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Fybromyalgia Research

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes chronic pain throughout the body. Fibromyalgia pain often migrates and is not limited to any one area. Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, memory impairment, stiffness and non-restful sleep, according to the National Fibromyalgia Research Association. While the cause of fibromyalgia is not known, recent research suggests a link between fibromyalgia and central nervous system problems. There is no cure but there are treatments for managing symptoms.

  1. Diagnostic Criteria

    • Fibromyalgia is a distinct disease that can occur on its own, but it often occurs alongside other diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia include chronic, persistent pain for at least three months; and pain in at least 11 of 18 sites throughout the body.

    Central Nervous System

    • Several studies have shown a correlation between the central nervous system (CNS) and fibromyalgia, according to the Fibromyalgia Network. Patients with fibromyalgia display a variety of abnormalities in their connective and soft tissues that affect the transmission of nerve signals between the tissue and the CNS.

    Fibromyalgia Spectrum

    • According to researcher Muhammad Yunus, M.D., fibromyalgia is one piece of a spectrum of conditions he calls Dysregulation Spectrum Syndrome. Yunus, alongside Drs. Dedra Buchwald, Anthony Komaroff and Don Golenberg, have shown the presence of overlapping disorders in 75 percent of fibromyalgia patients.

    Decreased Gray Matter

    • Researchers at the University Hospital Münster in Germany have shown a link between fibromyalgia and decreased gray matter in the brain. The researchers found the most striking decrease in gray matter in parts of the brain that regulate pain, according to the website Fibroresearch.com.

    Cause

    • The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, but it can be triggered by a variety of conditions. These conditions include: viral or bacterial infection, surgery, injury, and the onset of related conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. These events are considered triggers rather than causes. They are thought to trigger a genetic predisposition in some people, according to the Fibromyalgia Network.

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