Fibromyalgia Common in IBS Patients

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There can be several other conditions that are co-existent with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). One of those conditions that has recently been identified is fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder that has no apparent cause. Symptoms include generalized muscle aching, stiffness, fatigue and an abnormal sleep pattern. Fibromyalgia is the third most common reason for visits to a rheumatologist behind osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Fibromyalgia is reported to affect as many as 2% of the general population and is 6 to 7 times more prevalent in women than men.

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is presently defined by criteria, which consists of widespread pain and presence of painful tender points established by the American College of Rheumatology in 1990.

Current studies indicate that as many as 65% of patients with IBS also have fibromyalgia. In fact, there are four conditions that have a higher than expected rate of co-occurrence with IBS that have little relationship to the digestive system:

Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ or TMD)
Chronic Pelvic Pain

Other studies have shown that patients with both IBS and fibromyalgia experience symptoms that are 38% more severe than patients with only one of the conditions. Studies have also shown that people with both conditions tend to have a worse quality of life than those with only one.

Common Characteristics

IBS and Fibromyalgia are both complex, chronic conditions that actually have a number of common characteristics. Several studies have attempted to determine a causal link between the two conditions, but to date have not been successful. But these characteristics have been noted:

Both IBS and Fibromyalgia exhibit abnormalities in the function of the autonomic nervous system. However, the pattern of the dysfunction is different in the two conditions and actually tends in opposite directions
Pain sensitivity is also a common and shared characteristic of both conditions but likewise does not have a comparable pattern. IBS patients have pain inside the intestine whereas fibromyalgia patients have musculoskeletal pain but not intestinal.
Stress is also a common characteristic including hormonal response to stress, such as corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH). But again, the pattern between the two conditions is different. IBS appears to have exaggerated stress hormone activity while fibromyalgia has suppressed stress hormone activity.

These facts lead some researchers to theorize that fibromyalgia and IBS are different “surface reflections” of the same broader “somatic syndrome”.

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