Fibromyalgia is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in the muscles and joints. Other symptoms include fatigue, multiple tender points, sleep disturbances and headaches. The University of Maryland Center states that several other conditions have similar symptoms as fibromyalgia. These include chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, chronic headaches, Lyme disease and arthritis.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, can mimic fibromyalgia. UMMC states that there is a significant overlap between fibromyalgia and CFS. Patients with CFS experience similar tender pressure points, but not as intense as fibromyalgia. Fatigue is severe in CFS and is not relieved by rest or sleep. Some doctors believe that fibromyalgia is an extreme form of CFS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also describes symptoms of CFS that are similar to fibromyalgia, such as weakness, impaired mental concentration, muscle pain and headaches.
Depression
UMMC reports that the link between fibromyalgia and psychiatric disorders is very strong. They report that studies found that 50 to 75 percent of fibromyalgia patients have a lifetime history of depression. Symptoms of depression that mimic fibromyalgia include difficulty concentrating, insomnia and low energy levels. Harvard Medical School's Health for Life article explains that chronic pain can affect thoughts, moods and behavior, causing pain to resemble depression, and vice-versa. The article states that people with chronic pain such as fibromyalgia have three times the risk of developing psychiatric symptoms and depressed patients have three times the risk of developing chronic pain.
Chronic Headaches
Chronic headache disorder can mimic fibromyalgia. MayoClinic.com defines this disorder as chronic daily headaches that occur 15 days or more a month, for at least three months. There are four types of chronic headaches, including migraine, tension type, daily persistent and hemicrania continua. UMMC states that chronic primary headaches are common in fibromyalgia patients. Some experts think that migraine headaches and fibromyalgia may share common defects in the brain where chemical messengers are regulated. Low levels of magnesium have also been discovered in patients with both migraines and fibromyalgia.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria carried by deer ticks and spread through tick bites. FamilyDoctor.org notes that the later-stage symptoms of Lyme disease that can mimic fibromyalgia are muscle weakness, trouble concentrating, sleep disturbances and changes in mood. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that experts believe that 15 to 50 percent of patients referred to clinics for Lyme disease actually have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia patients who are incorrectly diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease may have serious side effects from the prolonged antibiotic use.
Arthritis
Different types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, can mimic symptoms of fibromyalgia. UMMC explains that osteoarthritis causes joint pain and may often be confused with fibromyalgia, especially in the elderly. However, according to UMMC, osteoarthritis is characterized by joint pain, not pain that is widespread.
