Two related physical issues are chronic lower back pain and fibromyalgia. Both can contribute to a sense of full-body pain, a decrease in the ability to engage in physical activity, and a lowered quality of life. In fact, both chronic low back disorders and fibromyalgia can be experienced very similarly by patients.
Lower back pain can be a myofascial pain issue, meaning that the tendons, ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissues may have trigger points that are sending pain signals to the brain. The contraction of tissues results in inflammation and referred pain. However, lower back pain can also be a result of fibromyalgia, which is a chronic, non-inflammatory pain syndrome.
It is important to recognize some of the most prevalent symptoms of fibromyalgia. These can include muscle pain throughout the body in many separate parts, an inability to sleep, insomnia, and a sense of fatigue. The pain from the syndrome can come and go, and be lesser or greater at different times. If widespread pain that comes and goes lasts for three months or longer, fibromyalgia may be the cause.
However, the pain must be very widespread to be considered fibromyalgia. The American College of Rheumatology considers a case to be fibromyalgia if there is pain on both sides of the body, both below and above the waist. The pain must last for at least three months. Also, the ACR has a list of 18 predetermined spots on the body that must be checked for pain through palpation.
Unfortunately, determining whether a case is fibromyalgia or caused by myofascial trigger points can be difficult. This is why it is almost always a good idea to see a chiropractor or doctor who can make this determination based on a set of different tests. Widespread trigger points can lead to widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, but trigger points are an inflammatory response, where fibromyalgia is non-inflammatory.
The key difference, besides the inflammatory response, is that trigger points send referred pain to other parts of the body. A shoulder problem can cause neck, back, and arm pain, for instance. This means that palpating a trigger point should result in referred pain. With fibromyalgia, palpating a site of pain should not result in referred pain to another part of the body. Rather, the pain is more diffused throughout the body.
For people who are suffering from widespread pain in their bodies, getting professional help is essential. Myofascial pain can be more easily addressed through chiropractic methods and soft tissue therapies, while fibromyalgia is an entirely different problem that needs to be managed more carefully by both doctors and patients.