Difference in Type of Pain
The kind of pain experienced by both these conditions is also different. Fibromyalgia is associated with amplified pain or hyperalgesia and pain from a pain-free source or allodynia. Although CFS is related to muscle pain but not every CFS patient goes through the excruciating pain of fibromyalgia. Additionally, when it comes to pain treatment, the pain associated with fibromyalgia reduces with massage and heat application, however, with CFS, it doesn't improve.
Difference in Sleep Problems
CFS patients sleep a lot but never feel well rested. Although CFS patients show abnormal sleep patterns, researchers find it difficult to identify sleep disorders among them. On the other hand, fibromyalgia is a known to be accompanied with sleep disorders like alpha-EEG anomaly, Sleep apnea, Restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movements during sleep. Usually, sleep disorders show up before fibromyalgia is diagnosed and such patients get poor quality sleep.
Difference in Chemical Abnormality
Patients of fibromyalgia have abnormal levels of P, a cellular chemical which sends out pain signals. However, patients of CFS report this to be normal. On the other hand, CFS patients have high levels of RNase L, a cellular antiviral enzyme, which remains at a normal level in fibromyalgia patients. On top of that, patients of CFS are found with a higher immune dysfunction, which is not seen in fibromyalgia.
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