Q&A

Is small fiber neuropathy related to fibromyalgia?

Is small fiber neuropathy related to fibromyalgia?

A small study has linked the pain of fibromyalgia to small nerve fiber neuropathy, which is painful damage to a certain part of a certain nerve. This could be a ground-breaking study, as fibromyalgia has previously been linked to nerve dysfunction, but not to actual nerve damage.

Can small fiber neuropathy cause widespread pain?

Another group of patients who have recently been shown to have objective evidence for damage to their small fibers are patients who have more widespread pain, experiencing muscle cramps and muscle pain, and in many cases, these patients have been confused as having fibromyalgia.

How do I know if I have fibromyalgia or neuropathy?

People with fibromyalgia who have pain in their shoulders and backs often describe burning, tingling, and shooting pains in their arms and legs, which may sound like peripheral neuropathy. However, the results of nerve conduction tests—in which a series of electrical impulses are given to the nerve—are usually normal.

Can fibromyalgia turn into neuropathy?

While fibromyalgia is vastly misunderstood as to its origination and development, neuropathy, on the other hand, may develop from a list of underlying issues. However, both conditions have a great impact on the central nervous system and may cause intolerable nerve pain in extreme cases.

What is the life expectancy of someone with peripheral neuropathy?

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is a progressive disease in which patients experience severe peripheral neuropathy, cardiac dysfunction, infections, and cachexia (extreme weight loss and muscle wasting). The life expectancy of TTR-FAP patients is about 10 years after diagnosis.

What does Dr Anne Oaklander do for fibromyalgia?

Dr. Anne Oaklander didn’t just discover the small nerve fiber problems in fibromyalgia, she’s literally trying to build the small nerve fiber field from the bottom up.

How many nerve fibers are lost in fibromyalgia?

First Dr. Oaklander lays out what we know – that many studies indicate that the small nerve fibers in the skin of about 40% of the people with fibromyalgia have been damaged or partially lost. Oaklander seems to be more and more confident of her findings.

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia and sfpn?

The symptoms of SFPN and fibromyalgia overlap greatly. (Note how close they are to ME/CFS as well.) SFPN sufferers report that their worst symptoms are fatigue and tiredness, poor endurance or strength, deep pains or aches, tingling or pins and needles and difficulty thinking and concentrating.