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EDS and Fibromyalgia – What is the connection?
We are seeing a high percentage of patients with EDS and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder who also have Fibromyalgia. We are studying the question of why?
They are not the same disorder but they seem to travel together.
Many patients with hypermobility describe chronic generalized pain and fatigue.
Fibromyalgia is thought to be the result of Central Sensitization which describes changes in the central and peripheral nervous system that increase sensitivity to painful and nonpainful stimuli. The injuries often observed in patients with hypermobility set the stage for painful joints. Central sensitization is thought to amplify this pain in addition to creating fatigue, nonrestorative sleep, and brain fog.
There are effective strategies for turning down central sensitization which result in decreasing chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and brain fog.
Author: Barbara Bruce, Ph.D., L.P.
Listen to Dr. Barbara Bruce discuss Fibromyalgia: Strategies to Help.
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My input to fibromyalgia is:. Suffered long time. After hip replacement, no more fibromyalgia.
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2 ReactionsInteresting! I had horrible fatigue, leg and feet pain, muscle tightness, tingling, “brain fog”, inability to pay attention and yes depression that mostly resolved after spine surgeries.
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2 ReactionsI have fibro and osteoarthritis. Can you tell me what EDs and hyper mobility is. Thank you.
EDS stands for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues — primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. Read more on Mayo Clinic about EDS here:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20362125
I don't know how many people who suffer from fibromyalgia have been told that it's possible that their symptoms are a result of being poisoned (actually have your DNA altered) by a fluoroquinolone antibiotic (Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox, etc.). People never make the association between the drugs that they take and the resulting illness. Especially with fluoroquinolones because the symptoms of being poisoned often don't begin until weeks or months after.
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1 ReactionIn my own experience and in over 30 years of being a licensed counselor, I have learned that there are explainable reasons for fibromyalgia symptoms, even if these reasons are connected to depression, anxiety or trauma, being in an abusive or unhappy situations or some other type of stress. I know of countless people who were told that they had fibromyalgia who were later accurately diagnosed with Lyme, a virus, EDS, hashimotos or Graves’ disease and more. Even if the cause is central sensitization, that is still a cause and this should be the diagnosis, not fibromyalgia. The term was coined by a male doctor in 1968 describing females who tended to be “worry warts”. I think that says it all.
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3 ReactionsWould you be able to link to the story about this? I’m having a flare and it’s debilitating. I’d like to understand it better. I have been tested for “everything”.
Hi this is Haleigh . I was treated for fibromyalgia back in late June in 2021 . and since then I've felt severe symptoms of RA issues joint pain every day . my body hurts to get up and move around I have flare days very often ,
The Docters didn't test me very well for hypermobility Eds . Hsd awareness . I knew i have always had it my whole life .
Fribo fog or brain fog can make me light headed or confused everyday .
I recently heard that they may have discovered a test to diagnose fibromyalgia. I hope this is true as reputable diagnosis can not only be helpful but validating as well.
Welcome, @tompkinssm. Just this past Friday, I attended a presentation by Dr. Mueller who leads the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota,
He said that currently, there are no specific laboratory or imaging tests for fibromyalgia. Blood tests can help rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. He was also quick to underline that fibromyalgia is a real diagnosis.
You may wish to connect with other members living with and talking about fibromyalgia here:
- Fibromyalgia Support Group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/fibromyalgia/