Is There A Link Between Ptsd And Fibromyalgia

[shimmerz]

@Butterflywings I should have said 'for me' not to me. Conversion disorder does affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS) not just the brain. Enough cannot be said about how things that affect the ANS can wreak havoc in ways that may present as one thing but in fact the root can be a triggering of ANS responses. Here is a link that may be a start and there are more that tie FM with emotional trauma.

http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/fibromyalgia

They state in the above link that there is much still to be known as to the cause of FM.

There is also this link that ties conversion order and somatic issues including pain.

http://www.instituteforchronicpain.org/common-conditions/conversion-disorder

I am not saying that FM cannot stand on it's own but I am saying that FM can be triggered by stress and disorders of stress.

 

[Butterflywings]

I am not saying that FM cannot stand on it's own but I am saying that FM can be triggered by stress and disorders of stress.

I agree with that but in the same way stress can cause a heart attack. There has to be an underlying biological condition there for stress to cause the symptoms of that underlying condition to show. While there isn't enough research out there yet to prove it one way or another, but it would make sense the common theory that fibromyalgia has a biological cause (either genetic or viral) but that it first presents when triggered by some sort of biological or emotional stress. Biological stress (such as surgery or serious illness) can also be the trigger for first symptoms to show, same way an emotional stress (such as trauma) can also be the trigger for first symptoms.

So many conditions contain both mental and physical parts.

 

[shimmerz]

Agreed @Butterflywings. So since conversion disordered people manifest stress by 'playing it out' in their body and people with ptsd have great stress, the original poster spoke about EMDR bringing up FM would make perfect sense.

 

[marylouise]

I just wanted to add a hopeful note. I had a very difficult childhood with a lot of physical abuse and neglect. I first had fibromyalgia symptoms in my early 20s. As people have said, research has shown a strong correlation between childhood abuse and fibromyaligia. However, now in my 40s I no longer have any symptoms. There is no medical reason for this. I believe that the fibro symptoms improved and disappeared as I processed my trauma over many years.

 

[Yugogypsy]

Purple Butterfly, I'm Deaf and fluent in ASL. I have Fibromyalgia for 7 years and recently I've been diagnosed as having PTSD after a traumatic event that happened 3 years ago which triggered many things. A few things that comes to my mind. Pain can cause PTSD triggers when the pain is caused by external traumatic circumstances. Many Deaf/deaf and disabled are highly likely to be abused. 90% of the disabled have been abused. The abuser picks their victim who they think (THEY THINK is the key word) are weaker than themselves or who cannot speak for themselves. Some abusers underestimated their victims. I spoke out against mine as well as being an advocate for deaf children in many different ways. There's many stress factor into this internally and externally.

After the diagnose, I managed the FMS pain and now this PTSD... Makes me wonder if I've been under diagnosed and misdiagnosed (common amongst the Deaf due to cultural and language differences).

 

[Ladyghosthunter]

To answer the general question, I would say yes.

 

[Queen Boudica]

I've just discovered this article. New hope for fibromyalgia sufferers. It is caused by excess blood vessels in the hand.

[DLMURL]http://guardianlv.com/2013/06/fibromyalgia-mystery-finally-solved/[/DLMURL]