the symptoms can be very similar. with fibro you don't have lesions.i know there are more medical differences as well

Basically it is the 'no lessions' that make the difference ]. Symptoms are very similar.

I think some of the medical differances are:
There are certain places on our bodies called pressure points and if you have about 11 of these places that are painful when pressed then that is a sign of fibro.

Also living with pain for over 6 months is a sign.

Not having obvious lesions is a sign.

It is very cloudy area though and i know that people who have ms can also have these signs.
I have had a neuro in the past who kept saying I had fibro who did not want to dx me with ms.
I used to argue with her as I only had one pressure point as painful and did not have chronic pain. I told her I did not fit the criteria for fibro and she accused me of wanting MS. So she called it an a-typical fibro/chronic fatigue syndrome. I looked it up and there is no such thing in med.dictionaries.

I hate to say to people that no lesions means no ms because i went througth 6 years of that. The mri machines can miss stuff. the radiologist can miss stuff. The neuro can miss stuff. They may not have looked in non obvious places. MRI tests are not fool proof.

It took so many years for my lesions to be BIG enough to be counted. Did that mean I had fibro in those years.? No. ! I had early primary progresive.
Science is not that wonderful in dx'ing ms but some neuros rely on the MRI as everything.

If your mri's show well defined MS lesions that would definatly rule out fibro.
I hope i havn't confused everyone further.

I have Fibro and I am being tested for MS. I found a good site awhile back that I posted here, and it states the differences between MS/Fibro/lupus. You CAN have both at the same time. It has been said that once you get one auto-immune disease you are then prone to get another one. I know scientists are debating if Fibro falls into that category, but with all the similiar symptoms it's hard not to think it would be related. I also think the difference is with the process of each disease. MS can present as something accute at times. A foot goes numb, or the legs don't work, and weeks later (if it's RR) it will return. But with Fibro it's a chronic daily pain that never seems to let up. I recently debated with my Rheumy over the fact of her implying my Fibro was progressing. I have never seen any evidence in any reports over such a thing. I do believe I'm having new issues unrelated to the Fibro which is causing my other docs to investigate the MS.

I agree so much with horsenut too. These radiologists are so bogged down with patients it's no wonder they find anything on an MRI .. lol I am acutallly seeing a new Neuro next week to get my films from July read again. It's a crazy thing when you have to be your own health advocate!!

Here is that link I was talking about:
http://www.msakc.org/Articles/MSFibroLupus.htm

It took me 25 years to be dx because of those stupid MRI's

Thanks sunnygurl for the site you recommended I thought I would check it out before I sent this message for Maggie. Well Maggie, I can say that I honestly feel for you and understand the confusion and the delema trying to work you way thru it all. Sunnygurls direction is very good. In '99 I had an episode which to my frustation was diagnosed as transverse myelitis. Josling back to neuros and being told it was all in my mind and various other badly handled explanations given to me by the people in the medical arena. Having 2 cousing with multiple sclerosis I could see the writing on the wall and I was eager to get onto medication. Finally in 2003 I was diagnosed with MS as by then had three lesions on the spine and positive lumbar puncture. All troughout which I wont go into too much detail but please feel free to ask me any questions you may have. Ongoing symptoms lead me to believe there was more yet to come but could not pin point any thing until finally last week my tests for lupus show very high levels of ana which is still questionable and most of the existing symptoms are pointing in that direction. However my last MRI showed that within the last 12 months I have now three lesion on my brain as well as spine so ms if active.
Other symptoms have revealed and confirmed that I have fibromyalgia and also pain caused in hips and legs indicate trochanter bursitis in both hips. Gees what a week and back to the Lupus tests again in three weeks to see where I am at with that. Sorry hope things haven't got to confusing. The point is that when all is said and done I still enjoy life and keep busy and stay involved with friends and family and make the most out of life because I have learnt what is important and where you or should I say where I should spend my eenergy. Life has meaning dand direction with a new perspect on things determination to get on with life. Just trust that once you past through the turmoil although very scary at times you have alot to look forward so at this stage ask questions and trust that you are never given more than you can handle and I am here if at times you feel that you cant handle things and want some-one to talk or vent or ask questions. Please take care of yourself

Thanks sunnygurl for the site you recommended I thought I would check it out before I sent this message for Maggie. Well Maggie, I can say that I honestly feel for you and understand the confusion and the delema trying to work you way thru it all. Sunnygurls direction is very good. In '99 I had an episode which to my frustation was diagnosed as transverse myelitis. Josling back to neuros and being told it was all in my mind and various other badly handled explanations given to me by the people in the medical arena. Having 2 cousing with multiple sclerosis I could see the writing on the wall and I was eager to get onto medication. Finally in 2003 I was diagnosed with MS as by then had three lesions on the spine and positive lumbar puncture. All troughout which I wont go into too much detail but please feel free to ask me any questions you may have. Ongoing symptoms lead me to believe there was more yet to come but could not pin point any thing until finally last week my tests for lupus show very high levels of ana which is still questionable and most of the existing symptoms are pointing in that direction. However my last MRI showed that within the last 12 months I have now three lesion on my brain as well as spine so ms if active.
Other symptoms have revealed and confirmed that I have fibromyalgia and also pain caused in hips and legs indicate trochanter bursitis in both hips. Gees what a week and back to the Lupus tests again in three weeks to see where I am at with that. Sorry hope things haven't got to confusing. The point is that when all is said and done I still enjoy life and keep busy and stay involved with friends and family and make the most out of life because I have learnt what is important and where you or should I say where I should spend my eenergy. Life has meaning dand direction with a new perspect on things determination to get on with life. Just trust that once you past through the turmoil although very scary at times you have alot to look forward so at this stage ask questions and trust that you are never given more than you can handle and I am here if at times you feel that you cant handle things and want some-one to talk or vent or ask questions. Please take care of yourself