Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- CFS is a condition in which one experiences extreme physical and mental fatigue that is not caused by an underlying medical illness.
- The fatigue may worsen with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest. It is overwhelming, and interferes with the person's normal day-to-day activities.
- The fatigue is accompanied by extreme exhaustion and sickness after any physical activity or mental exertion, forgetfulness, memory loss, confusion or difficulty in concentrating.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
- PTSD is a stress disorder that occurs after one is exposed to a major life-changing trauma.
- This could be physical or mental, for e.g. wars, natural disasters, accidents, physical or sexual abuse, sudden death of a loved one, childhood neglect, etc.
- The physical symptoms of PTSD mimic those of Fibromyalgia like chronic aches and pains, sleeplessness, headaches, etc.
- However in PTSD, the mental symptoms are predominant like Anxiety, Depression, flashbacks and nightmares of the same traumatic event, increased emotional arousal. etc.
Myofascial Syndrome:
- Myofascial Syndrome is a chronic disease marked by severe pain caused by pressure on the trigger points.
- Muscle pain, tenderness and spasms are important symptoms of this syndrome.
- Unlike Fibromyalgia which has symmetrical pains (equally on both sides of the body), Myofascial Syndrome has pain in asymmetrical context. Poor sleep, fatigue and stiffness are other symptoms of Myofascial Syndrome.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus:
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an auto-immune disease that can affect any part of the body. The immune system fights against body's own cells and tissues.
- The symptoms are red, butterfly rash on the face or scaly red rash all over the body, joint pains especially small joints of wrists and hands.
- There are other symptoms related to heart, lungs and kidneys. Psychological symptoms include mood disorder, cognitive dysfunction and anxiety. The musculoskeletal symptoms of SLE i.e. ache and joint pains resemble fibromyalgia.
Malingering
- Malingering is a psychological condition of exaggerating or fabricating symptoms of physical and mental disorders.
- This is often done for secondary gains like avoiding work or school, financial compensations, exemption from punishments, or simply to attract attention and sympathy.
