There are no definitive tests for either fibromyalgia or lupus, so differentiating between the two relies mostly on a thorough history of your symptoms, a physical exam, and sometimes blood tests or imaging to rule out other conditions. Read more here about how fibromyalgia is diagnosed. Your doctor may order some blood tests in order to rule out diseases that can cause fatigue, such as hypothyroidism type 2 diabetes.
They may order blood tests to check for levels of inflammation in the body or for antibodies that could signal an autoimmune disease. One test ordered to help confirm or rule out lupus is the blood test for antinuclear antibodies ANA.
Almost one-third of people in the U. Stojan says. However, most people who have lupus will have a positive test. If you have a positive ANA test and other signs that point to lupus, your doctor may do additional antibody tests that help confirm or rule out the illness.
Your doctor may also order imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs to narrow down the cause of your symptoms. Neither fibromyalgia or lupus cause erosion in the joints the way rheumatoid arthritis does or visible inflammation of the lower back the way axial spondyloarthritis does.
Neither disease has a cure, but medication can treat symptoms and help prevent serious lupus complications. The medications used to treat lupus are very different from those used to treat fibromyalgia. For fibro patients: Some drugs commonly used to treat depression, called antidepressants, may ease pain and fatigue; these include duloxetine Cymbalta and milnacipran Savella. Anti-seizure medications, frequently prescribed to people with epilepsy, can also help manage pain in fibromyalgia.
Among these, the FDA has specifically approved pregabalin Lyrica for the treatment of fibro. For lupus patients: Many different types of medications can be used to treat lupus, including:. While lupus and fibro may have some symptoms in common, they are ultimately distinct conditions with very different causes and treatments.
Visiting a health care provider can help you get to the bottom of your symptoms quickly and begin the correct therapies. The faster you start, the faster you can start feeling better. Tags: Fibromyalgia , Lupus. CreakyJoints is a digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research.
We present patients through our popular social media channels, our website CreakyJoints. We represent patients through our popular social media channels, our website CreakyJoints. Only fill in if you are not human. The Basics of Fibromyalgia The U. Fibromyalgia-Lupus Connection. By Editorial Team December 10, Share to Facebook Share to Twitter email print page Bookmark for later.
How are fibromyalgia and lupus different? How is fibromyalgia diagnosed? How is fibromyalgia treated? How is the pain of fibromyalgia treated? Non-drug alternatives include: Moist heat like a hot shower or heated moist towel for joint and muscle pain relief.
Cold is recommended only for strained, injured muscles. Behavioral techniques that distract or teach your mind to handle pain better include meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, self-hypnosis, focused breathing, and guided imagery. Alternative therapies such as biofeedback, acupressure, or acupuncture work for some. Sign up for emails from Lupus. Learn about steps your doctor will…. Fatigue is a common symptom of fibromyalgia. Learn what causes it, how to manage fibro fatigue, and when to seek help from your doctor.
Despite physical origins, fibromyalgia can benefit from a type of treatment called mindfulness. Mindfulness uses the brain to calm the body and…. And the community is stronger than ever before…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
Fibromyalgia and Lupus. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Symptoms Treatment Outlook Lupus vs. Symptoms of lupus and fibromyalgia. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Nancy Carteron, M. Management of fibromyalgia syndrome in Pain Manag. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Lupus Overview. Fibromyalgia and Lupus Risks. Diagnosing Lupus. Treating Lupus. A Word From Verywell. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Related Articles.
0コメント