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Association Between Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and the Chiari I Malformation

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The Chiari Malformations

Abstract

Patients with fibromyalgia (FM), chronic fatigue (CF), and Chiari I malformation (CIM) can have overlapping symptoms, including headaches, vertigo, tremors, and gait instability. Authors have proposed that cervical stenosis may be the cause of many of these symptoms in patients with FM, although data is limited on the effectiveness of posterior fossa or cervical decompression in patients with FM or CF. While there are a few retrospective, nonrandomized studies that support an association between FM and CIM, there is one prospective, randomized, high-quality cohort study demonstrating no association between FM and CIM. In this chapter, we will review current evidence on the possible association between FM, CF, and CIM.

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Correspondence to Richard G. Ellenbogen MD .

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Ellenbogen, R.G., Bauer, D.F. (2013). Association Between Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and the Chiari I Malformation. In: Tubbs, R., Oakes, W. (eds) The Chiari Malformations. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6369-6_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6369-6_23

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