Differentiating Some Causes of Chronic Pain in Women

My grandmother and I were chatting about different chronic pain disorders that exist in women. Here is a very brief overview of three common conditions, highlighting their differences and unique symptoms. All present with muscle pain and more often in women. 

Fibromyalgia 

- often presents in younger women (less than 40)

- point tenderness over affected muscles 

- tender points in various locations on the body (11-18 tender points total)

- anxiety and stress exacerbate the pain 

- often associated with depression and chronic fatigue syndrome

- often normal laboratory values

- may be due to mitochondrial dysfunction, though many hypotheses exist

Polymyositis
- often presents in women aged 40-60 

- weakness, stiffness, and inflammation of proximal muscles 

- severe pain and stiffness felt in pectoral and pelvic girdles 

- may have difficulty swallowing, lung disease, and thickening of skin

- elevated ESR and CPK laboratory test values 

- anti-jo antibodies found

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

 - often presents in women older than age 50 

- severe pain and stiffness felt in hip, neck, pelvis, shoulder

- inflammation seen in many muscles

- temporal arteritis can also present

- "gelling phenomenon" experienced (stiffness after inactivity) 

- elevated ESR and CRP laboratory test values