Symptoms mimicking neurologic disorders in fibromyalgia syndrome. 1988

R W Simms, and D L Goldenberg
Multipurpose Arthritis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118.

Recent reports have not emphasized the presence of paresthesias in fibromyalgia syndrome. In our retrospective review of 161 patients with fibromyalgia we found that 84% complained of numbness or tingling at initial evaluation. Most had either bilateral upper and lower extremity or bilateral upper extremity paresthesias. None had concurrent diseases commonly associated with peripheral neuropathy. Thirty-six patients with paresthesias had electromyograms performed before the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and 32 were normal. At a second assessment performed at a mean of 25 months from time of diagnosis, 56 of these 57 patients reported current paresthesias. Paresthesias are common in fibromyalgia and may mimic a neurologic disorder, although objective abnormalities are rare. Judicious use of neurodiagnostic tests are therefore indicated in the clinical setting of fibromyalgia.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009422 Nervous System Diseases Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. This includes disorders of the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular junction, and muscle. Neurologic Disorders,Nervous System Disorders,Neurological Disorders,Disease, Nervous System,Diseases, Nervous System,Disorder, Nervous System,Disorder, Neurologic,Disorder, Neurological,Disorders, Nervous System,Disorders, Neurologic,Disorders, Neurological,Nervous System Disease,Nervous System Disorder,Neurologic Disorder,Neurological Disorder
D009460 Neurologic Examination Assessment of sensory and motor responses and reflexes that is used to determine impairment of the nervous system. Examination, Neurologic,Neurological Examination,Examination, Neurological,Examinations, Neurologic,Examinations, Neurological,Neurologic Examinations,Neurological Examinations
D010292 Paresthesia Subjective cutaneous sensations (e.g., cold, warmth, tingling, pressure, etc.) that are experienced spontaneously in the absence of stimulation. Dysesthesia,Formication,Paresthesia, Distal,Paresthesia, Painful,Distal Paresthesia,Distal Paresthesias,Dysesthesias,Formications,Painful Paresthesia,Painful Paresthesias,Paresthesias,Paresthesias, Distal,Paresthesias, Painful
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D005121 Extremities The farthest or outermost projections of the body, such as the HAND and FOOT. Limbs,Extremity,Limb
D005356 Fibromyalgia A common nonarticular rheumatic syndrome characterized by myalgia and multiple points of focal muscle tenderness to palpation (trigger points). Muscle pain is typically aggravated by inactivity or exposure to cold. This condition is often associated with general symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, stiffness, HEADACHES, and occasionally DEPRESSION. There is significant overlap between fibromyalgia and the chronic fatigue syndrome (FATIGUE SYNDROME, CHRONIC). Fibromyalgia may arise as a primary or secondary disease process. It is most frequent in females aged 20 to 50 years. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1494-95) Diffuse Myofascial Pain Syndrome,Fibrositis,Rheumatism, Muscular,Fibromyalgia, Primary,Fibromyalgia, Secondary,Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis Syndrome,Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia Syndrome,Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Diffuse,Fibromyalgia Fibromyositis Syndrome,Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis Syndromes,Fibromyalgias,Fibromyalgias, Primary,Fibromyalgias, Secondary,Fibromyositis Fibromyalgia Syndrome,Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia Syndromes,Fibrositides,Muscular Rheumatism,Primary Fibromyalgia,Primary Fibromyalgias,Secondary Fibromyalgia,Secondary Fibromyalgias,Syndrome, Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis,Syndrome, Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia,Syndromes, Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis,Syndromes, Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective

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