Dear Fibromyalgia

Category: Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

Learn how Fibromyalgia is diagnosed, including key symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and the tests used to rule out other conditions.

  • 5 Errors Patients Make When Selecting a Fibromyalgia Doctor

    Having the right fibromyalgia doctor can make the difference between struggling silently in pain or managing your disease confidently. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or feel overwhelmed by your massive list of prescriptions that seem to not do much, it’s never too late to do your research and change your fibromyalgia doctor.

    The five mistakes fibromyalgia patients make when choosing their doctor:

    1. Choosing a general practitioner

    While a general practitioner is great to go to for your yearly checkup or for a quick test and prescription when you’ve got strep throat, they’re not the best for handling complex chronic health conditions. That’s why they usually refer fibromyalgia patients out to a specialist, like a rheumatologist.

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    2. Only considering a rheumatologist

    Your primary care doctor might refer you to the wrong specialist, especially if they don’t know too much about fibromyalgia. Take your provider’s recommendation with a grain of salt, and do your due diligence (get to those Yelp reviews!).

    Your doctor might refer you to a rheumatologist because they specialize in painful autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Fibromyalgia is not considered an autoimmune disorder (although some research suggests the immune system plays a role), and some rheumatologists don’t even take fibromyalgia patients.

    Other specialists that take fibromyalgia patients include neurologists, pain management doctors, chiropractors, and functional medicine doctors. Each will have a different primary mode of treating you, and you should think about what is the best fit for you.

    Some patients feel their doctors are just pushing 10 different types of pills on them, without offering any insight into other types of treatments. Others suggest treatments that aren’t covered by insurance and are out of their budget. Learn what typical fibromyalgia spends per year with the doctor to get a feel for what’s right for you.

    3. Choosing a doctor with little experience with fibromyalgia

    No matter what type of doctor you do choose, make sure that they have extensive experience in treating fibromyalgia patients. This condition is notoriously hard to treat, with a wide variety of symptoms and many patients not responding to medications.

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    Working with an inexperienced doctor could mean that your doctor gives up on you because they don’t know all the options available, or worse, doesn’t understand the level of pain you’re in and downplays it. You need a compassionate doctor who understands you and your disease.

    4. Not adding a health coach to your team

    A doctor can prescribe medications, but if you’re looking for a more natural, holistic approach that includes changing your diet and using herbal supplements, a doctor is not the right fit. Your doctor can tell you to eat healthily but doesn’t have the time to tell you how to do it or follow up with you to make sure it’s happening.

    Knowledge is NOT power. Knowledge is only potential power. Action is power.

    – Tony Robbins

    Health coaches turn information into action and provide the emotional support to help you implement and maintain long-term lifestyle changes that will transform your health in a short amount of time.

    Health coaches usually specialize in a condition or a treatment that they have personal experience with. For example, there are cannabis coaches that support new medical marijuana patients and there are fibromyalgia coaches that support patients through functional medicine.

    I happen to be one of the few health coaches that specializes in fibromyalgia and cannabis, helping clients reduce their dependence on toxic prescriptions and heal naturally.

    5. Choosing a doctor who doesn’t support medical marijuana

    A recent research study found that 81% of fibromyalgia patients improved their symptoms with medical marijuana, also known as cannabis. However, many conservative doctors still believe cannabis is a drug of abuse and has no medical benefit. If your doctor isn’t open to the massive amount of research and testimonials supporting cannabis for fibromyalgia, you should pick another physician.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia Fatigue: A Constant Feeling Of Tiredness

    Fibromyalgia fatigue feels like a constant state of weariness that diminishes your energy and mental capacity. Fatigue is the second most prominent symptom of fibromyalgia and can be even more debilitating than the pain.

    The overwhelming tiredness makes our bodies feel heavy and weak. It contributes to brain fog increasing memory loss and forgetfulness.

    Studies have shown that the amount of fatigue a person with fibromyalgia experiences directly impacts the amount of pain they have. Fatigue also has an impact on your emotions and is linked to depression.

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    The fatigue associated with fibromyalgia is similar to that of chronic fatigue syndrome (renamed “systemic exertion intolerance disease”). In fact, many people who have fibromyalgia may also have CFS/SEID as well. The Arthritis Foundation estimates that 50 to 70 percent of people with fibromyalgia also fit the criteria of chronic fatigue syndrome.

    Why Are We So Exhausted?

    For people with fibromyalgia and/or CFS, the conditions themselves cause fatigue. Other factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, lifestyle, and medications can make the fatigue worse.

    Below are a few reasons you may feel exhausted:

    • Sleep Disorders – Lack of good quality sleep is a big part of the problem. Sleep problems are so common in fibromyalgia that symptoms such as waking un-refreshed, fatigue, tiredness, and insomnia are included in the diagnostic criteria for FMS.
    • Mitochondrial Dysfunction – Fatigue is a hallmark symptom of mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial inside our cells convert nutrients and oxygen to energy. With fibromyalgia, the mitochondria of many cells in the body have been shown to be impaired. This means we do not have enough energy to power our body.
    • Stress – One symptom of long-term stress is fatigue. Some experts believe chronic stress is a strong contributing factor for developing fibromyalgia. Many of us with fibro know that stress will trigger a symptom flare-up very quickly. Chronic stress is also a precursor to anxiety and depression.
    • Anxiety or Depression – Anxiety and depression can both cause fatigue and leave you feeling drained. People suffering from depression are 4 times more likely to suffer from fatigue. People who suffer from fatigue are 3 times more likely to become depressed. People with fibromyalgia are likely to suffer from anxiety and/or depression. It all becomes a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break.
    • Poor Nutrition – Experts say poor nutrition is a big culprit when it comes to fatigue in general. We know there are several nutritional deficiencies involved with fibromyalgia so eating healthy and getting the proper nutrients is extremely important.
    • Medications – Many prescription and nonprescription medications can cause weariness and fatigue. A few examples are anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, high blood pressure medications and statin medications for high cholesterol. The more medications you take the more likely you are to feel fatigued.

    Studies published earlier this year, help explain why individuals dealing with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and Fibromyalgia have a poor response to physical activity and poor energy production.

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    Ways To Fight Fibromyalgia Fatigue

    Fibromyalgia fatigue is not that easy to treat. On good days, the fatigue can be tolerable. However, on bad days ordinary activities seem virtually impossible.

    Here are some tips that can help deal with fatigue:

    • Use Your Energy Wisely – Take breaks and pace yourself. Even if you are having a good day don’t try to do too much, it will only cause a setback. So keep your schedule simple, know your limitations and rest when you need to.
    • Exercise – I know the thought of exercising can be overwhelming, but the lack of exercise can make your muscles stiff and more painful, which also contributes to feeling fatigued. Start slow and pick a time of day that works best for you.
    • Eat Well – Eating a nutritious diet is good for your overall well-being. Avoid sugary, fried and processed food which can leave you feeling bogged down. Cooking can make me feel exhausted. On days I have more energy, I either make meals ahead or at least do some of the prep work to make it easier.
    • Reduce Stress – Fibromyalgia can be stressful and stress can leave you more fatigued. If you can learn to manage your stress, you will have more energy. Deep breathing, meditation, yoga and listening to music are a few stress management techniques that help me.
    • Prioritize Sleep – Sleep disturbances are common with fibromyalgia. The lack of quality sleep can cause fatigue and worsen fibromyalgia symptoms. Some experts believe that disordered sleep is the most important symptom to treat when you have fibromyalgia. I know that when I sleep well I feel better. When I can’t sleep I feel worse all the way around.
    • Talk To Your Doctor – If your medications are making you even more tired, talk with your doctor. He or she may be able to prescribe an alternative, lower your dosage, or have you try taking your medicine at a different time of day.
    • Energy Boosting Supplements – Four supplements that help your body produce more energy are Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 ), D-Ribose , Magnesium and Vitamin B . It is important to keep in mind that supplements can negatively affect certain health conditions and interact with certain medications. Please do your research and check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure they are safe for you to take.

    Conclusion

    Fibromyalgia fatigue can be crippling. It’s physically and emotionally exhausting. On bad days, you can barely drag yourself out of bed. You feel drained. The overwhelming tiredness will not go away. You can’t concentrate, remember things or stay focused. Believe me, I know how it feels. I can’t remember the last time I felt full of energy or haven’t felt exhausted at some point in the day.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • New criteria proposed for diagnosing fibromyalgia

    “The tender point test also has a gender bias because men may report widespread pain, but they generally aren’t as tender as women. Fibromyalgia may be under-diagnosed in both men and women because of the reliance on 11 tender points, and also due to failing to account for the other central features of the illness,” said Katz.

    Additionally, due to the confusion regarding the tender point test, the authors note that most primary care doctors don’t bother to check tender points or they aren’t checking them correctly. Consequently, fibromyalgia diagnosis in practice has often been a symptom-based diagnosis. The new criteria will standardize a symptom-based diagnosis so that all doctors are using the same process.

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    The tender point test is being replaced with a widespread pain index and a symptom severity scale. The widespread pain index score is determined by counting the number of areas on the body where the patient has felt pain in the last week. The checklist includes 19 specified areas.

    The symptom severity score is determined by rating on a scale of zero to three, three being the most pervasive, the severity of three common symptoms: fatigue, waking unrefreshed and cognitive symptoms. An additional three points can be added to account for the extent of additional symptoms such as numbness, dizziness, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, or depression. The final score is between 0 and 12.

    This is indeed good news. The tender point test did seem rather minimal since it only takes into account pain and ignores the other predominant symptoms. Certainly, it could lead to earlier diagnosis in FMS patients, because, seriously, if it takes a decade to diagnose someone there are some issues with the methods. I recall when I finally got my diagnosis that they were too late… by then FMS had impaired a great deal of my ability to function in many aspects that I simply had to cope with on my own, often including stopping activities that became too draining or painful, when in fact early treatment would encourage a certain level of activity.

    Helping with the cognitive impairments and sleep issues early on sure would have been nice as well. What I most remember of my official diagnosis, which by then was rather moot, was that the tender point test was damn painful. Damn painful and lasted quite a bit after as well. It is like poking a bruise… yeah it hurts and hurts quite a bit if you put that much pressure on it. Of course, there was also some relief. That final moment where finally there is a name for what is wrong with you. And that hope that finally someone will help. Of course, they didn’t then. But the more medications and treatments they look into the better the future outlook for those of us that have this dang syndrome.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • The study suggests Fibromyalgia might be an immunologic disorder

    Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome defined by chronic widespread pain with multiple tender points, fatigue, sleep dysfunction, and abnormal pain processing. The syndrome can have many other associated symptoms as well but those can depend on person to person. The cause of the syndrome is unknown but theories have revolved around the idea of trauma or problem with the nervous system caused by injury, virus, or essentially an automatic nervous system dysfunctional condition along with theories that speculate it is an asleep dysfunctional condition or it is autoimmune in nature. The role of immune system dysfunction had been downplayed in recent years due to the recent evidence to demonstrate the neurological components. If this new research into the immune system can be replicated it may very well be that Fibromyalgia is a neuroimmune syndrome in nature which could vastly change how it is looked at in research and treatment. In fact, the method used in the research for their test could, in fact, be used in the future diagnostically.

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    Looking at Cytokine cells

    The researchers used several methods to study the cytokine levels of people with Fibromyalgia to healthy subjects. Cytokines are part of our immune system which are proteins that help manage our immune response. “Recent data highlight the role of the immune system in FM. Aberrant expressions of immune mediators, such as cytokines, have been linked to the pathogenesis and traits of FM. We, therefore, determined whether cytokine production by immune cells is altered in FM patients by comparing the cellular responses to mitogenic activators of stimulated blood mononuclear cells of a large number of patients with FM to those of healthy matched individuals “ Prohealth

    Methods

    The study was done by the blind method. There was a total of 110 Fibromyalgia subjects and 91 control subjects involved. All the FM subjects had symptoms and a diagnosis of at least one year and underwent two independent examinations to confirm they met the criteria according to the standards of the  American College of Rheumatology. All FM patients were off their fibromyalgia medications two weeks prior to the study being started. Patients with comorbid conditions were excluded specifically ones with already compromised immune systems; such as autoimmune conditions. The median age of the group was 39.

    They used “Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)…. Parallel samples of PBMC were cultured overnight in medium alone or in the presence of mitogenic activators; PHA or PMA in combination with ionomycin. The cytokine concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MIP-1β, MCP-1, and MIP1-α in plasma as well as in cultured supernatants were determined using a multiplex immunoassay using bead array technology. ” BMC Clinical Pathology December 17, 2012

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    Findings

    Essentially Fibromyalgia patients had substantially lower levels than the control group. Cytokine levels “of stimulated PBMC cultures of healthy control subjects were significantly increased as compared to matched non-stimulated PBMC cultures. In contrast, the concentrations of most cytokines were lower in stimulated samples from patients with FM compared to controls. The decreases in cytokine concentrations in patients’ samples ranged from 1.5-fold for MIP-1β to 10.2-fold for IL-6 in PHA challenges. In PMA challenges, we observed 1.8 to 4-fold decreases in the concentrations of cytokines in patient samples.””BMC Clinical Pathology December 17, 2012

    The research done by BMC Clinical Pathology concludes “The cytokine responses to mitogenic activators of PBMC isolated from patients with FM were significantly lower than those of healthy individuals, implying that cell-mediated immunity is impaired in FM patients. This novel cytokine assay reveals unique and valuable immunologic traits, which, when combined with clinical patterns, can offer a diagnostic methodology in FM.” BMC Clinical Pathology December 17, 2012

    Conclusion:

    “In the past, FM was claimed to be a rheumatologic, neurologic or psychiatric disease despite the fact that there were no objective links to any of those pathways. Our findings uncovered evidence that FM is instead an immunologic disorder. They prove that the immunologic basis of FM occurs independently of any subjective features. Hence, this illustrates the very strong clinical value of our test protocol. The fact that individual cytokines exhibited similar dynamics in patient samples reveals that the FM patients are uniform in regard to their cellular immunologic responses.”  BMC Clinical Pathology December 17, 2012

    Based on one study there is not enough evidence to say that Fibromyalgia is an immunologic disorder, but if more studies confirm similar findings it could mean a great deal. There has been a shift to see the syndrome as neurological and this would increase the shift towards neuroimmune. This means a great deal since it is pointing to specific immune dysfunction which could lead to specific treatments and a better overall grasp of what is going on with this syndrome. Most important is the idea that they could come up with a diagnostic tool, which the lack of has always been a problem. It could lead to people being diagnosed early and prevent misdiagnosis if there was a diagnostic tool.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • The Truth About Fibromyalgia Tender Points

    The phrase “tender points” isn’t something you hear every day. But if you have fibromyalgia, you may be familiar with those words. In fact, your doctor may have used tender points to diagnose you.

    What Are Tender Points?

    In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) introduced criteria for diagnosing people with fibromyalgia. Part of the criteria included 18 possible tender points throughout the body. Tender points are small spots located around your neck, shoulders, chest, hips, knees, and elbows. 

    To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, patients had to experience pain in at least 11 of those 18 sites when their doctor pressed firmly on them. In addition to tender points, you had to have pain in all four quadrants of your body (left side; right side, above the waist; below the waist) lasting longer than three months. 

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    The Problem With Tender Points

    A lot has changed since the original ACR criteria for diagnosis were released. A 2010 study found that approximately 25% of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia didn’t satisfy the ACR’s criteria for having the disease, even though their doctors believed they had fibromyalgia based on their other symptoms. 

    Tender points posed a significant issue for doctors and patients alike. For example, if a person experiences improvement and no longer has as many tender points, does that mean he or she no longer has fibromyalgia, even if the person still has other symptoms like widespread pain? The pain is often described as a dull, constant pain in the muscles. 

    New Ways of Diagnosing Fibromyalgia

    In 2010, the ACR updated its criteria for diagnosing people with fibromyalgia. Among several changes, it removed tender points from the criteria. Today, diagnosis relies more on patients’ self-reported symptoms than a doctor’s physical examination of the tender points. 

    In addition to pain, doctors consider symptoms that weren’t included in the original criteria, such as fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive issues like trouble concentrating. They also use a tool called the symptom severity scale. The scale acknowledges that with a chronic pain condition like fibromyalgia, your symptoms may change with time. Pain can be more or less severe under different circumstances, such as how tired you are, your stress level, and your level of physical activity. 

    As a result, making a diagnosis no longer relies on a fixed set of criteria, such as tender points, and gives more weight to your personal experience with the condition. The symptoms of fibromyalgia resemble other chronic pain conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. For this reason, doctors may use specific blood tests and other evaluations to rule out these conditions before making a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • What People With Fibromyalgia Wish They Could Tell You

    Fibromyalgia affects about 5 to 6 million people in the United States, mostly women. Yet, so little is known about the condition and people with fibromyalgia often feel misunderstood. Here, three women share their thoughts about living with fibromyalgia.

    1. The pain and fatigue are real.

    People understand pain and fatigue if they can see the cause, like a broken bone or an incision from an operation. Fibromyalgia is an invisible illness though, making it harder to understand. But, “That pain is real. That pain is debilitating, affecting every part of your life,” says Sharon Gates, a retired nurse from Montreal, Canada.

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    2. Fibromyalgia has been around for centuries.

    Fibromyalgia isn’t a new illness. It’s existed for centuries under different names, such as rheumatism. Historical records about Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, show she probably had fibromyalgia.

    “It’s a real medical condition, backed up by decades of work and many, many studies,” says Susanne Gilliam, a recent law school graduate in Massachusetts. But because there are so many unknowns, there are people who don’t believe it exists.

    3. It can be a relief to finally be diagnosed.

    Illnesses like cancer or diabetes have tests to diagnose them. There are no tests for fibromyalgia and it can take an average of about five years to get a diagnosis. For some people, it takes much longer. Gilliam thinks she’s had it for about 18 years. In the meantime, it’s easy for people to begin wondering what is going on–because so many tests are coming back as normal.

    Having a diagnosis is important. “When you get a diagnosis of something, it’s not always a positive thing, but at least you know you’re not crazy,” Gates says. “You make changes and you try to manage the best you can.”

    4. Fibromyalgia doesn’t go away.

    Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness and, while people may have periods with few symptoms, it doesn’t go away. This can make it hard to talk about the illness because no one wants to seem like they’re always complaining. “People lose patience with chronic illnesses,” points out Randi Kreger, an author from Wisconsin. “They’re more attuned to short-term things that get better. They don’t really realize that not everything is curable and that some things just don’t get better.”

    5. Fibromyalgia can make you extra sensitive to the sensations around you.

    When people have fibromyalgia, it’s as if their sensitivity dials are turned up too high. Lights can be too bright, smells can be too strong, and noises can be too loud. These sensitivities can make it hard for them to get out and be an active part of the community.

    “I went to a book club that met in a coffee shop,” Randi says. “They were roasting and grinding coffee. The noise was really too much and I asked if we could go to a place where it was just not that noisy.” But the others in the group refused to move. They didn’t find the place particularly noisy and couldn’t relate to Randi’s discomfort.

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    6. Fibromyalgia makes you forgetful.

    Most people have memory lapses from time to time. They forget where they put their keys or to show up for a doctor’s appointment. But for those with fibromyalgia, it’s worse. “Fibro fog” makes thinking fuzzy and remembering difficult. It can also make it hard to follow conversations.

    7. There can be good days.

    The confusing thing about fibromyalgia is that for many people, the pain, fatigue, fibro fog, and other symptoms aren’t always there. One day, they may be able to go on a hike with their children and then out to a movie with a friend, but the next day, they may not be able to get out of bed. Nothing is constant.

    8. It can be hard to plan ahead.

    Because people with fibromyalgia have both good and bad days, it’s next to impossible to plan ahead. It’s no fun to make plans only to have to cancel them. It’s disappointing, but they can’t know what they’re going to be feeling like a month from now, a week from now, or even a day from now. “I just do the best I can,” Gates says.

    9. Medications help some people with fibromyalgia.

    There are medicines that are effective for some people’s symptoms. Gilliam experienced a complete turnaround when she and her doctors found the right drug combination for her. “Every day it was like crossing the finish line at the end of a marathon,” she says. There was something new each day that she could do, like carrying her laundry up the stairs, going to the pharmacy alone, and even going back to school to study law. “But this isn’t the standard outcome,” Susanne points out. “It isn’t even a common outcome, but it does happen.”

    10. But the medicines don’t help everyone.

    Unfortunately, the medicines do not help everyone with fibromyalgia and for others, the medicines cause serious side effects, such as depression, weight gain, or dizziness.

    Patient listening and helping hands mean a lot to people with fibromyalgia. It can be discouraging to live with a chronic illness, but the understanding of friends and family goes a long way and can make all the difference, perhaps turning a bad day into a good one.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Who’s At Risk for Fibromyalgia?

    There’s a lot that’s not known about fibromyalgia. Doctors aren’t sure what causes it and why it affects certain people instead of others. But experts continue to learn about the disease and who may be more likely to get it. The risk factors fall into five categories: gender, heredity, sleep pattern, weight, and having certain pre-existing conditions. Here are some risk factors identified so far:

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    Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia. 

    It is estimated that 2 to 4 people out of 100 have fibromyalgia. The condition is about seven times more common in women than it is in men. However, men and children can have fibromyalgia, too. Most people with fibromyalgia are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. It is not yet clear why fibromyalgia affects more women than men. 

    Fibromyalgia may run in your genes. 

    The disease sometimes runs in families, which suggests that genes may play a role. Scientists are getting closer to identifying specific genes that may be associated with fibromyalgia. The family connection may also be a function of common lifestyle and exposure to environmental factors, in addition to genetic factors.

    Sleep problems can play a role. 

    In one study, women who regularly experienced sleep problems were more likely to develop fibromyalgia during the following 10 years. Sleep deprivation is associated with increased inflammation and a decrease in the body’s ability to block pain signals, factors that could contribute to your risk of developing fibromyalgia.

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    Obesity increases your risk. 

    Women who are overweight or obese have a 60 to 70% greater chance of developing fibromyalgia compared with women who are a normal weight. The good news: Exercise can help! Overweight or obese women who exercise two or more hours each week have a 23% lower risk of being diagnosed with painful syndrome.

    People with other rheumatic diseases may have a higher risk.

    If you have another health problem that affects your joints, muscles, or bones, such as osteoarthritis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis mainly affecting the spine), you may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia. Work closely with your doctor to manage your condition, and let your doctor know if any new or painful symptoms occur.

    Other issues may trigger fibromyalgia. 

    There’s still a lot to learn about how fibromyalgia begins, but experts have found that several other issues may be at play with the disease:

    • Certain conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome
    • Emotional stress includes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    • Physically traumatic events such as a car accident or serious injury

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Hypersensitivity to non-painful events and Fibromyalgia

    Hypersensitivity to non-painful events and Fibromyalgia

    I am printing this study because it is pretty basic to the understanding of fibromyalgia. We feel pain when there shouldn’t be a pain. It is interesting, in particular, to look at the areas of the brain that are activated when we do though.

    Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome defined by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, sleep dysfunction, and cognitive dysfunction. Fibromyalgia pain dysfunction involves increased sensitivity to pain known as hyperalgesia. A recent study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) shows that people with fibromyalgia have hypersensitivity even if events are non-painful based on Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) imaging of the brain.

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    Brain imaging reveals reduced activation in primary sensory regions and increased activation in sensory integration regions. These responses to a non-painful stimulus may be the cause of problems with tactile, visual, and auditory stimulation. Patients often do report reduced tolerance to environmental and sensory stimuli in addition to the pain.

    The small study included 35 women with fibromyalgia and 25 controls. Patients had an average disease duration of seven years and a mean age of 47. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to analyze the brain’s response to visual, tactile-motor, and auditory stimulation. Patients reported increased subjective sensitivity or unpleasantness in response to this multisensory stimulation in daily life. The results of the fMRI showed patients had reduced “task-evoked activation in primary/secondary visual and auditory areas and augmented responses in the insula and anterior lingual gyrus. Reduced responses in visual and auditory areas were correlated with subjective sensory hyper-sensitivity and clinical severity measures.” (ACR)

    The study concluded there was a strong “attenuation of brain responses to non-painful events in early sensory cortices, accompanied by an amplified response at later stages of sensory integration in the insula,” and these abnormalities are associated with the main FM symptoms suggesting this maybe be linked to the pathology of the syndrome. Dr. Marina López-Solà from the University of Colorado Boulder stated, “Our study provides new evidence that fibromyalgia patients display altered central processing in response to multisensory stimulation, which is linked to core fibromyalgia symptoms and may be part of the disease pathology. The finding of reduced cortical activation in the visual and auditory brain areas that were associated with patient pain complaints may offer novel targets for neurostimulation treatments in fibromyalgia patients.”

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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  • How to Explain Fibromyalgia Fatigue to Other People

    Anyone who lives with fibromyalgia has struggled to try to explain the chronic pain and fatigue they experience to their friends and loved ones, and even to strangers.

    Explaining fibromyalgia is no easy task. Sometimes just putting into words what you feel is difficult enough, as fibromyalgia often takes your words away. But, even when you can find the words, trying to explain something so foreign and seemingly abstract to someone who has never (and hopefully will never) experience it can be not only difficult but stressful. To explain fibromyalgia fatigue, you have to first understand what fibromyalgia is.

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    What is fibromyalgia?

    Fibromyalgia is a debilitating disorder that is estimated to affect more than 10 million people in the United States. Fibromyalgia is a complex disorder in that it is a collection of chronic symptoms with no specific underlying pathology. The two key fibromyalgia symptoms are fatigue and chronic pain. People with fibromyalgia may also experience digestive issues, migraines, depression, and problems with sleep.

    Knowing the basics doesn’t make understanding the illness any easier, especially when it comes to the fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia fatigue is almost impossible to imagine because it is unlike any other sort of fatigue you (or the person you’re describing it to) may have experienced.

    How do you describe fibromyalgia fatigue?

    A few short descriptions people who live with fibromyalgia fatigue commonly use to describe the fatigue of fibromyalgia includes:

    • “It feels like you’re drowning, but you keep fighting to stay above water.”
    • “It feels like you are walking through quicksand.”
    • “It feels like you are carrying around a 100-pound backpack.”
    • “It feels like you’ve been awake for a week, and no amount of sleep will allow you to catch up.”

    These descriptions are quite visual, but they are not situations most people have experienced, so they still require a bit of imagination. That’s the problem with trying to describe fibromyalgia fatigue. No matter how good you are at describing it, you are relying on the other person to use their imagination to understand it.

    The key when trying to explain fibromyalgia fatigue to someone who is healthy is to find something they can relate to and then take it a step (or five) further. This way, they may better understand that what you are dealing with is far beyond the feeling they can comprehend.

    For example, many people have had the bad flu or mononucleosis (mono) in their life. Ask the person you are talking to if they’ve had one of these, then explain to them that fibromyalgia fatigue feels as if you have the flu or mono, but it’s never gone away and never will. If your friend travels a lot, you might describe it as a jet lag that never goes away.

    But, what if that’s not enough? What if the person you are talking to has never had the flu, mono, or jet lag? Then how can you relate the level of complete exhaustion you feel?

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    Try using the phone battery analogy.

    Another way to explain fibromyalgia fatigue is by using the analogy of a mobile phone battery, one that is never completely charged. No matter how long you leave it plugged in (how long a person with fibromyalgia sleeps), it never reaches a full charge. Then once you unplug the phone (wake up) and start using different apps (attempting to do daily activities), each app uses up more battery. Some apps use more battery power than others and before long that battery is completely drained again.

    The key to explaining what fibromyalgia fatigue feels like is to make clear that what you are experiencing is far beyond just being tired. Everyone gets tired sometimes, and a good night’s rest usually fixes the problem. Fibromyalgia is different. The fatigue that comes with fibromyalgia is pure exhaustion that doesn’t go away, no matter how much sleep you get. Then, to make matters worse, when it’s time to sleep you can’t. This lack of sleep and exhaustion affects your ability to think, reason, to perform basic tasks.

    Focus your energy on people who understand.

    In the end, all you can do is try to explain and hope the person you’re talking to understands what you’re going through. Some people are more empathetic and will make more of an effort to understand. Or, even if they can’t imagine how you feel, they care about you and will offer whatever support they can.

    Fibromyalgia is a debilitating condition that is challenging enough to live with, without the worry of how to explain what you’re feeling to others who may never understand. Despite how difficult it can be to explain fibromyalgia, there are people around you who want to learn, and you should focus your limited energy on maintaining those relationships. Surround yourself with the caring, positive people in your circle to create a much-needed support group that will help you cope with the bad days.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Tips for when you are in the Fibro Flare

    I am in a Fibro Flare.

    The pain arching through me right now is difficult to describe, to be honest. It is a deep, bone-deep, throbbing ache that is at around an 8 on the pain scale. It is extremely distracting. It is gnawing. Grating. And that is when I am not moving. Moving is another story altogether. 

    In this particular case, it is from weather changes. We have been having hot weather and flash thunderstorms so the pain, as a result, has been pretty intense. Migraines, as you might expect, following suit.

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    It isn’t only the specific keyed-up areas of pain though. It is the body aches as well. Feeling just run down. And the extra bonus of fatigue. Not your normal fatigue… more bonus fatigue. Like the extra bonus pain. A flare-up is just FM Plus.

    I am currently on tramadol slow release for my actual treatment, so I have nothing for a flare-up per se. I have to work tomorrow so rest is out of the question. As is stress avoidance. So I’ll be waiting it out. The approach I most often take, unfortunately. 

    For me, most flares come with overdoing it. I have limits, I just sometimes am not positive where they are or ignore them. Or, worse, the limit changes. One day I can walk for an hour with no consequences. The next day 15 minutes causes extreme pain and that pain increases exponentially the more I walk. So I engage in an activity, in moderation, expecting it to be fine and it is So not fine. FM can be unpredictable like that. 

    Poor sleep is another common one for me. But it is unpredictable. Often it is more than one day of poor sleep that flares me. One day? That is par the course. And yes, it causes aches. But not flare-up pains and aches. Not FM Plus. But a few days of severely deprived sleep and I will flare big time. Even laying in bed to continue trying to sleep is too painful then.

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    When having a flare-up here are the tips:

    • Taking breaks– since they tend to occur during high stress we tend to not engage in self-care. If we just push through, we pay for it. We should try to help others, at work for extended deadlines and reschedule the things we can. Try to reduce the stress factors we Can. Take breaks during the day. Take short naps.
    • They say ‘no’ tip– In times of Flares, it is really important to conserve your time and energy reserves. No, you can’t take on extra work. No, you can’t do that favor for a friend or the school. No, you can’t babysit at this time. You don’t need to use an excuse, because you don’t need to validate your illness, just a polite not at this time. You just cannot take on any more at this specific time.
    • Sleep– Sleep is always a factor for us. And adequate sleep is more important during a flare. Keep to a regular sleep cycle. Get 8 or 9 hours. Only take short naps during the day, so as to not disrupt nighttime sleep.
    • Relaxation– Take time for mindful meditation, relaxation breathing, or biofeedback… whatever works for you. As well as any pain distraction methods you use; like soothing music, reading, or binging on Netflix.
    • Pacing– We can keep doing activities, at a slower pace, which has been found to be better than no activities at all. But we need to know our limits. Slow and steady. We can incorporate some very gentle stretching, walking, or light yoga. If you have an exercise routine already, consider decreasing intensity during a flare.
    • Pain management– Use your medications following the schedule you use to manage pain. If they are not sufficient ask your doctor about breakthrough medications. Use alternative treatments you might find effective; acupuncture, massage therapy, biofeedback, and other therapies to help with pain management.
    • Support– Flares are an emotionally heightened time and can be difficult to deal with and sometimes talking about it helps. To utilize any support groups you belong to. Either online, in real life, or with the people in your support system like friends and family.
    • Baths– I always recommend a nice soothing Epsom salt bath to ease some muscle pain.


    Generally, you want to engage in your Self-care. You don’t want to stop your routines, but be gentle and careful. Self-Care is vital at this time. Take things more slowly and methodically. Be gentle with yourself. Pace yourself. 

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

    Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store