(PMR) involve chronic pain and can seem similar.
However, they’re very different conditions.
Because of their apparent similarities, it’s possible for PMR to be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or vice versa.
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It’s also possible for either condition to be overlooked in someone who’s already diagnosed with the other.
These two conditions, however, are very different and require different treatments.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
(Some subgroups may involve autoimmunity but research is still inconclusive on that.)
Fibromyalgia is a neurological condition that many experts consider to be on the spectrum ofcentral sensitivity syndromes.
It’s sometimes referred to as a neuroimmune or a neuro-endocrine-immune condition because of its complexity.
By definition, pain must be present in the spine and in all four quadrants of the body.
This condition can cause any of a few dozen other potential symptoms, as well.
What Is Polymyalgia Rheumatica?
This condition is seen almost exclusively in people over the age of 50.
Among people older than 50, about 0.5% have PMR, making it a rare disease.
(To give you a comparison, fibromyalgia impacts between 2% and 4% of the U.S. A 2014 study inRheumatology Internationalsuggested that PMR may be present in about 3% of people with fibromyalgia.
Is Polymyalgia Rheumatica Worse Than Fibromyalgia?
Every persons experience is different, so its impossible to say definitively whether one disorder is worse than another.
Diagnosis
No single blood test can diagnose PMR.
Elevated results for either test indicate inflammation.
In people with fibromyalgia, the sed rate is typically normal or just slightly elevated.
Why Is Polymyalgia Mistaken for Fibromyalgia?
The difficulty in diagnosing PMR can lead to confusion and a possible misdiagnosis at first.
Treatment
PMR is generally treated with steroids and can often be well controlled.
Steroids are not considered effective in fibromyalgia and achieving control is difficult.
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