3. Myth: Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease.
Fact: Fibromyalgia is NOT an autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune disease is the result of a body’s overactive immune response. In a sense, the body’s immune system begins to attack its own cells and tissues. There is no evidence that fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease. In fact, years of research have not turned up any virus, bacteria or immune disorder. It’s not unusual, however, for someone with FM to also have one or more autoimmune diseases, such as: celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, or some types of thyroid disease. Other illnesses that are suspected to have an autoimmune link and may occur with fibromyalgia include: chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and Lyme disease.
4. Myth: Fibromyalgia is a middle-aged woman’s disease
Fact: Fibromyalgia affects men, women and children.
To date, a larger percentage of adult women have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia than men or children, however, it does affect all ages and both sexes. In fact, it may turn out that more men and children have FM than previously thought. Doctors are finding that men may have fewer than the traditional 11 tender points, yet still meet all the other criteria for fibromyalgia. Thus, there may be considerably more men with FM than previously thought. And what was once thought to be “growing pains” in children may actually turn out to be a form of fibromyalgia. But because most pediatricians are not very familiar with FM, they are unlikely to diagnose it. Although fibromyalgia will likely continue to be diagnosed more often in women, we may eventually discover it affects significantly more men and children than once thought.
5. Myth: Fibromyalgia is a psychological problem.
Fact: Fibromyalgia is a physical disorder with real, measurable biological abnormalities.
This myth probably causes the most frustration to fibromyalgia patients. After years of being told “It’s all in your head,” patients finally have proof that fibromyalgia is a very real, physical illness. Research studies have revealed a number of biological abnormalities, including:
