What can you tell me about the relationship between osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia?

Answer by  Marybeth (841)

The are not the same thing but may be present in people by coincidence, fibromyalgia is more of a mystery with unknown causes and varied symptoms.

Answer by  MsTamara1969 (20)

Osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia share many of the same symptoms but there is no real "relationship" between the two. A person can have one or the other or both. The major difference in the two is that fibromyalgia tends to cause pain all over whereas osteoarthritis tends to be localized to specific areas like the knees, and hands.

Answer by  Taran (716)

Some doctors treat fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) separately, while others think they are actually the same thing –- or at least, variations of the same condition. According to the Arthritis Foundation, research shows that 50 to 70 percent of people with one diagnosis also fit the criteria for the other.