Can multiple sclerosis be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia?

Can multiple sclerosis be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and fibromyalgia are very different conditions. However, they sometimes share similar symptoms and signs. Both conditions require a variety of medical tests for a diagnosis.

Could I have been misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia?

Several rheumatic diseases can mimic fibromyalgia. These include sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, polymyalgia rheumatica and lupus. They have symptoms of widespread pain along with joint involvement.

Can fibromyalgia be mistaken for something else?

Some of these can be ruled out with a blood test. Thyroid disorders top this list, especially hypothyroidism, which is when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones. This causes some symptoms that can mimic fibromyalgia, including memory loss, constipation, and muscle weakness.

Can you be wrongly diagnosed with MS?

Although the problem of MS misdiagnosis is known, true incidence and prevalence is not. Some data is available from case reports, and recent publications from specialized MS centers reported around 30% of cases originally referred for MS were finally diagnosed with other diseases (1).

How bad is multiple sclerosis?

MS itself is rarely fatal, but complications may arise from severe MS, such as chest or bladder infections, or swallowing difficulties. The average life expectancy for people with MS is around 5 to 10 years lower than average, and this gap appears to be getting smaller all the time.

What is the best treatment for multiple sclerosis?

For primary-progressive MS , ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) is the only FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Those who receive this treatment are slightly less likely to progress than those who are untreated. For relapsing-remitting MS , several disease-modifying therapies are available.

Can Covid 19 cause MS?

Indeed, some studies show that viral respiratory tract infections may be linked to most of the exacerbations of MS (Marrodan et al., 2019). If we focus on the coronavirus (CoV) family, there is clear evidence of its neurotropic character.

What are MS flare ups?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) flare-ups are distinct, sudden episodes of either new or a worsening of existing symptoms. They are characteristic in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), which is marked by recurrent acute flares (relapses) followed by partial or complete recovery (remission).

Is Covid-19 worse for MS patients?

Early on in the pandemic, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease, were thought to possibly be at higher-than-average risk for COVID-19 due to their condition. We sat down with Cedars-Sinai expert Dr. Nancy Sicotte, chair of the Department of Neurology, to learn more.

Has anyone with MS survived coronavirus?

Toward the end of March, 40-year-old Renee English and her mother, Margaret, took their monthly trip to Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis for Renee’s intravenous MS treatment with the drug natalizumab.

Should MS patients get Covid-19 vaccine?

People with MS should be vaccinated against COVID-19 Most people with relapsing and progressive forms of MS should be vaccinated. The risks of COVID-19 outweigh any potential risks from the vaccine.

Is multiple sclerosis a comorbidity?

Diseases that commonly present alongside MS, the comorbidities, include vascular and cerebrovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, chronic lung disease, gastrointestinal disease, renal disease, and visual disorders. MS has also been associated with various psychiatric comorbidities, such as anxiety and depression.