Fibromyalgia and Fever
Fibromyalgia is usually associated with widespread pain, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment…. And fever?
Fibromyalgia, it is widely believed is the result of trauma or a viral infection, and fever is the body’s way of fighting off infection. Sufferers of fibromyalgia often have a lowered immune system as well, so after exposure to illness the body must fight off infections and inflammation and again a low-grade fever may occur.
Most people who have fibromyalgia suffer from other illnesses as well. That in itself can trigger fever. This can be confusing for patients and physicians alike. The physician likely is looking for something definitive to reveal itself by lab work primarily. When it’s returned with “everything is normal”, the result is certainly frustration.
Fibromyalgia patients are often colder than everyone around us. While fibromyalgia itself does not cause fever, the body can interpret pain, sleep deprivation, exhaustion etc as infection which results in fever often times.
Sadly then, the answer is “yes”. Fever can accompany chronic illness, such as fibromyalgia.
