Health and Wellness Daily Digest » Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Facts Figures And Myths Debunked

hwd editor — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:14:34 +0000

Are you curious about the real facts, figures and myths behind the medical condition, fibromyalgia? You can discover through the American College of Rheumatology some very interesting facts and figures about fibromyalgia and using any search engine you can find some very fascinating myths circulating online about fibromyalgia as well. In this article you can discover the facts, figures and myths debunked all in one convenient place.

Facts and Figures:

In America there are currently over 6 million individuals suffering from fibromyalgia of all ages. Basically, one in every 50 Americans you meet on the streets is suffering from fibromyalgia. Out of those suffering in America, 80% to 90% of them are women. This is why some refer to this as a “woman’s disease”.

Studies also show that when a woman is diagnosed with fibromyalgia there is a strong possibility that she had a family member that had also been diagnosed with the same condition. This study suggests that there is a genetic component to fibromyalgia.

Out of all the conditions categorized as “rheumatic ailments”, fibromyalgia was found to be second most common ailment with Osteoarthritis in the number one spot.

In 1999 a study conducted by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin diseases uncovered the fact that fibromyalgia is commonly diagnosed among women when they are of reproductive age often during pregnancy. The same study also discovered that 90% of fibromyalgia patients have some jaw or facial sensitivity, symptoms that mimic temporal mandible joint dysfunction (TMJD), which makes diagnosing fibromyalgia difficult.

The most common fibromyalgia symptom in those under age 50 is pain and of those who are older than 60 the most common symptoms of the condition is fatigue. Pain and fatigue are hallmark symptoms for those who suffer from fibromyalgia.

Myths Debunked:

Perhaps the most often discussed myth concerning fibromyalgia is whether or not it is “all in the heads of the sufferer”, as in being psychological only or whether it is indeed a illness at all. The myth debunked is that fibromyalgia is a complex condition that has symptoms similar to many other diseases and conditions, is difficult to diagnose and has many mysteries surrounding it but has very real physical characteristics that can be tested by rheumatologists and neurologists.

There is also a myth circulating that fibromyalgia is fatal if contracted. The myth debunked and the truth is like so many other chronic conditions the individual with fibromyalgia does not die of the condition but may in fact die of conditions that develop along the way but that the condition itself is not fatal. There are no studies with proof that fibromyalgia in any way shortens a person’s life expectancy.

Another myth is that those who develop fibromyalgia will incur lasting damage to the body. Debunking this myth is easy because fibromyalgia has been shown to be a chronic disease that has symptoms that do worsen but that it is not progressive in nature as in the body’s organs and tissues do not deteriorate with the presence of fibromyalgia. In fact, fibromyalgia is a common condition, with over 6 million Americans alone suffering from it and if it were a progressive disease you would be able to spot this large population more easily.

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Using The Journaling Method To Prevent Fibromyalgia Flare Ups

hwd editor — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:09:34 +0000

Incurable and chronic, fibromyalgia also is not progressive. Thus, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is more of less a determination of a new stage in life, and one with which the patient must learn to live. Initially, many patients fear the disease; in part this is done because of the anecdotal stories told by others who may have known of sufferers or simply recount their experiences with the illness. Eventually, patients with fibromyalgia recognize that they are as individual as their disease. There is no guaranteed way of living with fibromyalgia, and as much as patients would like to pigeonhole the various symptoms and also devise a certain cookie cutter way of dealing with flare ups, this is simply not possible.

Journaling has been found to be the most personal and also effective way of learning about fibromyalgia flare ups. Patients are urged to keep a daily journal and record each twinge and bit of pain they experience. This is then marked down with a time of day, activities immediately preceding the pain experience, and also the people involved in any interactions. Mind you, this kind of approach cannot actually help patients to deal with the pain, but it serves to recognize potential trigger factors, trigger events, and even trigger people.

Perhaps the biggest surprise first time fibromyalgia patients experience is the fact that people can be triggers of flare ups just as much as the likelihood of incurring stress. Sometimes they are not surprised at the people that seem to show up just before a painful fibromyalgia flare up, while at other times they are somewhat alarmed that it is a loved whom or a good friend who seems to so consistently be associated with fibromyalgia pain. In the case of the not so loved people, patients see their journaling efforts as somewhat of a permission to greatly curtail interactions, and in some cases to even end relationships and friendships. In the case of loved ones, however, patients with fibromyalgia must consider which portion of their interaction gives rise to the negative feelings that result in the flare up.

Sometimes it may be something as simple as unmet expectations the patient with fibromyalgia projects onto their loved one, even if they do not actually verbalize any such problems. Journaling, in this case, helps to not only identify triggers for fibromyalgia, bit it can also serve as a means of healing interpersonal relationships. Of course, the primary reason for any kind of journaling is the idea of identifying the way the patient’s body works, and how to optimize its inner workings with the help of nourishment, sleep, rest, exercise, stress reduction, and of course overall expectations.

Another sometimes surprising result of journaling is the realization that weather patterns are having a huge influence on the patient. It is possible for fibromyalgia to experience significant flare ups in damp weather, during cooling spells, and also during certain seasons. This has inspired a good many patients to move to Arizona, where there are the fewest weather changes, and avoid at least one set of trigger events.

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What Is It Like To Have A Child With Fibromyalgia

hwd editor — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:08:34 +0000

Out of the 5 million Americans with the condition fibromyalgia, one in six of them will be under the age of 18. When faced with a condition such as fibromyalgia at such a young age, a person can look forward to a lifetime of coping with a condition that will affect every aspect of life. It is especially important for children to be diagnosed early onset of symptoms so that medical professionals can assist the parents and child to cope with and manage the condition before the symptoms negatively impact the life of the child. Children who have one or more parents with fibromyalgia are more likely to receive early diagnosis because of the family history and awareness of the condition.

It can be difficult to arrive at the diagnosis of fibromyalgia especially because the diagnosis of fibromyalgia will not be expected. 85 to 90% of all fibromyalgia patients are women so doctors expect them to have the diagnosis not a child. Girls are more likely than boys to have fibromyalgia and the symptoms typically will start during puberty around ages 11 through 15. Kids diagnosed with fibromyalgia will usually have sleep difficulties in common. Parents should be careful to seek medical advice if they notice prolong sleep difficulties in their child, as this could be a clue that there may be some medical condition such as fibromyalgia causing the sleep disturbances.

Parents should be concerned and seek medical attention if a child:

* Reports feeling persistent pain

* Frequently complain of not getting enough sleep or reports being sleepy despite being in bed long enough

* Has frequent colds or other viral infections

* Is constantly complaining of being fatigued or not feeling well on a regular basis

* Common symptoms of fibromyalgia in children are pain, fatigue, and a general “not feeling well” complaint.

Treating children who have fibromyalgia:

Treatment plans for children with fibromyalgia focus on minimizing the symptoms and giving the child the best quality of life as possible. Studies show that children respond quickly to treatment, which is another reason why early diagnosis is important, why make a child suffer unnecessarily?

It is in some respects easier for a child to cope with the symptoms of fibromyalgia than it is for an adult to cope with the same symptoms. Children have a huge capacity for adjustment and the ability to manage as long as they are given information and shown what to do to minimize symptoms. It is even possible with early intervention and proper treatment that a child with fibromyalgia may be able to outgrow the symptoms.

Medication is an important part of treating the child with fibromyalgia in managing the symptoms on a day-to-day basis. Exercise and diet are also important components of the treatment plan. Mild exercise such as biking, swimming, stretching exercises, and walking are all good exercises for a child with fibromyalgia to participate in.

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Relating To Your Doctor And Other Specialists When You Have Fibromyalgia

hwd editor — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 02:30:34 +0000

The journey you take when you have fibromyalgia is filled with new faces, new treatments and many questions. You will come to know your medical team closely because you will need to schedule many routine appointments, as they will be monitoring your progress as you learn how to cope with fibromyalgia and how to manage the symptoms you have. Fibromyalgia is one of those conditions that do not stay the same but change with time. Your symptoms will change and so will your need for medical intervention. You will see your doctor and other specialists as well so getting to know new medical faces will become routine with you over the years. It is important that you trust your core medical team. The core medical team will consist of your doctor, a rheumatoid specialist, physical therapist or occupational therapists, and other health care professionals such as a registered dietician or nutritionist.

Stay Informed:

It will be up to you to soak in as much information as you can about your condition, fibromyalgia. The more informed you are the better prepared you will be when it comes to handling your symptoms. Make sure you ask your doctor about new treatments, new research and new medications. You and your doctor should be having an ongoing conversation about all the hot topics currently happening in the world of fibromyalgia. Your doctor will probably ask you to keep a journal that details your symptoms and the corresponding treatment for each symptom as well as recorded results for how you respond to those treatments. This information will be helpful for future treatments.

Keep Vital Information Current:

Make sure your contact information and medical history information sheet is kept current with your doctor including any medications or therapies that other medical team members put you on so that your primary doctor is aware of any treatments you are currently taking.

Be Ready for Doctor Appointments:

Come prepared to each doctor visit by bringing any questions you have, comments about treatments, and any medications that you are taking that may have changed since your last visit. Give your doctor a new list of all your current symptoms that include physical, mental and emotional symptoms so that your doctor can have a complete picture of how your condition is doing and how well your treatment plan is working and what if anything needs to be done to make your treatment plan the best it can be.

Make sure that you keep your doctor abreast of any changes in your treatment plan including any alternative therapies that you are currently doing or are thinking of trying. Make sure you have a description of any medication adverse reactions or side effects that you have experienced since your last visit. Give a detailed description of any medical visits you have had since seeing your doctor last just in case a report has not officially been received yet.

Make sure that you report in detail any new symptoms you have experienced since your last visit. Especially describe how these symptoms impact your life so that the doctor can make any necessary additions or adjustments to your treatment plan.

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Fibromyalgia Information For Patients

hwd editor — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 12:34:34 +0000

Patients dealing with the diagnosis of fibromyalgia require information so that they can deal with their condition on a daily basis. The information they need concerns what the symptoms are and what to expect about the treatment.

Fibromyalgia is a condition in which there are dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system and also dysfunction in the immune system. These systems are responsible for the symptoms associated with the condition. If the person is young the main symptom they will experience is usually pain, if the person is more than 60 years of age the main symptom they usually feel is fatigue. Other symptoms are sleeping disturbance, dizziness, nausea, morning stiffness, and some experience irritable bowel syndrome.

The patient may experience various symptoms that may be different from others who have the same condition. Those who are seniors may experience swelling and fatigue more so than pain. All ages and races can develop fibromyalgia. Women tend to develop fibromyalgia more than males. Women can even suffer from the affects of fibromyalgia as they go through the special time of pregnancy. Pregnancy has its own aches and pains that are compounded by the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that few understand and without understanding there is little compassion. Employers find it difficult to understand why an employee with fibromyalgia has difficulty finishing work on time because the employer does not understand the extreme fatigue that is part of the condition of fibromyalgia. The employer would be more compassionate if it were possible to feel the intense fatigue that the employee feels. Without understanding those with fibromyalgia often lose jobs because they are unable to function properly.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia. There is only treatment that relieves some of the symptoms. The treatments vary based on the specific symptoms the patient is feeling. Treatments combine medications with therapies and also alternative treatments. Patients also do well when they find and participate in support groups. These support groups give them a chance to share with others who suffer from the same condition.

Drug therapies include medications that help to reduce the intensity of the symptoms the patient is feeling so that they can function better. Therapies such as occupational or physical therapy helps patients to function better despite the stiffness and pain. Medications include muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines, growth hormone therapy, antidepressants, pain medications and sleeping pills.

Over-the-counter medications patients can take for symptoms are those for muscle aches, and chronic migraines. Pain relievers such as analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used. Over-the-counter pain relievers can have side effects that patients need to be aware of. Acetaminophen, a common pain reliever has the following side effects:

Fever, bleeding or bruising, lip or mouth sores and ulcers, a decrease in urination, skin rashes or hives, sharp, stabbing pain in the lower back, and severe, unexplained weakness. Review all these possible side effects with your doctor before taking any medication.

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Natural Fibromyalgia Pain Reduction

hwd editor — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:15:34 +0000

Patients suffering from fibromyalgia quite often feel that they are condemned to live a life in which pain is a major force. This may account for the horror newly diagnosed fibromyalgia patient experience when they first learn of the possible illness that is causing their sudden bouts of pain, tiredness, and of course associated malaise. It is crucial for such patients to understand that living with pain does not have to be an automatic reality for them. In the interest of full disclosure, it is true that fibromyalgia brings with it a host of unpleasant symptoms; at the same time, patients do have the option of leading near normal lives and getting back to enjoying themselves with the help of natural products.

Unlike pharmaceutical solutions to pain management, natural fibromyalgia pain reduction is devoid of the undesirable side effects which may build up over time. Depending on the severity of your bouts of fibromyalgia, you will be surprised to learn that in some cases dietary supplements and even low impact analgesics will not even be necessary!

* Probably the most powerful natural painkiller is the effective combination of diet and exercise. Do not be misled into thinking that fibromyalgia automatically makes any kind of exercise impossible! Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, working with your potential for pain, there are ways to focus on the overall health of your body and avoiding the onset of a secondary illness or disease simply by keeping a very watchful eye on what you eat and working out. The natural endorphins released during adequate exercise work to counteract pain, promote a bodily sense of wellbeing, and overall also help counteract little aches and pains you may have to put up.

* Find an osteopath who can recommend a personal trainer well acquainted with fibromyalgia and patients who suffer with the disease. Such trainers may help you create the perfect workout that is adaptable to take into account the daily ups and downs of the illness, as well as the occasional fibromyalgia flare ups.

* The next appointment should be with a registered dietician to get help changing your dietetic intake and make it fit to your condition. In some cases the dietician will have information that can point you in the right direction to nutritional supplements that have the power to help counteract the symptoms of fibromyalgia most effectively.

It is important to remember that natural pain relief is not the same as a cure for fibromyalgia. Sadly, thus far there is no cure for the disease but only means for making sufferers feel more comfortable and enable them to live with the disease rather than letting it get the better of them. Another caveat with respect to herbal remedies and dietary supplements demands that prior to purchase, but at least before actually taking them, you discuss their use with your doctor first, and ask her or him to aggressively take a role in the management of your fibromyalgia without the reliance on over the counter medications.

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Is It Safe To Use Painkillers For Fibromyalgia

hwd editor — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:43:34 +0000

What differentiates the symptoms of fibromyalgia from virtually any other disease is the intertwined relationship between pain and fatigue. Within this framework, pain is commonly considered to be most debilitating aspect of the illness known as fibromyalgia. Most patients relate that if it were not for the throbbing pain, they could muster up the strength to push through the fatigue and work on energy conservation with the help of nutritional supplementation as well as targeted exercises.

Unfortunately, even the most solid vows to be different from other fibromyalgia sufferers and not let pain and tiredness ruin their lives goes by the wayside as the condition wears on, and the overall ability to push through and continue leading a normal life is greatly curtailed. To counteract these debilitations, physicians more often than not recommend the use of over the counter painkillers and also prescription drugs that are supposed to do away with the pains.

Unfortunately, the hazard of over the counter painkillers for fibromyalgia is causing sufferers to think twice before reaching for the package. Is it really safe to use painkillers for fibromyalgia?

* Aside from the condition known as fibromyalgia, the overall use of painkillers is one that is steeped in controversy. Granted, they will at least for the short term serve at limiting the pain associated with fibromyalgia, but the problem becomes obvious when you take a close look at the ingredients, drug interactions, and potential long term effects. Seeing warnings of potential for liver and kidney damage has now become par for the course, and it is not unheard of to have these drugs greatly restricted for anyone using alcohol.

* Another problem associated with over the counter painkillers are the ancillary ingredients that aid in the removal of pain, namely caffeine. Sure, the caffeine laced pain medication offers a bit of an energy helper to the fatigued fibromyalgia sufferer, but it also sets them up for the inevitable crash that comes from the use of this substance. Some patients report getting jittery, while others may notice that their stomachs responded to the drugs with extreme queasiness. Anyone who is particularly susceptible to the effects of caffeine may also experience an irregular heartbeat.

* On the other end of the painkiller ancillary ingredients list are the histamines. They are designed to help those feeling pain to sleep. A sufferer from fibromyalgia already contends with tiredness and fatigue, and these painkillers may actually have a bit of carryover, making the patient even more tired the following day. This is due to the fact that the sleep inducing substances are not purged from the fibromyalgia sufferer’s body at the same rate as they might be from the body of an individual who simply relied on the temporary sleep aid for a minor ache or pain.

This goes to show that while the use of painkillers during the treatment of bouts of fibromyalgia may indeed provide the desired pain lessening effect, the side effects are by far too extreme to warrant long term use.

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Understanding The Incapacitating Effect Of Fibromyalgia

hwd editor — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:02:34 +0000

What is fibromyalgia, if not the most likely condition to incapacitate the human body? Ask any sufferer of fibromyalgia and the tales of woe can be staggering. Patients suffering from this illness may present with incredible pain, even though physically there is nothing that points to a cause for this pain. They feel virtually permanently zapped of any energy, but at the same time there is no physical indicator why they should be so run down all the time. Their nutritional intake is excellent, there are not vitamin deficiencies, and patients with fibromyalgia also do not take any medications that could be to blame for this kind of rather severe and oft unexpected incapacitation.

Moreover, at times patients who experience fibromyalgia that is triggered by certain occasions or events cannot even point to a particularly stressful, demanding or even high impact job that may be to blame and subsequently left behind for a reversal of the condition. As fibromyalgia continues to take hold, the combination of pain and weariness makes everyday chores hard – or virtually impossible to continue — and it is only a matter of time until a certain level of nervousness sets in that there is no way a patient can continue to function in a normal manner within the family unit. It is inevitable that the soreness caused by fibromyalgia is the most devastating factor of the disease.

It usually pushes patients suffering with the disease from participating in a host of previously enjoyable activities. Such hobbies and outings include hands-on tasks, like gardening, planting, painting, writing, or even tinkering. At times the incapacitating pain brought on by fibromyalgia so severe that patients become forced to stay inside, become afraid to venture out of doors, and might even resign themselves to lounge on the couch or stay in bed, lest their activities give them any more pain and suffering than they are already encountering.

Incapacitation from fibromyalgia is of course a double edged sword and while the pain – or even just the fear of pain – is enough to debilitate the patient, the tiredness that goes hand in hand with this soreness serves to further heighten the debilitating aspects of the disease. In many cases patients find the fatigue worse than the pain. The former may be combated with painkillers or even holistic relaxation and acupuncture treatments; the latter, however, defies prescriptions and oftentimes also dietary supplements. Going outside and taking a part in some much loved outdoor activities becomes an exception, rather than the norm.

The overwhelming sense of tiredness brought on by fibromyalgia slows down patients to such an extent that it takes a lot of discipline and indomitable makeup to not utterly give up on a variety of activities and even the most basic household chores. This is amplified when the fibromyalgia sufferer lives alone and does not have a good support network to help out. More often than not personal hygiene goes by the wayside, and even previously meticulous housekeepers turn into sloppy – at best – homemakers.

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Women And The Condition Known As Fibromyalgia

hwd editor — Thu, 06 May 2010 11:14:34 +0000

The condition known as fibromyalgia places a significant role in the life of a woman afflicted with it. The affects of the condition can be serious and can impact her reproductive health including her ability to become pregnant and also follow and affect her through the years including producing PMS symptoms and affect her during menopause. There are many affects fibromyalgia can have on her health that she should be aware of and prepare for in order to improve her quality of life.

Did you know that 85 to 90% of all patients with fibromyalgia are women? Researchers and scientists are not sure why there is such an imbalance regarding sexual statistics for the condition.

There are many affects that fibromyalgia has on a woman’s health including reproductive health, pregnancy, PMS, and also during menopause. Women who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia have been shown in studies to have a higher occurrence of dysmenorrhea and breast cysts than women who do not have fibromyalgia. A woman with fibromyalgia is more likely to have an issue with libido than other women.

When a woman with fibromyalgia becomes pregnant she is more likely to suffer from severe pregnancy symptoms including increased intensity of pain, fatigue and stiffness than pregnant women who do not have fibromyalgia.

During her reproductive years a woman with fibromyalgia is more likely to have severe premenstrual syndrome symptoms (PMS) including severe headaches, back pain, abdominal cramping and insomnia. While in the midst of their menstrual cycle women with fibromyalgia are also more likely to experience emotional upset or mental confusion.

When a woman with fibromyalgia goes through menopause (age 40 – 55), she is more likely to see a drastic decrease in her estrogen levels and a decrease in her cortisol levels which will give her the symptoms of menopause to a greater intensity such as anxiety, depression and sleep related disturbances.

Women because they are often the caregivers in families will usually put off seeking medical care until the symptoms interfere with daily tasks and become more noticeable such as when the aches and pains progress to include muscle strength and movement interference. Women are more likely to seek out medical advice though especially if they can see that their symptoms are not improving.

Women will be sensitive to the flares associated with the condition. One day the symptoms will be minimized and the next day the symptoms will be aggravated by triggers such as alcohol consumption, insomnia, or overexertion.

Women tend to be more in tune with how the body works and may be more aware of subtle changes in how their body parts respond to physical demands more so than men might and therefore may be more likely to receive the diagnosis earlier than their male counterparts.

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Alternative Therapies To Complement Traditional Treatment In Fibromyalgia

hwd editor — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:21:34 +0000

Alternative therapies are complementary medicine or alternative methods and techniques that are different from traditional medicine that is used to treat or relieve symptoms of illness, and conditions such as fibromyalgia. Many alternative therapies are used in addition to traditional treatments or are added to treatment plans in which, traditional medicine has the “starring role” in the treatment of the individual. Most often, patients seek alternative therapies because they do not want medications or surgeries. Sometimes alternative therapies are suggested by the patient and sometimes by the doctor. Sometimes they are turned to when traditional medicine is not working. Alternative therapies have the benefit of not including pharmaceutical medications or surgery and therefore have fewer side effects or undesirable consequences attached to their usage. This is the main reason why alternative therapies are so attractive and popular to patients and to some doctors.

In the treatment of fibromyalgia there are several alternative therapies that are commonly used to relieve the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. These alternative therapies include using herbal remedies, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, massage therapy, aromatherapy, biofeedback, cupping and reflexology, neurofeedback, acupuncture and acupressure. Osteopathic practicioners or pain specialist in the course of treatment may treat the patient.

Other therapies that may be suggested as part of your treatment plan based on individual symptoms you may be having are light therapy, magnet therapy, craniosacral therapy, and a digestive system cleanse.

Herbal remedies are chosen based on your specific symptoms are natural herb, berry, bark or seed sources. Herbal remedies have been used by different cultures over centuries with some using herbal remedies as their prime source for healing conditions and diseases. Herbal remedies are popular because they have fewer side effects than traditional pharmaceuticals, have a lower cost, and one herbal remedy can work for a wide range of symptoms making it even more cost effective. Herbal remedies are a natural way to heal your body. Glucosamine and chondroitin are used to heal fibromyalgia symptoms.

Massage therapy is used to treat physical and psychological complaints and is a hands-on treatment that is very popular by those who suffer from symptoms that center around the sensation of pain. It can also relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety. Massage therapy can also make use of hot and cold therapies during a massage session. These therapies are used to increase blood flow and to relax muscles.

Aromatherapy has many benefits including psychological and physiological and involves the patient inhaling essential oils or applying them directly to the skin. Essential oils are extracted from plants including the flowers, seeds, bark and roots.

Biofeedback may be something new to you. It involves reducing the effect symptoms have on you by way of using your own inner power. Biofeedback therapy is done using a machine that records electrical impulses that are emitted by your body. The impulses are in the form of brainwaves, muscle twitches, and body temperature and then it feeds back these impulses to you by beeps and lights. Your body relaxes as the number of feedback “beeps and lights” is decreased. Biofeedback is used to reduce chronic pain, and fatigue for those who suffer from fibromyalgia.

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