It was Virchow in 1852 who first described muscular rheumatism.1 In 1904, Gowers2 described fibrositis as an underlying pathology for a number of musculoskeletal disorders. Since that time, physicians and researchers have come up with a number of terms to describe a category of inflammatory muscular disorders and conditions which are common and which have been extremely difficult to categorize, due in large part to the general lack of objective clinical data and to the ambiguity of the terminology.
For example, Kellgren3 described some of his findings (of referred pain) in ways which suggest he was describing myofascitis. This has been the interpretation of other authors,4,5 although I disagree. Nevertheless, much confusion exists even today, particularly with regard to the distinction between myofascitis and fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FS)
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is a chronic disorder involving the entire body: above and below the waist, and on both sides. It is much more prevalent in females. It has been associated with more than 46 different infections, metabolic, neurologic and neoplastic diseases.6 In these cases it is referred to as secondary fibromyalgia syndrome. When it is free standing it is referred to as primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS). For our purposes, I will use the terms FS and PFS synonymously.
Making the Diagnosis
Patients with FS have a number of complaints in common; these are listed in Table 1, which is from Wolfe7 and is compiled from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1990 criteria study.8 The ACR also established 18 tender points that were commonly found in these patients. The anatomic descriptions of these points are listed in Table 2 (see page 29). One might be temped to argue that these descriptions are somewhat ambiguous.
However, even more nebulous is the prescribed method of determining that which is tender and that which is not. For example, the spot is to be rolled under the fingertips while exerting about 4 kg downward pressure. The patient is asked whether the point is tender or painful. Only the painful response is considered positive, even though the examiner must not attempt to qualify the answer.7 (Perhaps they should have called them painful points.) One critic of FS has commented that "the concept of FS is valid only in the sense that it includes all possibilities."9 Certainly, using the criteria given, one can make a diagnosis of FS quite often.
To qualify as having FS, a patient must have the following:
Comorbid Disorders
It is difficult sometimes to decide just what it is that constitutes fatigue, and what level of anxiety is clinically important. Similarly, how often should headaches occur before we consider them relevant in this context? Does one per week qualify? On the other hand, there is a strong association between poor sleep and increased symptom expression. Romano10 has correlated irritable bowel syndrome with FS.
Based on a survey of 554 patients with FS, additional comorbid conditions have been reported as follows: mitral valve prolapse, bursitis, constipation, diarrhea, TM joint dysfunction, vertigo, sinus, and thyroid problems.11 FS patients also display high lifetime rates of migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, major depression, and panic disorder, as well as high rates of familial mood disorder-all of which may share a common etiopathophysiology with FS.12
Can FS Be Linked To Trauma?
FS has been linked to trauma in some studies,13-16 although these are not definitive, and may be aggravated by trauma in minimally symptomatic patients, or may be precipitated in those predisposed to developing the condition. White et al.17 systematically reviewed the literature of FS to investigate the strength of the connection between trauma and the condition. Although one recent Israeli study found that adults with neck pain were at a ten-fold increased risk of developing FS within a year, the study had some methodological limitations. Other studies provide the basis of a hypothetical construct for an association between trauma and FS based on 1) postinjury sleep abnormalities; 2) local injury sites as a source of distant regional pain; and 3) the concept of neuroplasticity. There are, however, the authors point out, several competing arguments against a causal connection, including the notion that FS may not be a distinct clinical entity. The psychological state may be most influential on the development of FS. Their conclusion was that the definitive answer remains elusive.
In another interesting study,18 these authors surveyed 287 Canadian GPs, 160 orthopedists, 160 physiatrists, 160 and rheumatologists on the diagnosis of FS in a theoretical case. The case involved a 45-year-old female injured in a motor vehicle crash in which she sustained a whiplash injury. Subsequently she developed chronic widespread pain, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and diffuse muscle tenderness. The orthopedists were least likely to agree with the diagnosis of FS (28.8%), while rheumatologists were most likely to agree (83.0%). Factors found to predict agreement (on the basis of multivariate analysis) included 1) the number of FS cases diagnosed by the respondent per week; 2) the patient's gender; 3) the force of impact; 4) the patient's pre-crash psychiatric history; and 5) the severity of the initial injuries.
It is my opinion that some patients are predisposed to develop FS or already have a minor, but tolerable, case of FS. These cases are then precipitated or aggravated by certain forms of trauma resulting in long-term discomfort. Ultimately, however, we must wait for more definitive studies before we can trust in more than our personal opinions as to the cause-and-effect relationships between trauma and FS.
Multiple Sclerosis
There have been reports describing a connection between multiple sclerosis and mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI),19 although the epidemiological link appears weak.20 Nevertheless, in 1996 a former policeman in England was awarded $820,000 after developing multiple sclerosis following a CAD injury sustained in the line of duty.21 Unfortunatly for the policeman, the award was turned around on appeal two years later.22 At this writing, the link between whiplash and MS remains unproven and poorly supported by the existing literature.
References:
Arthur Croft,DC,MS,FACO,FACFE
Director, Spine Research Institute of San Diego
San Diego, California
drcroft@san.rr.com
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