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Is Fibromyalgia an Inflammatory Disease?

Fibromyalgia is a widespread, chronic condition that has been studied extensively but still remains somewhat of a mystery. Since the affected cells of the body are not inflamed and tissues are not damaged, it is not considered an inflammatory disease.

  1. Pain

    • The most frequent complaint from people who have fibromyalgia is the incessant pain. It is often expressed as a dull, deep ache in muscles and tendons.

    Pressure Points

    • Pressure points in the hips, knees and shoulders often become tender. To diagnose fibromyalgia, a sufferer will have at least 11 out of 18 pressure points that are tender to the touch.

    Sleep Problems

    • Patients often feel extremely fatigued, even with ample sleep. Sufferers may not reach stage 4 of sleep, known as the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, which is necessary to refresh and heal the body. Restless leg syndrome and other conditions linked to fibromyalgia can also make sleep difficult.

    Cause

    • The true cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown. However, doctors have studied the link between stress applied to the body and fibromyalgia symptoms. Some infections may also prompt the symptoms.

    Research

    • Professor St. Paul Amand of UCLA, in his January 2006 article entitled "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia," states: "Fibromyalgia is not autoimmune and it is not inflammatory. That is known for sure. Cells have been examined for inflammation and there is none. No trace of antibodies has been found and there has never been tissue destruction in fibromyalgia." Therefore, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not work on the symptoms or syndrome as a whole.

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