New report may increase insight into fibromyalgia

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

The pain of fibromyalgia is real, even though the condition is not well understood, say experts.
Around two to four per cent of the population suffers with fibromyalgia, a debilitating pain condition. It is often misdiagnosed as arthritis or even depression. Patients' suffering is only increased by the lack of understanding of fibromyalgia.

Doctors at the University of Michigan now take an important step forward, revealing that the pain of fibromyalgia is real. Those with fibromyalgia have a low pain threshold, they say, and genetic factors are also involved. Brain imaging has shown some striking differences between patients with and without fibromyalgia. Put simply, those with fibromyalgia have certain abnormalities in the structure of their brains which affects how they process pain signals. The researchers have also found variations in a specific gene that seem to be linked to fibromyalgia and temporomandibular joint disorder, a condition which is related to fibromyalgia. They hope that these findings will lead to fibromyalgia being taken more seriously.

Source
Current Pain and Headache Reports December 2006 pages 403-407