Fibromyalgia frequently overlaps with other diseases and conditions, one of which is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Interestingly, a 1993 study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases looked at joint hypermobility and fibromyalgia in schoolchildren.  The research abstract said in part, "Joint hypermobility and fibromyalgia may often occur together in schoolchildren... Among 338 children between nine and 15 years old, 13% had joint hypermobility and 6% had fibromyalgia. Eighty-one percent of the children with fibromyalgia had joint hypermobility. Forty percent of the children with joint hypermobility had fibromyalgia. Joint hypermobility may be an underlying cause of pain in children with fibromyalgia." 

Of course, not all joint hypermobility is EDS, but still the connection is intriguing.

hope to be helpful

2/ 1/12 12:53pm

I've never heard of EDS but my sister and I used to "pop" our hips to entertain others when we were children. I could also "pop" my shoulders. Our family doctor at the time told our mother it was loose ligaments and nothing to worry about. Now we both, no all four children who are now 50 and 60 have been diagnosed with FM. One brother drank his pain away and is now passed from liver failure.

Karen Lee Richards, Health Guide

2/ 1/12 2:33pm

I'm sorry for your loss of your brother.  Sadly when we were children, doctors didn't know about FM.  The first diagnostic criteria weren't even developed until 1990 and then it took several more years for most doctors to become aware of it.  Even today I doubt that many would link hypermobility to potential FM.