Regional or localized syndromes that overlap with fibromyalgia in prevalence,
mechanisms, and treatment. Figure 2. The "systemic" conditions that overlap
with fibromyalgia. An excellent recent example of how illnesses such as
fibromyalgia might be triggered occurred in the aftermath of the Gulf War in
1990 and 1991. The term "Gulf War illnesses" is now commonly used to refer to a
constellation of symptoms developed by some 10% to 15% of the 700,000 US troops
deployed to the Persian Gulf in the early 1990s. The symptoms, which include
headaches, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, memory disorders, and
gastrointestinal distress, were seen in troops deployed from the United States,
the United Kingdom, and other countries.[21,22] The panel of experts who
examined potential causes for these symptoms and syndromes found that the
sickness could not be traced to any single environmental trigger; they also
noted the similarities between these individuals and those diagnosed with
fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Furthermore, similar syndromes involving
multiple somatic symptoms have been noted in veterans of every war that the
United States or United Kingdom has been involved in during the past
century.[23] These findings suggest that war may be an environment in which
individuals are simultaneously exposed to a multitude of "stressors" that
trigger the development of this type of illness in susceptible individuals.[24]
The above-noted relationship between individuals with other chronic rheumatic
disorders and fibromyalgia deserves special attention because of the relevance
to practicing rheumatologists. As many as 25% of patients correctly diagnosed
with generalized inflammatory disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus,
rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis will also fulfill ACR criteria
for fibromyalgia.[25] However, in clinical practice, this co-expression may go
unrecognized, especially when fibromyalgia develops after the autoimmune
disorder or regional pain syndrome.



" No matter if I live or die, I am a rich Gypsy"








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