A detailed guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), including its symptoms, causes, and effective treatment strategies to improve energy and well-being.
It’s 7:30 p.m. on a Friday night, and I’m in bed. With my husband and dogs right beside me. Nothing new here, and honestly, most of our friends are probably doing the same thing, but I really wouldn’t know.
It wasn’t the diagnosis, or even the pain really, that caused me to start avoiding party invites and happy hour texts from my girlfriends. I don’t really remember when I started drifting so far away, but I have recently realized that I miss my friends. And my sisters and brothers. And my former colleagues. I miss talking to people. I truly miss laughing out loud with my girlfriends. I even miss seeing how handsome and stunning my husband is when he’s in a crowd.
But, as for my friends and our families that we rarely see anymore, I do wonder what they think. I assume they think my husband and I (married three years in December) are still in the honeymoon phase, that our kids keep us very busy, or they may not think twice about it. But, I bet they haven’t thought for a second that I have avoided pretty much every opportunity to see them that there has been the last couple of years.
I’ve canceled or just not shown up, I’ve postponed or used my typical, “maybe,” or, “probably,” responses, which they’ve all figured out is the same as a “no.” And, when I have made it to dinner or lunch, I had probably been a nervous wreck and even considered canceling the day before.
The truth is that I’m not a good faker anymore. I hurt. More often than not lately, I hurt. Something always hurts. And, because I’m not great at pretending like I feel great these days, I’ve made the choice to let everyone I love think that I’m just really busy and head over heels in love and that they are the ones that don’t fit into my schedule anymore. And, that’s not true at all… so far from true.
I feel stuck, and I’ve never been comfortable admitting it until now. I don’t want to pretend that I am just fine anymore. But, I don’t want to moan and groan, or for people to worry or feel sorry or pity me. I don’t want to overpower the conversation when someone asks how I’ve been feeling, because I could talk all night. But, geez, I really do want to talk sometimes.
In all honestly, I have always been the person in my many circles that organized the get-togethers, ensured the girl’s free drinks from the bars that we would close down, and throw my nieces and nephews the best Christmas parties ever.
And, it sucks not being able to be that person anymore. It sucks to not even have the energy to go to dinner, let alone host one. Fibro sucks. So, if I’m being honest, I don’t feel like my old self at all. And, I guess I’m a little afraid that my friends and family may not enjoy my company anymore, that I may not be as funny as they expect me to be, or as good at conversation as I once was. I definitely won’t close the bar down if I even make it. But, I guess I should tell them that. Because, as I write this I’ve realized that if I was them, I’d want to know.
So, here it goes. I miss you, all of you. And, I’m sorry for the excuses. Instead of reaching out to you when I’ve needed you most, I’ve hidden from you and even lied to you. I’m sorry. And, if I am ever going to find myself again, I need you. So, from now on, I’ll be honest and tell you when I just don’t feel like putting a bra on to leave the house. And, maybe instead of canceling or postponing, you can just stop by. I’d love to see you. I would really love that.
I didn’t ask for this and believe me, I don’t want it. I know you roll your eyes, even when you try and hide it. I know you think I’m exaggerating or being dramatic. But this is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
You’re used to seeing me work and cook, clean, walk, go shopping, and even out with friends. I don’t often complain because if I complained every time I was in pain, I would have nothing else to say. If I’m complaining, just know it must be really severe.
But the truth is, I’m living a double life. I do all these things with a smile on my face because I have no choice. The only other option would be to wallow in bed and watch life pass me by. You see me take my pain meds and wonder if I’m addicted.
I take my pain meds and wonder how I will function if they are taken from me. I don’t get high, I get normal. I take those meds to feel as good as you feel when you have a cold. They are the reason I can work, cook and do all the other things you see me doing every day.
The truth is, I’m so sick of the relentless pain that I cry when you’re not looking. I wake up in the night writhing in pain while you’re sleeping. I clench my teeth when you ask me to do something physically daunting while you don’t even give it a second thought. I do 100 things a day that you don’t notice because I hide it. I hide my pain, I hide my fatigue, I hide my guilt and frustration.
The truth is, I watch you and wonder what it’s like to feel like that – to be able to do all these things without pain and fatigue. Sometimes I want to break down and scream and cry. Sometimes I get so angry I want to smash everything around me. Sometimes I wonder if I can keep going like this.
But the part that’s worse than the pain? Knowing you probably don’t believe me. Knowing that no matter how much I try and tell you, you just won’t understand. So, I keep it to myself and even when I’m surrounded by people, I’m still alone with my pain.
I’m not helpless. I don’t want you to feel bad for me. I don’t want special treatment. All I want is some empathy. Don’t get mad at me when I can’t do something. Don’t get frustrated when I can’t go somewhere. Don’t judge me when I take my meds. Don’t think I’m lazy when I sleep more often (especially since I haven’t slept the past four nights). Please just don’t make me feel guilty for having this disease.
Even if you don’t, just say, “I understand.” That’s all I want.
To the man who stayed in my life when I asked him to leave. And today we are together since 18 years of marriage. I really don’t know how that happened. Sometimes it feels like we are the same as we were 25 years old. Sometimes it feels like we are like a team that unifies together.
But today, since these 18 years we stand by in front of family and friends and made a vow to love and cherish “in good times and bad, in sickness and in health.” “In sickness and in health”. Reminding these words gives me a feeling that the past 20 years have entailed more sickness than health.
I was not the person who thought I would get my happily ever after. Maybe this was meant for other people or novels with fairytales etc. I remember all the things like when you entered into my life and see the beauty behind my flaws. It is such an amazing feeling when you trust someone so badly after you have hurt so much. Some doubts that let you awake all night, some thoughts, and then I started to have strange symptoms.
Firstly, I got Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which was supposed to be a lifetime medication because my body was attacking itself (it was the first of many daily meds). this was an addition to the joint inflammation, hair loss, fever, fatigue, stomach problems, and consistent infections. I was in my 20s and felt like a senior. I used to hide problems in front of you and you always get them. You canceled all the plans when I wasn’t fine and say, “we will stay at home and watch a movie:” and that became our weekend routine. All gone like a hell.
Time passed and the mornings were like going to a doctor’s appointment to deal with the new symptoms and ended up calling 911 for the hospital. My limbs were not working. It was the first time anyone said a new term that is “CNS lupus”. All the things went so seriously. My future became risky as my brain was not being in control and something was attacking my brain.
I still remember that time when I was all on the machines, that beeps, the sounds, the smells, everything was scary. All I wanted was to set you free and give you a life of freedom. You didn’t deserve a life of just being a caregiver. You were just 24 and there was a life that will brighten up your future. You didn’t have to spend a life with someone whose future is at stake. We were just engaged at that time.
You refused to leave me and I failed to count the power of your love. You told me that you were staying with me ever after. You took me to the bathroom and gently washed my hair. And you did every single thing.
It really very hard to be with someone who is chronically ill. There are days when you cooked for me, being my nurse, my dad, my mom, my therapist, and a zookeeper. You are like a gum stick that holds the family together. Whenever I feel, you pick me up. You got me to the land of reality. You always set me right when I acted like a stubborn lady.
There were nights when it’s you who helped me and took me to bed. Too many nights were there when you were alone missing out on the old you since we were in bed at 9:00 p.m. there were nights when you didn’t sleep because of me just to check if I am okay. There were times when you missed every get-together, event for me because I was in the hospital and you stayed there with me. You supported our kids and advocated for me.
I am not the one who is easiest to live with. Yes, I have admitted it. I am a difficult person and stubborn at the same time. I get moody due to steroids. My weight fluctuates and still, you always look at me with love. These medications always made me feel like a useless person but you always tell me how valuable I am.
I don’t know where the future will take us. All I know is you are with me in this crazy adventure. And I am thankful for you that you didn’t listen to me and didn’t run.
The pain that remains consistent for almost three to six months is commonly known as chronicpain. This is a very common pain. Chronic pain affects millions of people every year. The pain affects various parts of the body like joints, head, back, or shoulders.
The pain can have various patterns; sometimes a person can have various shapes of the pain and at times the pain exists in a similar manner. This random pattern makes it difficult to diagnose.
We should have sound knowledge about various types and forms of chronic pain.
The nerves that are in charge of the brain for perceiving various sensations, including pain are called nociceptors, the pain caused by them is called nociceptive pain. While neuropathic chronic pain is usually caused by a malfunction of the nervous system. The nociceptive chronic pain can be superficial, deep somatic, and intuitive. On the other hand, neuropathic pains are tangential or central.
The root causes of Fibromyalgia are still unknown after a lot of research and study. There are multiple documentations on its causes but it’s still unclear whether to categorize it as nociceptive or neuropathic pain.
The disorder is caused by an imbalance of the chemicals in the human brain which affects the pain perceiving the process of the brain in a dysfunctional way. This is so far the most accepted theory about this syndrome.
The conditions are responsible for causing these imbalances are still a mystery. Somehow fibromyalgia is related to neuropathic chronic pains because most of the studies and research relate it to the physical or emotional stress or injuries suffered by the patients.
The former slowly deteriorate the cartilages of the joints while the second one causes the lining of the joints to inflame and then destroys them.
Pain, stiffness, warmth, and redness in the joints are the typical symptoms of the disorder. As the pain in joints is one of its symptoms so it is also sometimes mistaken with fibromyalgia. A complete and thorough analysis will easily clarify that which chronic pain-related medical condition is present.
This type of Arthritis that can cause muscle pain in two or more areas of the body at the same time is called Polymyalgia Rheumatica. The pain and stiffness in the shoulders, neck, upper arms, thighs, and buttocks, as well as limited range of motions, fatigue, loss of appetite, depression, weight loss, and even fever, are symptoms a person can face who is affected by this disorder. People older than 50 years have less probability for this disorder. Again due to similar symptoms it is mistaken with fibromyalgia sometimes.
One of the most painful long-term syndromes that can exist is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and it has two types. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is caused by some sort of illness or injury that has not affected the working of the brain directly. It is caused by injuries that have directly affected the nerves.
A very high level of persistent pain, swelling in certain affected areas, sensitivity to extreme temperatures, changes in the temperature of the skin, atrophy of the muscles, and stiffness in the joints are the typical symptoms of this medical condition.
The causes of this disorder are not properly identified. The abnormality in the movements of the intestines is the overall knowledge that is known about this defect. The usage of foods such as dairy products, soda, certain fruits and vegetables, and coffee may act as promoters in such medical conditions.
Stress is another vital cause that develops the conditions which lead to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The most significant symptoms of this disorder are diarrhea, urination problems, severe stomach aches, fatigue, anxiety, sleeping issues, bloating, backache, headaches, and unpleasant taste in the mouth. Its symptoms are similar to that of fibromyalgia so due to the overlap of the symptoms, it is mistaken with fibromyalgia.
There are various disorders that are characterized by chronic pain. Due to the similarity in most of their symptoms, it becomes difficult for specialists to diagnose the problem. When you get a feeling of any of the symptoms, consult the doctor as soon as possible in order to properly start the treatment after a clear diagnosis.
It is an anti-depressant that helps in regulating serotonin production and reuptake. This medication helps in an uplifting mood, counteracts pain, and restores normal sleep patterns by increasing the concentration of usable serotonin. Both depression and anxiety symptoms are alleviated by this medicine.
Researchers show that trazodone helps in improving cognitive rationality and functioning, enhancing the quality of sleep, and reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Of course, there are some side effects as well.
Clinical studies and researchers have shown that like other anti-depressants that are available in the market, trazodone is also effective. Of course, some side effects have also been mentioned in the studies.
Constipation and glaucoma are treated by this unmatched ability of Trazodone. Trazodone doesn’t make anticholinergic reactions like other medications, that is why it shows effectiveness in treating these conditions.
Sedative effects are also produced by Trazodone, which distinctly reduces agitation, anxiety, and sleeps deprivation symptoms. These sedative effects make fibromyalgia patients in trouble who experience chronic fatigue and lethargy.
Moreover, cardiac arrhythmias are the confirmed side effect. People with and without pre-existing heart conditions have experienced this side effect.
Priapism is another rarely observed but very serious side effect. This side effect makes the male penis not retreat from its erect state for almost 4 hours. As it is a rare condition, but it does indicate some concern among men with fibromyalgia. Treating this condition generally has a high risk for this side effect.
There is a need to take some precautionary measures, as it has some side effects. An individual can take a smaller dosage if he is highly sensitive to trazodone.
As youth combines trazodone with other anti-depressants, the warning signs given by researchers should be noted by doctors and parents i.e. suicidal tendencies among youth. Early interventions and precautionary measures are critical in suicidal thought processes.
For safety purposes, this medicine should be taken in small doses by both suicidal depressed children and adults. There are a lot of anti-depressants that induce an unresponsive mental state due to which suicide thoughts increases. The rare incidence of seizures is another serious side effect.
Trazodone is safer in overdoses as compared to some other anti-depressants. Moreover, usually, people less surrender to this medicine overdose, as its toxicity levels are mild. But in some cases, the toxicity levels are spiked in the bloodstream and lower the blood pressure when it is consumed in excess. There is a worst-case report ever that says, the blockage in the atrioventricular region of the heart was developed in a patient and several organ systems got failed with it.
There is an interaction between trazodone and a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. This enzyme has responsibility for metabolic processes that activate trazodone. The concentration of trazodone increases severely in the bloodstream when there is some enzyme hindrance in some way. The effects of CYP3A4 suppresses by specific foods, herbs, and medication, which might be harmful. Grapefruit taken in large quantity can be one of these foods.
Doctors advise patients not to combine Trazodone with other medications. In some cases, the potency of alcohol, depressants, and barbiturates in the bloodstream increases with trazodone. Due to this, fatigue and scattered thinking induce. The digoxin and phenytoin levels spike in those patients who take trazodone with other medications. More research should be done in the field of trazodone and its impact on aesthetics.
Where there are benefits of trazodone, there are a few risk factors for it as well. So, before taking this medication, patients should thoroughly check both risks and benefits.
If a patient found it to be ill-suited for himself, he should take another anti-depressant as a solution. Fortunately, there are so many ways for recovery and patients can adopt different medications for treatment.
The risk of developing tachycardia, arrhythmia, and severe fatigue increases due to fibromyalgia in a lot of cases. If you have a history of suicidal thoughts or tendencies, you should consult your doctor for alternative medication. There are some additional treatments that include sleep aids, muscle relaxers, anticonvulsants, and steroid injections.
There are a lot of patients who have enhanced or replaced traditional therapies with homeopathic medications. One of the most useful methods is physical therapy, as it helps in aiding mobility and range of motion.
Moreover, energy blockages can be removed by massage and it promotes Qi flow, soothes trigger points. Muscle tension and pain are also reduced by massage. For fibromyalgia treatment, deep tissue massage, trigger point massage, and Shiatsu massage are well known. Shiatsu massage helps in interacting directly with nerve pathways in the central nervous system.
When some overwhelming risks occur in a patient’s health due to trazodone, biofeedback and acupuncture prove effective for treatment. Pain is relieved and chances of recovery are high.
It is also advised to fibromyalgia patients that they need to limit their diet by avoiding sugar, junk food, fats, etc. sugar and caffeine are the most devastating stimulants for fibromyalgia patients. So, there are some other options other than trazodone.
Fibromyalgia is a mystery that consists of a lot of symptoms and it seems like it is impossible to solve this mystery, especially when researchers haven’t found the root cause and cure of this illness.
There are a lot of doctors who do not admit this syndrome existence. It is true that people who are having this syndrome have to live their life with this syndrome. We cannot stop the occurrence of fibromyalgia till now.
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome whose main symptom is widespread pain. Along with this pain, people with fibromyalgia suffer from many other symptoms as well.
Some other symptoms include nausea, lack of focus, memory loss, arthritis and joint pain, depression, vomiting, sensitivity to light, odors, medication and noise, sensitivity to certain kinds of food, stiffness, numbness, tingling sensation, sleep problems, jaw sensitivity, food sensitivities, digestive issues, irritable bladder and reduced tolerance to exercising.
The major question that still doesn’t have an answer is what actually causes fibromyalgia. Although we have reached a very high level in research and technology the truth is still we don’t know about the actual root cause of fibromyalgia.
Some researchers believe that fibromyalgia can be caused by genetics, as many people have this disease in the family and doctors have detected certain polymorph genes in the bodies of fibromyalgia patients. But also, it cannot be the only cause of fibromyalgia because the same gene can be responsible for many other diseases as well. Some diseases can be similar to fibromyalgia.
Some other explanations are also there for fibromyalgia-like stress, low quality sleep, and dysfunction of nerve cells that worsen the pain in the brain. And yet, there is no explanation which is for sure a cause. Until we find the cause and cure it, all we have is to treat every symptom separately and manage the condition while never losing hope.
Fibromyalgia patients have to suffer a lot because sometimes it is difficult for them to even perform routine activities. There are some people who have openly told us the stories of how they are living a dreadful life with this illness.
Even, there are some celebrities like Morgan Freeman, who accepted openly that he is suffering from this condition. Life feels like a long string of devastating days with fibromyalgia. Sometimes people lose hope and get into an endless string from which they cannot come out.
Fibromyalgia is not something that you can treat without any concern from doctors. If you feel like you are having chronic pain for a very long time, or you have some severe symptoms; you should consult a doctor to check whether you have fibromyalgia or not.
Various forms of pain have been treated effectively from laser therapy including fibromyalgia. Although chronic pain is not cured of its studies have shown that pain due to fibromyalgia can be alleviated by this laser therapy.
Eve, this deep tissue laser therapy has been approved as a complementary therapy by FDA in the US of America. This therapy can help in managing various chronic pain conditions.
Laser therapy is effective for those who want some alternative prescription therapies. You will feel a relaxing type of warmness and will feel no pain during this treatment. This treatment lasts for a maximum of 10 minutes and you will feel an immediate difference in your first results.
However, make sure that you are choosing a facility where equipment has more efficiency and where well-trained people are available if you want to go for this therapy.
There are several types of medications approved by the FDA. 3 drugs have been approved by FDA i.e. Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella. Since the beginning, Savella is the only drug that is approved for fibromyalgia treatment. The rest of the drugs were used to treat other conditions previously.
Moreover, fibromyalgia symptoms can be lessened by physical therapies and exercising also. It is proved that more endorphins are released in the body and due to this pain is alleviated.
Naltrexone is a medication that is used to help former narcotics, those who stopped using narcotics to remain drug-free. Naltrexone is also used by people addicted to alcohol to stay alcohol-free. Recent studies have shown that it also works with endorphin levels and has the power to release pain, fatigue, and stress in fibromyalgia patients.
There are some other alternative therapies for fibromyalgia patients like meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, acupuncture, etc. all these therapies help in alleviating pain and making the person relaxed.
Arthritis is considered one of the most common diseases related to bones. The statistic shows that more than 50 million Americans in the US suffer from some form of arthritis. Yet, this disease is somehow, still a mystery.
Like arthritis, fibromyalgia is not so common but around 5 million Americans are suffering from it. But fibromyalgia is so much similar to arthritis that it gets difficult to diagnose fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia and arthritis both are mysterious and can affect one’s life so much that the person feels hard to do daily activities.
Arthritis is a disease in which joints get inflamed and painful. It is believed that 100 forms of arthritis are present and osteoarthritis is considered to be the common one. More quite common forms are rheumatoid arthritis and also gout, psoriatic arthritis, and septic arthritis.
People show joint pain as a symptom of it which becomes so persistent and confined. The developing of stiffness and swelling of joints occur too. Moreover, some other symptoms like poor sleeping, tenderness, muscle aches, malaise, unable to use hands or feet properly, and much more appear too.
Different things cause different forms of arthritis. For instance, the natural wear and tear of joints cause osteoarthritis which is the reason for appearing later on in life. Infection in the joint causes septic arthritis. However, it is difficult to explain rheumatoid arthritis in the real sense of the word.
As rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease so it develops without any actual reason. When there is a virus in the body or an infection that needs to be eliminated, the body’s immune cells are created. However, the body’s immune cells start to attack healthy tissues in case of an autoimmune disease. These immune cells start to attack the joints in various body parts without having any reason, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis.
There is no cure for arthritis but yes it can have treatments. Paracetamol is prescribed in osteoarthritis and ibuprofen in rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors start prescribing other medications as well when these less harmful drugs cannot perform their job anymore.
Moreover, physical therapy is good for patients with arthritis, as it helps to lessen the pain and stiffness. Some other therapies which are believed to perform well are also used in arthritis-like Tai Chi, Yoga, acupuncture, and other eastern practices.
Weigh loss and constant exercise can lead you towards a healthy lifestyle. It can turn one’s life from pain to a normal life. There are a lot of patients who are managing their life successfully with arthritis.
If things are clear for arthritis (except for rheumatoid arthritis), fibromyalgia makes everything complicated. Fibromyalgia is considered to be a syndrome and not a disease, so there are a lot of symptoms of fibromyalgia, some of which become the worst types. Chronic widespread pain is the major symptom that fibromyalgia patients show. You should keep in mind that like arthritis, fibromyalgia is not localized.
Fibromyalgia brings a lot of symptoms other than pain that includes sleeping issues, anxiety, depression, headaches, stiffness, bowels problems, swelling, joint pain (and even arthritis as a co-morbid condition), bladder problems, cognitive issues (fibro fog), and many more symptoms that can be unbearable for pain.
It is so much difficult to put the right diagnosis as there are a lot of symptoms. While it is easy to diagnose arthritis with some tests, fibromyalgia is usually diagnosed by identifying a series of 18 tender points, examining the symptoms, and ruling out the other medical conditions as well. Fibromyalgia can be spotted out by only one kind of test but this test is out of range for many people due to its cost and many insurance companies haven’t covered it yet.
Moreover, it is so much difficult to explain or find fibromyalgia causes. A lot of researchers have put theories about the causes of fibromyalgia but these theories seem like putting forth the risk factors instead of causes that lead towards fibromyalgia.
There are a lot of things that seem to play a role in developing fibromyalgia-like poor sleeping patterns, chemical imbalances, depression, genetics, and lack of proper functioning of pain neurotransmitters. But, there is no one who can tell for sure which one of these actually causes fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia and arthritis have some similarities but their nature is totally different. Both of them run in family and are enigmatic to some extent. Both of them do not have any cure but they do have treatments with medications and therapies etc. however, you should need to know that fibromyalgia treatment frequently goes beyond pain medications and that FDA-approved drugs are prescribed to patients for the treatment which are alike to anti-depressants.
It is important to differentiate between fibromyalgia and arthritis. Both of these conditions could get better from exercises, therapies, home remedies, and alternative practices. Fibromyalgia may need different drugs than arthritis if we talk about medications. Make sure which condition you are having and take adequate treatment for that. It can help you in living a happier and normal life.
Empirical evidence dominate western cultures. It means that we don’t believe it to be real if we can’t see it, touch it, taste it, hear it or smell it. We have separated the mind from the body both medically and philosophically so distinctly that the concept of dealing with the intangible illnesses (either in a physical form of pain or emotional anguish) becomes a trouble instead of a compassion. When you are dealing with fibromyalgia, it is easy for you to get frustrated with the friends who are not capable of understanding the extent of your overwhelming pain and energy loss.
A distressing fear is there that you will say too much about your symptoms or pain that it will potentially push away colleagues or casual friends. It is also concerning that sometimes even your close friends get tired of hearing about symptoms and pain that you are having. It also happens that you would have to cancel all the plans for tomorrow that you have made when you felt great because you may not be able to get out of the bed in the morning and would have to cancel the plan with your friends again for like third time in a row.
So what do we need to do? Dr. Elena V. Gonzales, a clinical psychologist, in a candid piece published by National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association says, “We can allow chronic pain to teach us how to be a better friend or allow it to isolate and limit our friendship”. She also adds, “The experience of chronic pain teaches us lessons of the importance of understanding, caring and compassion in relationships. It is important to both be able to give and to receive these gifts of friendship.”
When your friends lack a clear understanding of fibromyalgia and feel annoyed by your chronic pain and fatigue, just keep in mind that our culture has taught them to be that way. Thus, an opportunity is there for you to show them compassion. Let’s face it. You control the only one thing in a relationship and that is yourself. You can’t just force the other person to understand or have compassion, but you can make yourself understand and can be responsible for yourself. There are many things that you are dealing with, so why heap on more responsibility for others?
Many of us have a friend who is living the life of a true extrovert, who is always traveling, planning parties and attending all the major social scenes. These kinds of friends may seem like a positive person and friendly, but they may also be the least likely to understand chronic pain and fatigue. Dr. Gonzales encourages those people who are having fibromyalgia and gradually educate friends who are unable to understand the limitations that are required due to fibromyalgia or even unable to participate in normal activities with friends and family. So, acting as a part of gradual instruction, you are also supposed to mention the way this chronic pain deprives you or your sense of well-being, thus taking an extensive emotional clang on you as well.
Up till now, you might be thinking why even bother with friends? Why even care? Because these friendships bring comfort and this comfort results in healing, and the people who need this healing are the ones who have this chronic pain. Dr. Gonzales has also added, “ Friends can’t take the pain away but they can hear you out and respond with validation and comfort for the losses you are experiencing.”
Let’s know one thing. Some friends are there with whom it is simply a burden or too much work to maintain a friendship. They are not accepting their responsibilities and continuously rely on you to make them happy and contented. Of course, this case also happens with most of the people whether they have fibromyalgia or not. So, you may have to let go of some of those fair-weather friends and that is completely fine. You have this right and you can do it without any guilt. Moreover, excluding those friends may help in getting you deep into your existing relationships as well as giving you time for your health.
The most important takeout here is that when it comes to relationships, you have to allow yourself to be responsible for you alone. Yes, that sounds mean as you think. This is really nor selfish to take care of yourself and allowing yourself guilt-free permissions to do such things, as all these things can help you in sustaining long-term friendships that are important to health. Just be a friend of yourselves and treat yourself the way you would treat your other friends. And that is how you endure friendships when this fibromyalgia gets in your way.
It’s something that nobody likes to talk about, but suffering chronic pain very often goes hand in hand with gastrointestinal and/or urinary problems.
For people with CRPS the statistics are stark, with in excess of 90% of sufferers reporting a variety of ongoing gastric issues including constipation, diarrhoea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), dysphagia and even faecal incontinence.
Urinary problems are also reported frequently by people suffering chronic pain. Urinary voiding dysfunction can cause urgency and even urinary incontinence. Around 25% of people suffering CRPS report urinary problems.
On top of already disabling chronic pain, gastrointestinal and urinary issues can result in a person’s outlook on the world becoming very limited indeed.
Given the frequency with which these problems occur in tandem with chronic pain, it is surprising that there is so little research on a possible relationship between the two. However, it is thought that there may be a number of causes, often interacting with or exacerbating each other.
One factor that is likely playing a role is medication. Constipation is one of the most widely experienced side effects of taking opioid-based medications of which a number, for example Tramadol, Fentanyl, Oramorph and Codeine, are commonly taken by people suffering chronic pain. We have come across a number of cases among clients prescribed opioid-based medication where constant straining has ultimately led to permanent physical damage of rectal nerves and muscles, resulting in faecal incontinence.
However, it’s not just opioids that can be problematic. Many people suffering chronic pain are prescribed antidepressants such as Venlafaxine and Sertraline. In themselves they can cause gastro-type side effects, but in conjunction with an opioid, those side effects can be heightened. This is just one of the problems of living life as a pharmacological cocktail shaker!
It’s well known that psychological changes, including anxiety and depression, can be associated with a change in bowel function, in particular the onset of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), of which faecal urgency is a symptom.
Such factors can also play a role in urinary symptoms such as urgency and an increased need to urinate both at night time (nocturia) and during the day.
The symptoms of CRPS rarely occur in isolation. More commonly sufferers end up with a diversity of symptoms. This is almost certainly because CRPS affects the various systems within the body which are part of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The SNS is part of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which is responsible for unconsciously regulating bodily functions including bowel and bladder function. There is no proven link, but it is possible that there is a direct relationship via the autonomic system between CRPS and bowel and bladder dysfunction.
In her excellent article, “CRPS and Thyroid Problems”, Libby Parfitt highlights the fact that around one third of people suffering CRPS also have an underactive thyroid, a condition known as hypothyroidism. Currently, the reason for this is not understood.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism can include anxiety and depression and from that perspective we come back to the psychological factors discussed above. However, constipation is in itself a common symptom of hypothyroidism and whilst there is not currently an established link, it is not uncommon for people with hypothyroidism to also report urinary issues.
For people suffering chronic pain conditions who find themselves in litigation, their lawyer must be alert to the possibility of gastro and urinary symptoms. At the very least they should ask their client the right questions.
Depending on the nature of those symptoms, it may be necessary to obtain expert evidence from a colorectal surgeon and/or a urologist. Not only is this crucial to establishing the likely cause of those symptoms (ie the direct or indirect link to the primary pain condition), but specific treatment options must to be considered.
Ultimately, if a claimant is likely to have longstanding problems then the associated financial costs (eg clothing, laundry, absorbent pads, bed mats) need to be factored into the claim.
Some cultures claim that meditation can promote well-being through strengthening a person’s mind. However, this isn’t something that is widely accepted in the Western world as medically beneficial. If you ask around, many people will regale you with imagery from monks isolated on high stony peaks to their experiences in the local yoga studio. This wide range paints an interesting picture about the practice of meditation, but not a very clear one. But, for chronic pain patients the important question is, does meditation work and can you use meditation for pain relief?
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ~Hanh Nhat Thich~
Meditation can come in many different forms, but the most common and effective type is called mindful meditation. This style helps center a person’s attention on breathing and controlling thoughts in the present moment. It is about being still and quiet, allowing thoughts to come and go while you focus on the in and out of your own breath. It sounds simple, but our daily lives are constantly filled with stress and worries, so quieting your mind can be quite the challenge.
Chronic pain patients, unfortunately, understand all too well the burdens stress and pain can have on the mind. Chronic pain is a serious issue in the U.S. and according to the Institute of Medicine, approximately 100 million people in the U.S. suffer from some chronic pain condition. Meditation has the power to give these patients the ability to identify their pain and find some relief.
A breakout study conducted by the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center showed that meditation reduced pain ratings of patients by 24% versus the baseline measurement. This is even more astounding as the experiment proved that meditation does not use the endogenous opioid system in the human body, which means it does not affect the same neural pathways as pharmaceutical treatments like painkillers.
Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy stated:
“This study adds to the growing body of evidence that something unique is happening with how meditation reduces pain. These findings are especially significant to those who have built up a tolerance to opiate-based drugs and are looking for a non-addictive way to reduce their pain.”
Researchers from the University of North Carolina also found that even inexperienced meditators experienced a dampened pain response after practicing for only three days. Although a number of studies have uncovered similar conclusions, scientists still aren’t sure how or why meditation works the way it does.
A study from the University of California, Los Angeles found that meditators’ brains experience less age-related erosion of gray matter, potentially reducing the risk for mental illness and diseases affecting cognition.
Meditation helps patients feel less pain, although researchers aren’t sure how.
Some researchers believe meditation’s ability to reduce pain is closely tied with its stress reduction benefits, according to The Atlantic. Stress activates the body’s inflammatory response, often increasing the sensation of pain. If meditation gives people peace of mind, their bodies naturally have less inflammation and fewer chemical processes creating the pain sensation to begin with.
A study conducted by JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that mindful awareness practices (MAP) resulted in immediate improvements in the sleep quality of the participants. MAP was even more impactful than sleep hygiene education intervention practices. The study participants met once a week for two hours and, at the end of the program, those in maps had less insomnia, fatigue, and depression.
It is postulated that maps could be used to provide a short-term solution to insomnia as it can be as effective as standard clinical treatments. Since a formalized program can be replicated and distributed easily to a community, it is hoped that it will become a more widespread tool. This is becoming more important as sleep deprivation in chronic pain patients can greatly increase pain sensitivity, which leads to a destructive cycle of additional sleepless nights and increasingly intense pain episodes.
Meditation can have amazing effects on your brain—it even has the ability to alter the way you think by providing a coping mechanism for stress.
Research from Carnegie Mellon University presents findings that show the increase in brain activity after patients underwent an intensive three-day meditation program. Specifically, this program raised functional connectivity in the resting default mode network in areas important to attention and executive control in the brain. It also reduced IL-6 levels and, in combination, accounted for lower inflammation levels throughout the whole body.
David Creswell, lead author and associate professor of psychology said that:
“We think that these brain changes provide a neurobiological marker for improved executive control and stress resilience, such that mindfulness meditation training improves your brain’s ability to help you manage stress, and these changes improve a broad range of stress-related health outcomes, such as your inflammatory health,”
Depression and pain can easily feed off each other and create a vicious cycle. This can become dangerous as depression has the nasty side effect of inhibiting the desire to reach out for help.
A Rutgers study found that combining MAP and body exercises together could reduce the symptoms of depression. Participants engaged in these exercises twice a week. They began with 30 minutes of meditation followed by 30 minutes of aerobic activity. After two months, the symptoms of depression decreased by 40%.
The power of meditation has experts hopeful because the most common option for treating chronic pain right now often involves powerful, highly addictive, and dangerous narcotics. Not only are these medications dangerous, but they’re also largely ineffective for reducing chronic pain. That’s because the pain response in a person living with chronic pain is different from someone healing from an acute injury.
Many unknown biological processes are at play that perpetuate pain in chronic cases. These processes aren’t fully understood, particularly in conditions still shrouded in mystery, like fibromyalgia. Even patients with more common conditions may lack key answers about the reasons underlying their pain. For example, only one-third of chronic back pain patients are able to get an accurate diagnosis, reports The Atlantic.
No matter the source, meditation is a powerful way for patients to exert more influence over their experience. Wake Forest University researcher Fadel Zeidan tells the magazine:
“Meditation teaches patients how to react to the pain… People are less inclined to have the ‘ouch’ reaction, then they are able to control the emotional reaction to the pain.”
Meditation also teaches people about the truth of impermanence, Zeidan adds, the understanding that everything is fleeting, even pain. Developing the ability to separate physical sensations from the emotional ones helps people learn how to manage each separately.
Meditation usually takes between 15 and 20 minutes to complete and can help with a wide array of physical and psychological issues. Since it is not physically demanding, most people can do it at home without worrying about safety concerns. Please keep in mind that while meditation can be very effective, you should always seek medical assistance for any major problems and it is not recommended as a substitute for a qualified physician’s care.
Like starting any new habit, beginning a meditation practice takes time and effort. Soon, however, you will come to look forward to the experience, especially if it helps you feel better.
Meditation may seem overwhelming at first. Some people can’t imagine sitting still for a long period of time. The best way to start is in small periods of time that don’t elicit resistance. You can start meditating for as little as one minute each day.
Although the true benefits will come with longer periods spent in meditation, start with an amount of time that you feel able to commit to every day. At the start, developing a solid habit is the most important thing.
At the longer end, some people meditate for 20 minutes or even one hour each day. But start with whatever makes you feel comfortable and lengthen your sessions as you feel ready.
Some people like to start their days off by meditating first thing in the morning. Others prefer to sit at night. The timing is up to you.
When you’re first beginning the meditation habit, it’s best to sit at the same time every day. Consider creating a reminder alarm on your cell phone so you don’t forget. Eventually, you will crave the peace that comes after your sessions, and will notice if you miss one. But at first, it helps to put extra effort into settling into a routine.
The simplest way is to find a comfortable seated position, preferably on the floor but feel free to find a chair if that isn’t a possibility for you. If you are on the floor, find a cushion to sit on to elevate the hips slightly above the knee. This makes it more comfortable to sit.
Sit up nice and tall, but without a rigid back. Find the balance between being alert and relaxed. Your hands can be palm up or palm down on your knee. You may want to take gyan mudra, touching the tips of the thumb and index finger together. This hand position is said in yoga tradition to reduce tension.
Once you’ve found a comfortable seated position, bring your awareness to your breath. Notice the breath entering and leaving your body. Notice any pain or sensation in your body. Observe any emotions that may arise. You may continue like this, scanning the body for sensation for the duration of your meditation practice, focusing on the breath.
If you have trouble sitting still, try an active meditation. The renowned mystic Osho has an excellent book explaining a variety of meditations that include visualizations to occupy the mind and physically active meditations for those who can’t sit still. You could also search youtube for active meditations.
The purpose of meditation is to bring peace. So if you feel resistance about a particular aspect of meditation, inquire why you feel that resistance. Sometimes, resistance is a sign we must persevere. Other times it’s a sign that you need to find an alternate option. Only you know the truth. Whatever brings you peace is the best way to move forward.
The simplest way is to use your cell phone’s timer function. However, once you start meditating for longer periods of time, it’s nice to have a timer that rings at intervals. Many free apps are available to help with this.
