Heart and fibromyalgia.

bridlass

One question in regard for myself. Can heart problems be related to arthritis?

Question two for my daughter. Is fibromyalgia a type of arthritis?

moderator

Dear Bridlass, welcome to Arthritis Care Forums.

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dreamdaisy

Hello, I am not a doc but will attempt to answer your question.

Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to heart and lung troubles, maybe some of the other auto-immune forms too, but not osteoarthritis.

I have developed fibro as a consequence of living with two kinds of arthritis, I have psoriatic and the joint damage from that has led to osteo in a number of useful joints but I know of people who have fibro without arthritis. I think it falls under the umbrella of an auto-immune trouble but, as I said, I am not a doc.

I think I recall your first post where you mentioned not having a knee cap. That is not part of the knee joint at all, it's there purely to protect the ends of the thigh and shin bones - when people have knee replacement surgery their natural knee cap is left in situ unless it is compromised somehow. DD

stickywicket

I think DD is right, as usual.

I have RA and, as I was diagnosed at 15 (and had 'rheumatic fever' aged 11 - probably the start of it all) my heart and kidneys came under scrutiny for years. However, I don't believe there's any connection between OA and heart disease.

Fibromyalgia isn't an autoimmune disease and is neurological rather than muscoloskeletal.

bubbadog

DD is the wise one of the forum! I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia before being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, they both cause a lot of pain and make you feel rotten!