Updated January 21, 2015.
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Fibromyalgia is a challenging disease to cope with. It often takes years for a diagnosis and once you are told that you have fibromyalgia, you might be faced with skepticism from people at work, your family or social community. It is a disease that has no definitive cure. And fibromyalgia can also manifest with stroke-like symptoms. Living with recurrent neurological problems is aggravating and you need to be able to recognize the signs of a stroke so that you can stop it in its tracks.
Fibromyalgia and Stroke-like Symptoms
Many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to the signs of a stroke. There are some clues to help you determine whether the symptoms you are experiencing are more likely related to fibromyalgia or a sign of a stroke. Most stoke symptoms include weakness, loss of vision or impairment of consciousness. Fibromyalgia is predominantly associated with pain and fatigue. However, there is some overlap.
Balance
A research study published in the April 2014 European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine evaluated the postural balance of fibromyalgia sufferers and documented a distinct impairment of posture control related to pain and weakness. Stroke can be characterized by dizziness and loss of balance, and therefore the symptoms may be similar. It is important to get medical attention right away for some types of dizziness. Read more about when you should worry about dizziness.
Speech
Another research study calculated objective elements of the speech and voice of individuals who had known fibromyalgia.
The study determined that fibromyalgia causes objective deficits in speech and voice for some people. Slurred speech or difficulty producing or understanding speech is one of the hallmark symptoms of a stroke. The biggest difference between the speech changes in fibromyalgia and the speech changes in stroke is that the changes in fibromyalgia are gradual and do not interfere with the understanding of language, while the speech impairment in stroke is usually sudden and interferes with communication.
Confusion
Fibromyalgia sufferers experience memory decline and confusion at a higher rate than people without fibromyalgia. A stroke can cause severe confusion and sudden trouble with memory. The difference is that most of the time, someone living with fibromyalgia notices a progressive memory decline; while a stroke causes sudden severe confusion that the stroke victim might be too unwell to notice.
Weakness
Dropping objects due impaired coordination or weakness signals a stroke. However, severe pain, which occurs frequently in fibromyalgia, can make you unable to hold or carry objects or even to lift your arm or walk. Additionally, fibromyalgia can cause weakness of the face, arms or legs. When weakness is sudden or severe, urgent medical attention is necessary to determine whether a serious and life threatening problem, such as a stroke, needs to be urgently treated.
Sensory Loss
If you suffer from fibromyalgia, you already know that you will experience pain. However, loss of sensation or tingling can occur with fibromyalgia as well. These are the most ignored signs of stroke, and therefore it is important to establish whether such symptoms are, in fact, strokes or TIAs.
Fibromyalgia and stroke
In the absence of other strong stroke risk factors like heart disease, high cholesterol and hypertension, there is usually no specific reason to take medication such as blood thinners to reduce the risk of a stroke.
Postural control and balance self efficacy in women with fibromyalgia. Are there differences? Muto L, Mango P, Sauer J, Yuan S, Sousa A, Marques A, European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, April 2014
Voice disorder in patients with Fibromyalgia, Gurbuzler L1, Inanir A, Yelken K, Koc S, Eyibilen A, Uysal IO, Auris Nasus Larynx, December 2013
The prevalence and clinical impact of reported cognitive difficulties (fibrofog) in patients with rheumatic disease with and without fibromyalgia, Katz RS1, Heard AR, Mills M, Leavitt F, Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, April 2004
Neurologic signs and symptoms in fibromyalgia, Watson NF1, Buchwald D, Goldberg J, Noonan C, Ellenbogen RG, Arthritis Rheumatology, September 2009