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The History of Fibromyalgia

Over the centuries, the chronic and crippling pain associated with fibromyalgia didn't have a name. It was thought to be psychosomatic, caused by a mental illness. Nineteenth century doctors also filed the disease under "rheumatism." It wasn't recognized as a separate disease with its own features and causes until the 1970s. Scientists continue to unravel the exact cause of the array of debilitating aches and pains of fibromyalgia to this day.

  1. Earliest References

    • In the 1800s, doctors first described fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) symptoms--stiffness, muscle aches, exhaustion and insomnia--as rheumatism and later "muscular rheumatism," which were broad definitions for pain of the joints, muscles and connective tissues. It was also believed that if you suffered from these symptoms, you had an underlying mental illness. The "it's all in your head" theory has persisted into modern times, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association.

    Early Research

    • In the 1820s, Scottish doctors described the tender points that are hallmarks of FMS, according to Pfizer. These tender points are found in the neck, the middle and upper back, upper chest, upper buttocks, hips, knees and elbows. It took 160 years before these points were confirmed through a commissioned study, Pfizer reports.

    Fibrositis

    • At the turn of the last century, the symptoms that are now known to be characteristic of FMS were given a name--"fibrositis," according to the University of Illinois College of Medicine. "Fibro" comes from "fibra," the Greek word for fibrous tissue, while "itis" is a nod to the swelling which was believed to cause the pain at the time.

    Fibromyalgia

    • "Fibrositis" persisted until the mid-1970s. Thanks to research conducted by rheumatologist Hugh Smythe, the name was changed to fibroymyalgia, a combination of the Greek terms for fibrous tissue, muscle and pain. The "itis" was dropped because it was discovered that swelling didn't cause the pain.

    Modern Research

    • The first controlled study of FMS occurred in 1981. It found the tender points so central to FMS. Five years later, according to the University of Illinois College of Medicine, drugs were first used on patients with positive results. It took another four years for the American College of Rheumatology to publish the guidelines that now aid in the diagnosis of the disease.

    Speculation

    • There are still a lot of unanswered questions about FMS. Some of the earliest modern studies observed patients' nerves and brain cells undergoing changes that seemed to make them feel pain more easily. Brain scans confirmed this, as there appears to be more activity in certain parts of the brains of those who experienced pain more easily. According to the NFA, which was founded in 1997, there is still a great deal of criticism surrounding the causes of FMS. Generally speaking, it's believed there are changes that happen in the nervous system to make FMS patients feel prolonged and debilitating pain.

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