Fibromyalgia is sometimes mistaken for MS, and MS is sometimes mistaken for fibromyalgia. Both occur more frequently in women, and both can cause pain, fatigue, and brain fog, among other symptoms. But is there a connection between the two that goes beyond these commonalities? A study published online in July in Multiple Sclerosis Journal examined the health records of nearly 14, people with MS from four Canadian locations and compared them with the records of nearly 67, people without MS.
The researchers found that fibromyalgia was 3 times more common in the people diagnosed with MS. However, because the goal of the study was to identify early signs of MS , it did not explore the link between fibromyalgia and MS further. At least one researcher, Ethan B. Russo, MD , has theorized that multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia — as well as migraine, irritable bowel syndrome IBS , and some other conditions — share an underlying problem he calls clinical endocannabinoid deficiency.
Endocannabinoids are cannabis -like molecules that are naturally produced by the human body. Endocannabinoid receptors are found in the brain, nerves, skin, blood vessels, and other organs throughout the body. Consequently, the endocannabinoid system is involved in the regulation of physiological functions throughout much of the body. According to Dr. Russo, in an article published in July in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research , "All humans have an underlying endocannabinoid tone that is a reflection of levels of the endocannabinoids, anandamide arachidonylethanolamide , and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, their production, metabolism, and the relative abundance and state of cannabinoid receptors.
In the same article, Russo describes existing studies of cannabis-based treatment for IBS , migraine, fibromyalgia, and some other conditions, and calls for randomized clinical trials in this area of research. Just as in people with epilepsy , seizures that occur in people with MS are the result of neurons firing abnormally.
However, the specific cause of seizures in MS is unknown. So even some doctors may hold outdated beliefs about MS. A healthy diet for people with multiple sclerosis is not that different from a healthy diet for anyone. Basic good nutrition — sufficient calories from a mix of lean proteins, whole-grain carbohydrate sources, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats from fish, nuts, seeds, and oil — can go a long way toward maintaining your energy levels and helping to prevent such chronic diseases as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Certain foods may also help manage symptoms associated with MS, such as high- fiber foods helping to relieve constipation. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. It provides information, assistance, and support of various kinds through its local chapters and through its MS Navigators, who are available to chat online or by phone.
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. Check out its calendar of events for free educational presentations around the United States and Puerto Rico. Try out its My MS Manager app to track the disease activity, store your medical information, and generate charts and reports. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices and is free for individuals with MS and their caregivers. MS Focus. MS Focus offers a variety of grant programs to provide assistive technology, laptop computers, emergency living assistance, homecare, and cooling items.
The website also provides a directory of MS support groups and lists live events focused on MS education, fundraising, and wellness activities. International Progressive MS Alliance. Progressive forms of MS, which include primary- and secondary-progressive MS, can cause significant physical and cognitive disability, and until recently, no drug treatments have been available for these forms of MS. The Progressive MS Alliance is working to change the lives of people with progressive MS by conducting more and better studies to hasten the development of drug treatments and other therapies for those affected.
The MS Coalition brings together nine member organizations with a shared commitment to improving the lives of people with MS.
It provides a quick way to find out which of these organizations might have programs that are helpful to you. Race to Erase MS. And while the ticket price of the gala may be a bit steep for ordinary people, the MS Forum and Expo that happens the next day is free and open to the public, and offers access to some of the top MS researchers in the United States.
Mayo Clinic. MS TeamWorks. One way to feel less alone with MS is to listen to other people talk about their situation. The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers has put together a collection of videos featuring people living with MS as well as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who treat MS. When you join iConquerMS, you contribute information about your MS history, symptoms, and treatments. Researchers then use your information, along with that of thousands of other people living with MS, to look for patterns and clues about the causes of MS and the best ways to treat it.
There are lots of great blogs out there by people with MS, but the advantage of subscribing to MultipleSclerosis. Yes, they all share the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis , but they each have their own experiences, concerns, and perspective on life, MS, and the intersection of the two. RealTalk MS. Every week host Jon Strum tackles another MS topic, from stem cell transplants to advances in rehabilitation to healthcare legislation that could affect people with MS.
Listen in as he interviews scientists, activists, MS caregivers , and others whose lives have been affect by MS. For another, it seems likely that people with MS with higher disability levels have a higher risk of developing complications if they were to contract COVID Keeping in touch with your MS care providers during this time is important, and the broader availability of telemedicine in the United States since the pandemic started has made it safer and, for some, easier to do that.
All of the major MS patient advocacy organizations as well as many smaller ones have fact sheets, helplines , webinars, chats, exercise videos, and more than can help you stay informed and connected. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Multiple Sclerosis MS. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Malignant Multiple Sclerosis. Social Security. Bladder Problems.
Breathing Problems. Health Topics. Health Tools. Multiple Sclerosis. Reviewed: August 12, Medically Reviewed. No one knows exactly how multiple sclerosis begins, but most doctors think it starts when an environmental cause, such as a virus, triggers an autoimmune attack in a person who is genetically susceptible to MS. Optical coherence tomography OCT. This test measures nerve fibers in the retina. Spinal tap lumbar puncture.
Your healthcare provider removes a sample of spinal fluid to check for signs of MS. Visual evoked potentials VEP. This test is done to see how well your optic nerves are working. After the general diagnosis of MS, the diagnosis of PPMS is based almost exclusively on the patient's symptom history.
Because of this, it may take time for the PPMS diagnosis to be made. Several medicines are available to treat relapsing forms of MS. Your healthcare provider may still be able to use 1 of these medicines in your case. But more likely your healthcare provider will try to provide treatments that relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.
These may address problems such as depression, sexual problems, and extreme tiredness fatigue. Subscribe to receive emails from the National MS Society including research news, health and wellness tips, invitations to local programs, events, fundraising and more. What is multiple sclerosis? Who gets MS? How many people have MS? What are the different types of MS? What are the typical symptoms of MS? What causes the symptoms?
Does MS always cause paralysis? Is MS fatal? Is MS contagious or inherited? Can MS be cured? This form of MS does not have the dramatic variations in symptoms that RRMS does, but rather has a slow, steady progression. Initially, people with secondary-progressive MS may still experience relapses, although these usually do not fully remit. However, with the introduction of long-term disease-modifying therapies DMTs , fewer individuals advance to this latter form of the disease.
Since , more than 20 brand-name and generic DMTs have been approved and are available through prescription.
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