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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;What&amp;amp;#39;s the difference? The issue of chronic fatigue vs. fibromyalgia concerns many people, including doctors, the people who have these disorders, the family and friends who care about them -- and perhaps you as well.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Some doctors treat &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-fibromyalgia-716143&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fibromyalgia&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (also called fibromyalgia syndrome, or FMS) and\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-716113&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;chronic fatigue syndrome&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (CFS, also called myalgic encephalomyelitis, or\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/myalgic-encephalomyelitis-me-715663&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ME/CFS&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;) separately, while others believe they are actually the same disorder \u2013 or, at least, variations of it. According to the &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;uiL_-c_KkT8RHLFBufEzfg&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/arthritis-10-important-facts-you-should-know-189663&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Arthritis Foundation&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, research shows that 50% to 70% of people with one diagnosis also fit the criteria for the other.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Understanding the Similarities&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;FMS and ME/CFS are known to have a number of symptoms in common. They include:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Anxiety and/or depression&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Fatigue&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;vCK6jWKAXp6vjC-eDB_Qbg&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/unrefreshing-sleep-in-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-716108&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Unrefreshing sleep&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-ibs-1945365&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Irritable bowel syndrome&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; symptoms\u00A0(such as bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation) &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Chronic &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/headaches-and-migraines-in-fibromyalgia-and-cfs-716166&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;headaches&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Association with &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-temporomandibular-disorders-tmd-190509&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;temporomandibular joint syndrome&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (TMJ)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Cognitive (thinking and reasoning) or memory difficulties&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Dizziness&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Impaired coordination (clumsy movements)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Understanding the Differences&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;One key difference stems from asking the question, &amp;amp;#34;Which of your symptoms is worse, the pain or the fatigue?&amp;amp;#34;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Pain is the key symptom in people with FMS.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Fatigue is the key symptom in people with ME/CFS.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Fibromyalgia Pain.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; Usually widespread and chronic, fibromyalgia pain often occurs together with stiffness and so-called \u201Ctender points\u201D that hurt when touched and suggest this diagnosis vs. chronic fatigue syndrome.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Fatigue in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; Far worse than ordinary tiredness, the fatigue of chronic fatigue syndrome can be so severe that the person can\u2019t do anything at all.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Other Significant Differences.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Many cases of ME/CFS begin after flu-like symptoms and may be linked to a virus.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;People with ME/CFS often show chronic &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;QbC4o9rBphl1PYp0jdE65g&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/are-fibromyalgia-and-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-the-same-716145&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;immune system&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; activation, as if their bodies are fighting an infection, while people with FMS do not.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;The\u00A0diagnostic criteria for\u00A0ME/CFS include low-grade fever and &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;mx8zj0X9gwkFHqQt7oXPeA&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-causes-a-sore-throat-1192018&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;sore throat&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, while FMS diagnostic criteria do not. &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;The onset of FMS can often be traced to a physical or emotional trauma. &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;The pain of FMS gets better with heat and gentle massage, while the pain of ME/CFS does not.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The diagnosis could also be influenced by whether your doctor is more familiar with the American College of Rheumatology&amp;amp;#39;s criteria for FMS or the guidelines for ME/CFS from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Do the Differences Matter?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Actually, some experts say they probably don&amp;amp;#39;t. Why? Because\u00A0treatment for both disorders is focused on relieving symptoms, it tends to be the same or similar for both -- for example,\u00A0antidepressants, pain medications, and lifestyle changes.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Many people with these disorders also benefit from learning more about them, taking part in local and national support groups (for example,\u00A0the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Course), doing low-impact aerobic exercise, and taking low-dose\u00A0antidepressant medication before bed to improve their sleep.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you&amp;amp;#39;re concerned that you may have FMS or ME/CFS, or if you think your diagnosis of one or the other may need to be reviewed, talk to your doctor. This is especially important if you&amp;amp;#39;re being treated for one or the other disorder and not getting the relief you expected.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Sources:&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Klippel J. \u201CChronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.\u201D Arthritis Foundation (2016).&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;\u201CTMJ disorders.\u201D National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (2013).\u00A0\u00A0&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/is-it-fibromyalgia-or-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-716181>