How does the pain of fibro different from lupus pain? I have been diagnosed with both. Sometimes I hurt so bad that I cannot deal with anything touching my skin. My muscles hurt all the time and any weather change causes my hands and wrists to swell. How can I determine if I am having a fibro or lupus flare.
http://voices.yahoo.com/fibromyalgia-lupus-two-separate-diseases-with-412154.html?cat=70 I am leaving this link for you the mayo clinic also has a lot of info on both. I have both.
Thanks
My rhemy told me that fibro happens on both sides of the body at the same time. It was the easiest way to figure out that my constant pain was not related to fibro. Hope that helps.
Mindy
This is one of the best articles I have read. Thank you
Thanks for this article, this answers so many questions for me! Definitely explains why weather changes affect me so dramatically. At my last visit with my rheumie, he thought my fibromyalgia was causing me more problems at this time. To tell the truth, I've had it so long, I don't even think about it, pain is just part of me. I believe it developed after a car accident, when I experienced the worse whiplash..... never went away.
I, too, have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and MCTD. My understanding is that most people who have lupus and/or other auto-immune diseases and have widespread pain, which most of us do, also have fibromyalgia. So an autoimmune disease can cause fibro. I think that fibro is too often diagnosed in people who have autoimmune diseases before the diagnosis of lupus, or other autoimmune disease, because it is easier for the docs to just say you have fibro and then dismiss you. My doctor said that my lab tests were abnormal because I am a former smoker. I am just so frustrated with all this. Sorry if I am kind of rambling. I mowed the yard this morning and I am TIRED.
I have both as well I was wondering the same “what is what” this is a great article. Thank you for sharing 
That is a great article. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia/Myophascial Pain Syndrome about 20 years ago but just recently was diagnosed with connective tissue disease (most likely Lupus). My Rheumy just doesn't want to say for sure it is that just yet. I have symptoms of both but never really knew what the differences are. I can see a lot of both though in me and think I actually had Lupus for quite awhile but they just didn't figure it out. I always had a positive ANA result but my doctor would just dismiss it. This last run of tests with my Rheumy showed the positive ANA and also one called MGUS which they say can show up in Lupus patients, also people with cancer. So it has to be checked periodically just in case. That was the first time I've gone to an Rheumatologist since my Fibromyalgia diagnosis. This week has been a lot of both. I do ok as long as I'm not standing but shortly after I'm on my feet I feel like my legs and arms have turned to rubber and I have lost all my energy. So frustrating! We had pot luck at our church yesterday and of course my husband and I were on the food committee so we were responsible for setting everything and cleaning up afterwards, along with 2 other couples. By the time we got finished with it all I was completely drenched from sweat and so tired I thought I was going to faint. Today hasn't been any better. I finally forced myself to get dressed and go to the store and now I'm paying for it with a terrible back and chest pain. Such is our life. :(