What is the Difference Between CRPS and Fibromyalgia?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Fibromyalgia (FM) are two distinct chronic pain conditions that share some similarities but also have key differences:
Similarities:
- Both conditions cause severe pain, which can be debilitating and life-changing.
- Symptoms of both conditions can be aggravated by changes in temperature.
Differences:
- Pain Distribution: CRPS typically affects a specific region of the body, usually following an injury or trauma, and the pain is localized and may spread to neighboring areas. In contrast, Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain throughout the body, involving both sides and above and below the waist.
- Intensity and Range of Pain: CRPS is more intense, with burning, aching pain, and exhaustion. Fibromyalgia is associated with less intense and generally widespread pain, and tenderness in the musculoskeletal system.
- Underlying Mechanisms: CRPS is thought to arise from dysfunctional nerve signals, leading to a cascade of inflammatory responses and abnormal pain processing in the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia is associated with abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the spinal cord, and nerves that process pain messages.
In summary, while CRPS and Fibromyalgia both cause severe pain, they differ in the distribution, intensity, and underlying mechanisms of the pain. CRPS typically affects a specific region of the body and is more intense, while Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain and is usually less intense.
Comparative Table: CRPS vs Fibromyalgia
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Fibromyalgia (FM) are both chronic pain disorders that share some similarities but have distinct differences. Here is a table comparing the key differences between CRPS and Fibromyalgia:
| Feature | CRPS | Fibromyalgia |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Location | Localized to specific body regions, typically arms, legs, hands, or feet [4 | Widespread throughout the body, with less intense pain |
| Pain Intensity | Severe pain [4 | Less intense pain compared to CRPS |
| Mechanism | Thought to involve dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system [1 | Exact cause unknown, possibly related to abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain and changes in the spinal cord |
| Trigger | Often triggered by an injury, surgery, sprain, burn, bruise, or cut | Can be triggered spontaneously or by an accident or trauma |
| Symptoms | Abnormal sudomotor activity, edema, trophic skin changes, hyperalgesia, or mechanical, cold, or heat allodynia [1 | Fatigue, difficulty moving affected body parts, muscle spasms, tremors, abnormal limb posture, and tender points that hurt only when pressed |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosed based on specific criteria, including pain, sensory changes, and other symptoms | Diagnosed based on a three-month history of widespread pain in at least 11 of 18 tender points |
In summary, CRPS is a chronic pain disorder characterized by severe pain localized to specific body regions, while Fibromyalgia causes less intense widespread pain throughout the body. Although both conditions share similarities in their symptoms and possible involvement of the sympathetic nervous system, they have distinct differences in pain intensity, location, and triggering factors.
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