8 parts of the Fibromyalgia Spectrum

[Mdaisy]

Hello Members,

Please can I kindly ask you choose all options that have related to your personal journey from before diagnosis to present day.

For instance my choices were 2,3,4,5 & 6 - which is from feeling fatigued for around 4 years before onset of pain through to now Fibromyalgia with associated

1. Predisposed state – The person is at risk for developing FM due to hereditary factors.

2. Preceding state – Clinical Fibromyalgia is still not present. There is no widespread pain or painful tender points. Associated conditions common with Fibromyalgia may be present in this stage

3. Undiagnosed Fibromyalgia – The individual has chronic pain with painful tender points.

4. Regional Fibromyalgia - Individuals in this stage have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but not generalized.

5. Generalized Fibromyalgia – Those in this stage will have widespread pain and tender points. They will usually meet the American College of Rheumatology-defined 11 of 18 criteria, but as previously explained, one can still have generalized Fibromyalgia with fewer tender points.

6. Fibromyalgia with certain associated conditions – People in this subset have developed associated conditions that Dr. P. says appear to be from “separate entities”. These include ME/CFS, IBS, fatigue, depression and tension and/or migraine headaches.

7. Fibromyalgia with co-existing mild disease – People in this category have Fibromyalgia along with a specific disease.

8. Secondary Fibromyalgia reactive to disease – People in this subset have a primary disease (lupus, RA) and this is what caused their Fibromyalgia.

These 8 parts are explained in more detail at goo.gl/JV87zz

Others of you may have family members with Fibromyalgia (ie Number 1 Predisposed State, then gone through other stages and now at Number 6,7 or 8) I hope this makes sense

Question: What are your opinions of these Spectrum outlined by Dr Pellegrino?

Thank You for reading and answering the poll - It will be interesting to see the results

Best Wishes

Emma

FibroAction Administrator

[phlebo123]

For me it is : 1,2,3,4,5,6

[lou1065]

I would say 3,4,5,6

[TheAuthor]

5, 6 and 8 for me.

Thank you Emma

Ken x x

[Hidden]

4,5,6,7,8

[Fishchips1]

For me it's 5,6 and 8 xx

[trekster22]

2, 3 ,4, 5 and 6 apply to me.

[Hidden]

2,3,4,56,7. Apply to me.

[lcm27]

Hi, for me it is 3,5,6,7

[Fibro_rocker]

Hi Emma, I would say ,2,3,4,5 and 6 also apply to me ..

found it a little tricky to define the boundaries between the categories,, bit foggy today!!! Perhaps just me😕😕😕😕😕

[B2WC]

Hi Emma,

I might be on 2, 5, 6 8

[stumpedok]

Uh..hi Emma. .been browsing and found this post (missed originally) ....bit confused by Point 8....This seems to imply that there ARE certain known causes of Fibro which clashes with my understanding that no one knows what causes Fibro! For anyone to say there IS a causal relationship between another disease and Fibro would imply that they understand the mechanism by which this happens? Not aware of any info on how one disease eg Lupus or RA 'causes' Fibro as stated in point 8? Any ideas?

[Mdaisy in reply to stumpedok]

Yes, the theory is that Fibro may have certain triggers of stress ie: viral illness, whiplash, trauma etc, these mean it could be related to causitive long term stress to the body resulting in Fibro. In part 8, secondary Fibro is when as you probably know, it is found secondary to another illness. However, it is considered it is not due to the illness directly that is the cause but the stress it causes the body otherwise all with certain primary conditions would have Fibro too. Some people can have RA, lupus etc & do not develop Fibro. Of course again the possibility of genetic predisposition plays a role so those with this can be diagnosed with a primary illness and may develop Fibro as a secondary condition.

If I can find it there is a piece of research about percentages of Fibro in relation to primary illnesses, I'll post it.

Hope this has helped explain. If not Lindsey talks about it in the Fibromyalgia & Thyroid post and might explain better than I.

Best Wishes

Emma

[stumpedok in reply to Mdaisy]

Thanks Emma...yes aware of the 'theories' but perhaps that's my point....point 8 boldly stated another condition "is what caused their Fibro" when this again is still just a 'theory'? (Although the idea/theory of a link between long term stress and later development of Fibro does have a credibility 'ring' to it for me based on my own journey! ) Hopefully I'm interpreting your words right...but if not feel free to put me straight!

Wishing you a good day.

[Mdaisy in reply to stumpedok]

Yes it says reactive to primary illness (which fits I think) but then this is what has caused the Fibromyalgia

Possibly could have been worded better by Dr Pellegrino maybe?

Unless he explains more in any of his books - the stress of the illness could be the trigger but I don't know that the illness is the cause!! Unless you count that indirectly the illness has caused the stress !

It's another one to ponder over as to what was meant by what he has said isn't it? We seem to like these discussions it seems

You have got me wondering now - I think I have one of his books I might have to dig it out sometime!

Wishing you a good day to you too

Emma

[stumpedok in reply to Mdaisy]

Just a bug bear of mine....people making definitive statements as 'fact' when the are in essence 'theories'...!! Just adds to the confusion surrounding Fibro and I don't think we need any more of that!!

Good to discuss these things but if I'm overdoing it, just say! All best.

[Mdaisy in reply to stumpedok]

No it's fine, happy to discuss I agree also that we need to present facts and not confuse the issue

Have fun searching & if you find anymore good posts it is good to bring them back onto the board as some members may not have seen them

Emma