Category: Fibromyalgia Pain

A comprehensive look at Fibromyalgia pain, its symptoms, triggers, and effective strategies to manage and alleviate discomfort.

  • How to prevent knee pain in old age?

    How to prevent knee pain in old age?

    If you’re wondering how to prevent knee pain in old age, the answer often comes down to taking steps today to reduce your risk. By reducing your risk for the nine most common causes and risk factors for knee pain, you can prevent a large possibility of knee pain in your future.

    How does anatomy prevent knee pain, and cause it? 

    The knee is a joint made of four bones: the femur, tibia, fibula and patella. There are a series of muscles that also support the knee, including the quadriceps and hamstrings. Finally, these are all joined together by a carefully woven set of ligaments, meniscus, and tendons. Precious cartilage provides necessary cushioning for comfortable movement.

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    The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are perhaps most critical for proper knee movement. The knee is also surrounded by fluid filled sacs called bursae that provide additional cushioning.

    Since it’s such a complex joint, it can sustain most of the demands we place on it every day. However, these same joints and tendons can become inflamed, leading to pain. Likewise, the delicate structures of the knee can become injured leading to pain. We’ll talk about some of the risk factors you can work to reduce today to prevent knee pain in the future from these causes.

    What are the most common types of knee pain?

    The knee moves in two ways: bending (flexion) and straightening (extension). However, the knee can also twist, which is the common cause of many injuries to ligaments. Those who have ligament injuries to the knee often report hearing a popping, followed by the inability to place weight on the knee.

    Such twisting-related injuries can also cause damage to the knee’s tendons and meniscus. These injuries will likely cause pain, swelling, and limited movement. Often surgery is required. However, the knee is a major joint that takes the weight of the body daily; with time, wear and tear injuries may occur that leads to knee pain as people get older. Also known as degeneration injuries, these include osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella. Both are the result of degeneration of cartilage, causing bone-on-bone rubbing and pain.

    What are the most common risk factors for knee pain? 

    One of the largest risk factors for knee pain is age. Age increases the risk for a variety of conditions leading to knee pain, including osteoarthritis. Older people are also more likely to have weakened muscles. They are also more vulnerable to injury while playing sports or participating in normal daily activities.

    A study in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage found that the risk factors for knee pain and osteoarthritis are essentially the same: age, extra weight, history of knee injury, and having a job that places extra stress on the knee. Increased age and unhappiness with a person’s job had a greater impact on the incidence of knee pain than the other factors.

    However, the best way how to prevent knee pain in old age is to avoid risk factors when you’re younger. Knee pain often results from osteoarthritis or sports injuries. These other nine risk factors for knee pain involve lifestyle choices that can you can manage to reduce or prevent knee pain in the future.

    1. Extra weight

    Extra weight is one of the largest risk factors for knee pain. The knee supports much of the body’s weight, and too much weight taxes the joint and increases the likelihood of pain. Anterior knee pain, which develops at the front and center, is one of the more common types of knee pain associated with carrying extra weight. Inactivity or muscle weakness, both associated with being overweight, can exacerbate the condition.

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    Obesity stresses the structure of the knee, including the patella—the medical term for the kneecap. The patella already supports forces that are equivalent to as much as five times the body’s weight, according to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor’s school of Orthopaedic Surgery. A combination of weight loss and muscle strengthening can alleviate chronic pain related to obesity, although surgery is sometimes needed.

    2. Muscle weakness

    The knee connects the thighbone—also known as the femur—to the shinbone—also known as the tibia. Having strong quadriceps muscles helps to stabilize the knee joint and keep it healthy.

    And improving muscular fitness can be one of the best ways how to prevent knee pain, even if you’re older. A study in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage studied a group of people aged 50 to 79 with osteoarthritis in the knee or risk factors for developing the disease. Women who had weak quadriceps were found to experience worse knee pain over the 5 years of the study, even when accounting for weight, level of exercise, and any history of knee surgery. Women with the weakest quadriceps experienced a 28% greater risk that their knee pain would worsen.

    The connection between strength of the quadriceps and knee pain did not hold true for men.

    Developing the right muscles can also help protect against one of the more serious knee injuries—a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Athletes involved in sports where they jump and quickly accelerate and decelerate are particularly susceptible to torn acls. However, strong quadriceps and hamstring muscles can help insulate the knee from stress.

    3. Inactivity

    A cause of muscle weakness and obesity—inactivity—is also another factor for knee pain. People who are inactive are less strong, less flexible, and more sedentary. When the time comes to move and exercise, there is a greater risk of injury.

    Inactivity has also been found to make knee pain from arthritis worse, according to webmd. Being sedentary results in muscle deterioration that weakens the knee and increases pain.

    4. Not resting after injury

    Injured people who don’t rest their knees for a long enough period of time increase their risk of re-injury, according to webmd. Although recovery periods can last anywhere from several weeks to several months, taking the time to allow the body to adequately repair and heal is critical for allowing the knee to regain its strength.

    Resting is particularly difficult for athletes and other active people, but spending some quality time on the couch will go a long way to keeping the knees healthy and protecting against future injury.

    5. Smoking

    Smoking increases the risk of a host of health problems, and knee pain can be added to the list. Quitting smoking is one of the best ways how to prevent knee pain when you get older. A study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that smoking increased the risk for both cartilage loss and knee pain in men who had developed osteoarthritis in the knee. Because smoking affected the amount of cartilage the men had in their knees, it increased the amount of pain they experienced.

    6. Genes

    Much of knee health is related to the underlying structure of the leg. And that structure is due to genetics, according to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Researchers recruited a set of female twins and videotaped them while watching them land from jumps and execute cutting maneuvers. Scientists examined the angles of the women’s knees and the structure of the joints themselves.

    At the time of the videotaping, the girls were healthy. Over the next year, however, both women tore their acls, giving the scientists and opportunity to gauge the impact of genetics, the New York Times reported. Researchers found that the twins had excessively flexible knee joints and narrow notches in the knee where the ACL connects to the bone. Another study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine identified a gene that affects the composition of collagen and increases the risk of torn acls.

    Unfortunately, there’s no way to reduce your genetic risk. But, you can be informed. If family members suffer from knee pain, take even more precautions now.

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    7. Occupation

    People who work in intense, manual-labor jobs are more likely to develop knee pain, according to research published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.

    Occupations associated with increased risk factors for knee pain included carpenters, miners, and construction workers. Carpenters and miners are at the highest risk. These jobs involve frequent knee bending, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in unnatural positions, along with heavy lifting. Of those individuals studied, 28% reported knee pain.

    If you are in one of these fields, make sure you talk to your doctor about ways to prevent your risk. These may include physical therapy or the use of braces.

    8. Depression

    People who are depressed report worse knee pain related to osteoarthritis, according to research published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. The effect was most pronounced in people with mild or moderate osteoarthritis, who reported severe pain despite less significant cartilage damage. Simultaneous emotional and physical pain feed off each other, exacerbating the effects of each, researchers say. Talk to your doctor about therapy options for reducing both your knee pain and depression.

    9. Overuse and injuries

    Many knee injuries, from tendinitis to iliotibial band syndrome, also known as runner’s knee, result from overuse. Repetitive motions involved in sports, such as running, often lead to inflammation. They can also cause structures in the leg and knee to rub against each other and cause pain. Although sports are a frequent contributor to knee pain, gardening, hobbies, or repetitive motions occurring during household activities can also be to blame. Injuries are the most common cause of knee problems, according to webmd.

    If you’ve suffered from any injury, make sure to rest and wear a brace or other supportive device when you do take up activity again.

    Other than surgery, what are some knee pain treatment options?

    If you’re already suffering from knee pain, there are non-surgical options for reducing your pain. The first lies with the basics tenets of how to prevent knee pain in the first place: exercise, consistently and with low-impact activities to reduce inflammation and reduce tension.

    From there, initial knee pain may respond to ice and antiinflammatory non-steroidal medications. Additionally, neuropathic medications, such as gabapentin or lyrica, may help those reporting burning, numbness, or pins and needles. For those who have ongoing issues, perhaps the best tool for treating knee pain is an MRI. An appropriate diagnosis is absolutely critical to create a plan to effectively reduce your pain.

    Interventional treatments

    Once a pain physician has the MRI results and can make a diagnosis, treatment options may include corticosteroid injections directly into the joint. These injections immediately reduce inflammation, which can effectively reduce pain. Watch one of these injections take place in the following video.

    Other treatments include visco-supplementation. This is used for those who may need additional lubrication to the knee joint as a result of osteoarthritis. Nerve blocks are an additional treatment option.

    A saphenous nerve block may provide those with chronic knee pain – at times present after knee replacement – relief. Additionally, chiropractic therapy, gait analysis, bracing and TENS Unit may provide relief. A comprehensive knee pain treatment may also include physical therapy. This can help those with knee pain strengthen muscles surrounding the knee to improve stability.

    Finally, neuromodulation via a spinal cord stimulator may be an option for those patients who otherwise fail to respond to more conservative treatment options. Spinal cord stimulation includes the implantation of small electrodes in the epidural space of the spine. Through this device, large nerve fibers are stimulated to inhibit small nerve fibers, thereby blocking the sensation of pain.

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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

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  • Why do we feel pain?

    To most people, pain is usually nothing more than an annoyance–a twinge of back pain or a prickle of pain from a hangnail. For those who suffer from a chronic pain condition, however, it’s much more than an annoyance. When traditional treatment methods have failed and the pain persists, it might beg the question: why do we feel pain?

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    Pain is an extremely important genetic adaptation.

    At its core, pain is a survival mechanism. It’s the body’s way of forcing an immediate response to prevent further injury. For example, if a person sets his or her hand on a hot stove, nerves will transmit a pain response and trigger the person to pull the hand away, almost before he or she has realized that it hurts. By pulling the hand away so quickly, further damage to deeper tissue is prevented.

    In addition to preventing severe injuries, pain can help with the healing process by acting as a reminder. George Dvorsky at io9 explains:

    “Given that a traumatic event (like stubbing your toe) set the injury response into action, the pain receptors will continue to sense that an injury has occurred and that you need to be reminded about it until it heals. Consequently, the nerve fibres are specialized enough to recognize an ongoing injury that’s in the healing process.”

    However, no matter how useful pain is, it’s still unpleasant. To appreciate why pain is important enough that it’s worth the unpleasantness, though, consider those who feel no pain at all.

    A rare genetic condition renders some individuals unable to experience physical pain.

    A condition, commonly referred to as congenital insensitivity to pain or congenital analgesia, leaves certain individuals unable to feel pain. At 1st this sounds great, but think of tripping over a pet, fracturing a bone, and not knowing that an injury has occurred because there was no pain. Consider a parent attempting to raise a child who cannot experience pain.

    2 individuals with this condition recalled the lengths their parents went to in an effort to prevent injuries:

    • Socks over their hands, to prevent finger-chewing or face-scratching
    • Goggles, to protect the eyes from scratches
    • Helmets, to prevent concussions

    Despite these safety measures, both still managed to injure themselves regularly. 1 individual recounts his most frequent childhood injuries:

    “Jumping down the stairs was the most common injury I had. I would also injure myself by pushing a swingset away from me and having it slam into my face. At the time I enjoyed the reaction I received from others and the time I would spend in the hospital. Touching hot objects was another one of the most frequent injuries I had. I loved to hear the sizzling of my skin. Broken legs were a very common injury for me.”

    Strangely enough, this condition is considered a type of peripheral neuropathy, which can also be a cause of chronic pain. This is because congenital insensitivity to pain is a result of malfunctioning peripheral nerves. Chronic pain from peripheral neuropathy occurs when those same nerves are damaged and, instead of going silent, send an overload of pain signals.

    Current researchers are delving into the evolutionary properties of pain.

    It’s understood that pain is a survival mechanism, but the individual gene receptors that control pain responses are still being studied. For example, a recent study conducted by Shigeru Saito, et. Al. Isolated a specific gene for pain receptors in chickens, called TRPA1. By examining the receptor’s function with different stimuli, the researchers found that heat stimulated the TRPA1 gene in chickens.

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    The researchers also found that a chemical bird repellant stimulated the same pain receptor as heat, the TRPA1 gene, but the responses to the same repellant by other vertebrate species were varied. Additionally, researchers were able to identify 3 amino acid residues involved in the activation of TRPA1 by the chemical repellant.

    Although this study involved pain receptors in chickens, and a chicken’s TRPA1 is more similar to that of a cold blooded animal than that of a human, this is still a significant step in the study of pain. It has added to scientists’ understanding of the functional, biological evolution of pain receptors, and might help answer the question: why do we feel pain?

    Another field of evolutionary study, evolutionary psychology, gives a potential explanation for chronic pain.

    Evolutionary psychology suggests that the pressure to survive and reproduce throughout human history has shaped the human mind. This field of study attempts to identify imprinted, evolutionary traits to explain why people do or experience what they do. For example, close relatives like children or spouses are jealously guarded because of an evolutionary urge to reproduce and pass on genes.

    A school of thought in evolutionary psychology suggests that humans have learned that pain can sometimes help them obtain attention, emotional rewards, and sometimes even economic rewards from others and this is why we feel pain. For example, if an individual complains of pain, he or she is the recipient of sympathy. This might suggest that chronic pain is an evolutionary adaptation of sorts.

    However, this idea fails to explain the people who suffer from chronic pain without complaint. Many of these people never even pursue treatment for their pain. Some of those who study evolutionary psychology suggest that the way people handle pain–whether they complain or not, and whether they pursue treatment or not–is dependent on personality and cultural influences.

    Even if pain–perhaps even chronic pain–is an important evolutionary trait, it shouldn’t be ignored.

    Most pain is evidence of an injury or condition that needs time to heal, possibly even a physician’s attention. Chronic pain, or pain that lasts for 3 months or more, can sometimes potentially be accompanied by psychiatric conditions like depression or anxiety. Because of these risks, it’s advisable to always pursue treatment for chronic pain.

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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

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  • Leg spasms relieved by muscle relaxants

    Almost everyone will experience a painful leg spasm at some point. These spasms, sometimes called “Charley horses,” are a painful contraction that can last from a few seconds to several minutes. Residual pain can linger for days. Spasms most often occur during intense activity, such as while running, or when a person is just dozing off or waking up. The muscles of the hands, arms, abdomen, or along the rib cage are all prone to spasms, but most muscle spasms occur in the foot, calf, or thigh muscles. Sometimes, especially after an injury of some sort, these spasms can become chronic.

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    No single cause has been identified for muscle spasms, but there are several potential causes, such as:

    The occasional muscle spasm isn’t cause for great alarm. A multivitamin, increased fluid intake, and proper warm-ups before exercise can often prevent more spasms. Avoiding overexertion from too much exercise can also prevent spasms.

    Although most muscle spasms aren’t serious, some might call for medical intervention.

    Sometimes, muscle spasms can have deeper causes that make them more difficult to treat. Injuries to the head or spinal cord can sometimes lead to frequent muscle spasms. Additionally, some medical conditions, such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis, can be accompanied by regular spasms. When muscle spasms occur frequently despite efforts to prevent them, or begin to interfere with daily life, it might be time to speak to a physician.

    Because a muscle spasm in the leg is a painfully strong contraction of the muscle, it makes sense that a muscle relaxant might help by relaxing the muscle. However, the name muscle relaxant is somewhat misleading, because this group of drugs doesn’t act directly on muscles. Instead, most muscle relaxants act on the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. As a result of the way they function, muscle relaxants can almost be thought of as entire-body relaxants. Indeed, the most common side effect of muscle relaxants is drowsiness or sedation.

    According to some sources, stress might actually contribute to or worsen muscle spasms. If this is the case, the sedative-like qualities of muscle relaxants may also contribute to their effectiveness. As stated on the healthline website:

    “The sedative effect that most muscle relaxants cause may also be important. Many experts think that much of the benefit of these drugs may come from the sedation they induce in people.”

    However they work, muscle relaxants have been proven to provide relief from painful spasms in the legs.

    There are 2 types of muscle relaxants that can relieve leg pain from spasms.

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    The 1st type of muscle relaxant is classified as an antispastic. These medications decrease spasticity, which happens when there is increased muscular tone and exaggerated tendon reflexes. Chronic spasticity is often an effect of neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury. As a result, antispastic muscle relaxants are generally prescribed for individuals whose muscle spasms are neurologically caused. Baclofen and dantrolene are both antispastic medications. Some research suggests that antispastic muscle relaxants’ effectiveness may be limited as compared to antispasmodic muscle relaxants.

    Antispasmodic muscle relaxants, on the other hand, work by reducing the number of spasms experienced, which in turn reduces the pain caused by spasms. Although it’s not clear exactly how antispasmodic muscle relaxants work, they have been proven successful at treating chronic pain from frequent muscle spasms. Spasms that are caused by musculoskeletal issues often respond well to antispasmodic muscle relaxants. Non-benzodiazepines and benzodiazepines are both classified as antispasmodic muscle relaxants.

    The most common side effect of both antispastic and antispasmodic muscle relaxants is drowsiness.

    Because of this, physicians might not prescribe muscle relaxants to people with jobs that require the use of potentially dangerous equipment, like pilots or construction workers. It’s also recommended that a person taking a muscle relaxant for the 1st time do so at home, so he or she can see if the muscle relaxant will cause a serious sedative effect.

    In some cases, individuals with a leg pain condition that could benefit from traditional oral pain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids), might have another condition that makes the use of nsaids impossible or unwise. For example, nsaids can cause bleeding or damage to the liver in some cases. Someone with liver disease or a history of ulcers should avoid nsaids. For these individuals, muscle relaxants can provide a viable alternative.

    Another surprising treatment option for muscle spasms is Botox injections.

    Clostridium botulinum bacteria produce enzymes called botulinum neurotoxins. The word Botox is a shortened version of this enzyme’s name: Bo from botulinum and tox from neurotoxins. Botox enzymes attach to nerve endings, preventing the release of chemical transmitters that tell a muscle to move. This causes temporary paralysis of the injected muscle, which prevents muscle spasms. It is thought that this temporary paralysis also disrupts neurotransmitters that send pain messages. Therefore, not only can Botox prevent further painful muscle spasms, it can also potentially relieve pain from previous spasms.

    After a Botox injection is delivered to the affected muscle, it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to take full effect. Data regarding the use of Botox to treat painful muscle spasms is somewhat limited. However, findings have indicated that it can, indeed, relieve pain. Botox’s effects aren’t permanent, but injections can be repeated every 3 months. Because it treats the symptoms rather than the cause of pain, many physicians also recommend some form of therapy along with Botox injections.

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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

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  • Fibromyalgia and sciatica

    Every once in a while we get a client that comes through the door with both Fibromyalgia and sciatica. Unfortunately, for many people with Fibromyalgia, most new symptoms get put down to simply yet another Fibro symptom. However, if you do have Sciatica, then you will likely already know, that sciatica pain feels very different to normal everyday Fibromyalgia pain.

    So, with that being said, I am going to say the same thing to you at home reading this, as we do to our clients in the studio: Do not put symptoms down to Fibromyalgia.

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    Sciatica is the loose term for one type of lumbar radiculopathy, essentially meaning pain and other symptoms, caused by irritation of a lumbar nerve root or at least a part of it. It’s also good to keep in mind that sciatica is a symptom, rather than a specific diagnosis, and not a particularly specific one either. The term sciatica can be rather confusing, with many medical professionals using it to describe radiculopathy involving the lower extremities and relating to herniated disks. And many patients refer to sciatica as any pain that shoots down the legs.

    Now, for anyone with Fibromyalgia, adding sciatica into the mix can make an already painful day, into a seemingly impossible task! However, the good news though, is that most cases of sciatica will resolve on their own within 6 weeks, without the need for any special intervention or treatment.

    Most people will never have this problem again, and the rest perhaps a few more times in their lives.

    There are myriads of ways for the lumbar roots and sciatic nerve to get irritated, including, but not limited to: a nerve pinch, disk herniations, and genetic abnormalities. However, what’s important to remember, is that generally, nerve impingement doesn’t cause pain, inflammation does. In fact, the majority of the time, Sciatica is referred pain from the lower back and doesn’t even result from nerve-root compression. How one person reacts to load, movement, or even stretch, can be very different across the spectrum of people, and it’s likely that some people have nerve roots that are just a little quicker to react. Those with Fibromyalgia suffer from abnormalities in the way that the brain deals with pain. Supraspinal processes have a top-down enhancing effect on nociceptive processing in the brain and spinal cord. Studies have begun to suggest that such influences occur in conditions such as fibromyalgia. This means that those who do have Fibromyalgia and sciatica, they may be far more sensitive to noxious stimuli compared to the general population. Factoring in changes in tissues, stress, load, and movement, and those with Fibromyalgia may be more prone to reacting to these changes byways of producing pain.

    Very rarely is sciatica mechanical in nature. Even issues like nerve impingement are fairly difficult to occur, due to the abundance of room at the nerve root. There are also many cases of actual impingement, where the individual doesn’t even have any pain.

    Whilst you very well could have Sciatica, there are a few other things that can often mimic sciatica, things such as;

    • Piriformis syndrome
    • Genic abnormalities, wherein the sciatic nerve actually runs through the piriformis muscle, instead of under it.
    • Joint problems in the spine
    • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
    • Cauda Equina syndrome
    • And less likely, things like cluneal nerve entrapment.

    I’m not writing to scare you, as the wide majority of cases of sciatica are completely harmless. However, it is important for you to understand that self-diagnosing sciatica is not a good idea. If it is troublesome, comes with a wide range of completely new symptoms, or you are worried, consult your doctor and get checked out.

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    Generally, red flags when it comes to sciatica are;

    What to do?

    Keep relatively active

    Bed rest has been a popular treatment for sciatica for the better part of the last few decades. In terms of published evidence, most meta-analyses and reviews show that there are no significant benefits to bed rest over staying active when it comes to sciatica pain (and vice versa). However, as mentioned in a review posted in Spine, there is no considerable difference between advice to stay active and advice for bed rest, and there are potentially harmful effects of prolonged bed rest, it is reasonable to advise people with acute low back pain and sciatica to stay active.

    So,  if you do have fibromyalgia and sciatica, you have been checked out and there are no red flags, keeping active can be very helpful. However, being active doesn’t mean you need to be doing crazy exercises, it just means getting up and moving around, as much as the pain will allow.

    In terms of movements, gentle dynamic movement that helps to move a joint through its full range can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to sciatica, helping us to utilise our own internal pain killers. Likewise, stretching can be incredibly beneficial, helping to calm the nervous system down, reduce muscle tone and guarding, reduce pain, and to help create a sense of safety.  This sense of safety is a particularly interesting topic, as fear will cause you to guard, making you stiffer and most likely in more pain.

    Heat and Vibration

    Heat can also be used on the surrounding muscles to help them relax. Due to the thickness of the tissue in the buttocks, heat isn’t going to have much of a circulatory effect on the nerves or muscles that can irritate sciatica. However, it will provide enough input to help calm down the nervous system. A good heat pad or warm bath is sufficient.

    Likewise, vibration can be used for sciatica with a fairly good outcome. Vibration therapy may help to reduce muscle soreness and interleukin-6, helping to stimulate lymphocyte and neutrophil responses, a useful modality in treating muscle inflammation. Which if we learned anything today, is most likely more important than impingement.

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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

  • Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis Based on Researches

    Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis Based on Researches

    Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis are two conditions that often go hand in hand with each other. Over the years we have lost count of the number of clients who were plagued with the hallmark sharp stabbing pains, that often come with Costochondritis. Within this topic are many questions, most of which become a whole lot harder to answer when we factor In Fibromyalgia.

    There are many people in the general population who have Costochondritis, it’s not just another issue that comes along with Fibromyalgia. However, as we will come to find when we take a look at some of the research, Costochondritis does seem to be far more prevalent in those with Fibromyalgia.

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    What is Costochondritis?

    Costochondritis is the term given to inflammation of the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone, also known as the costochondral joint. Inflammation is a natural response to illness or injury, it’s essentially the immune system’s response to help initiate the healing process, in other words, it is a defence mechanism that is vital to our survival

    Whilst Inflammation is one of the body’s greatest tools, it doesn’t feel all that great when it does happen. After all, the point of inflammation is healing, and this means that more blood is redirected to the area, tissues become more permeable to allow increased blood flow and nutrients to the areas, and the nerves in the surrounding areas become a whole lot more sensitive. If you have ever had a paper cut you will know exactly what I mean. For such a small cut, it sure does impact your day to day activities.

    With Costochondritis, the costochondral cartilage, which connects your ribs to your breastbone, and surrounding tissue can become inflamed, making it tender and unpleasant when pressure is applied, and in most cases, simply from breathing or even moving.

    Symptoms of Costochondritis

    The obvious leading symptom is chest pain, typically it is described as a sharp or stabbing pain, and sometimes it is described as more of a dull ache which often becomes worse when moving or exerting the chest muscles. This can also include breathing, which can cause an increase in pain with large breaths. Many people find that even the slightest touch or pressure around the sternum and ribs can fire off a pain response, as the nerve becomes more and more sensitive due to the inflammatory response.

    The most commonly reported pain from Costochondritis can be found in the sternum, around the 4th-6th ribs. However, as the inflammation increases, it’s not uncommon for the pain to begin to spread.

    Does Costochondritis cause fatigue?

    A question we hear a lot of is “Does Costochondritis cause fatigue?”

    Again, this question takes a little research and some critical thinking to answer. There are some good studies that show us that there is a pretty strong connection between fatigue and Rheumatic conditions in general.  In one study of patients with different rheumatic conditions, there was found a  54% prevalence of fatigue for those with a single inflammatory rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or ankylosing spondylitis. However, this prevalence shot up to 82% for those with Fibromyalgia. In essence, from this and multiple other studies, one out of every two patients with a rheumatic disease seems to be severely fatigued.

    On one side of the coin, there are many folk in the general population who do have Costochondritis but report minimal fatigue. And on the other side of the coin, we have those with fibromyalgia and Costochondritis, who report major fatigue associated with it. It’s unlikely that costochondritis directly causes fatigue, as both those with fibromyalgia and without it would be affected. However, that does not mean that it does not indirectly cause fatigue.

    If you ask anyone with chronic pain about sleep, they will tell you that it’s incredibly difficult to get a good nights sleep when you are in pain. And one of the hallmark symptoms of sleep disturbances and deprivations is fatigue. Therefore, it’s not such a huge leap to assume that someone with Costochondritis, or Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis, would experience fatigue as an indirect result of being unable to sleep properly due to being in pain.

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    Likewise, many people with Fibromyalgia, often learn and develop certain coping skills for sleeping when it comes to dealing with the pain of Fibromyalgia. It’s very likely that due to differences in the pain experience, Costochondritis may cause undue stress and anxiety which could disrupt sleep also. Pain from Costochondritis is very hallmarked, it’s sharp, disruptive, and can often make people wonder if there is something wrong with their heart. Therefore, many people with Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis may struggle to sleep due to the new pain that comes from Costochondritis.

    Is there a connection between Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis 

    When living with Fibromyalgia, it is often hard to distinguish what pain comes from which issue. Many people have gone to their doctors with legitimate concerns, only for those concerns to be passed off as just another Fibro symptom.

    One example of this is from a consultation we had here at chronicillness.co, some years back. A young woman had been suffering from severe headaches and every time she went back to the doctors it was promptly put down as caused by Fibromyalgia. However, at her consultation with us, and after going through her history, it was blatant that this young woman had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. What also stood out was that her headaches were immediately cut in severity when she lay down. Suspecting a Cerebrospinal fluid leak we quickly referred her to her local hospital. And low and behold, it was indeed a spinal fluid leak. After a blood patch, and bed rest to closely monitor for leak recurrence, she recovered after around 6 weeks and has never had another headache since.

    We have many stories from over the years just like this one, but the point to take is that you should never put new symptoms down to Fibromyalgia.

    While working with our clients in the studio, it’s really not uncommon for us to get the “Is my Costochondritis and Fibromyalgia related?” question. And this is a good question, anecdotally you probably know a whole host of individuals with Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis, but are they related.

    When looking at the evidence on this topic, it becomes more clear that they are likely linked, as the prevalence of patients with Fibromyalgia who also have non-cardiac chest pain is far higher than in the general population. In a study conducted in 2016 that looked at symptoms of people with Fibromyalgia, across 4 groups it was found that on average, 29.1% of the 313 participants either currently or previously had Costochondritis. And when compared to the general population, it was found that chest pain in primary care it only accounted for 13%. 

    In an overview of symptoms of patients hospitalised in the US between 1999-2007, there were over 1.7 million people during this time with Fibromyalgia, of those patients, 10% presented with non-specific chest pain (around 170,000 people). While this is closer to the general population we have to remember that these were only the ones who felt the pain was bad enough to go to the hospital, and its worth remembering that when living with Fibromyalgia, it tends to take a much higher level of pain before seeking medical intervention due to living in pain being accepted as normal. 

    There may well be a few reasons why are more commonly found together:

    1. Sleep
      If the last few decades of research into sleep and pain have taught us anything, it’s that with lack of sleep comes a prevalence for more pain. Sleep disruptions lead to hyperalgesia pain changes, which means that your brain becomes far more responsive to noxious stimuli, lowering the pain threshold, and even going as far as to impact our own bodies’ ability to realise pain-killing chemicals. For those with Fibromyalgia, sleep is most often a major issue. Therefore, an activity that would not normally be deemed as strenuous, may become strenuous for someone with Fibromyalgia, and could potential lead to the development of Costochondritis, due to inflammatory responses from strenuous activity or movement.
    2. Guarding response
      For those in pain, it’s really not uncommon to find them adopting postures to make the pain more bearable. Whilst this may help in the short term, over time staying in any one position can become painful. In the instance of Costochondritis, it’s not a far reach to assume that putting prolonged strain on the costochondral joints and cartilage, could potentially cause an inflammatory response causing Costochondritis for those with Fibromyalgia.
    3. Lack of activity
      The decrease in activity levels amongst those with Fibromyalgia, as well as being in pain, can lead to sensitisation which lowers tissue tolerance to stress before an inflammatory response is deemed necessary. For tissue to be healthy, we need to move, and for those with Fibromyalgia, this can often be an issue. This gives us another potential reason for a link between Fibromylagia and Costochondritis.
    4. Hypermobility
      It has been shown in a number of studies that there is a link between hypermobility and Fibromyalgia. One study showed that 46.6% of the Fibromyalgia patients participating, scored at least 4 or more on the Beighton scoring system (A method used to determine hypermobility), compared to 28.8% of the control group. When we look deeper at the connection between Fibromyalgia and Hypermobility, the issues surrounding chest pain and Fibromyalgia can be further explained.The high prevalence of misdiagnosis in the hypermobile population, most likely contributes to the increase of those with Fibromyalgia experiencing inflammation of the chest. A common symptom surrounding hypermobility, is that of joint subluxation/dislocation, due to the genetic make-up of collagen. And a common issue associated with this is rib subluxation. We wrote an article around hypermobility rib subluxation earlier this year, which you can find here. Hypermobility may account for the prevalence of Costochondritis in the Fibromyalgia population, as slipping rib syndrome is pain from inflammation of the cartilage that.

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    Fibromyalgia Chest Pain

    Chest pain can be terrifying when it happens, it can even be severe enough to mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. I remember when I had my first experience of this, I actually thought I was dying and it wasn’t until I was in the hospital, that I found out that I was fine. But, none the less it was a pretty scary experience, as I couldn’t breathe properly because of the pain, and it felt like a tight band around my chest.

    The good news though, is that Costochondritis is it is not cardiac related, so it isn’t related to the heart. When there is inflammation in the chest this often leads to shortness of breath, due to us trying to breathe in a more limited fashion to reduce the pressure on the chest. This change in our respiration will often lead to us not taking in as much oxygen as we normally would, and can leave us feeling like we can’t breathe and panicked. But, again, Costochondritis is it is not cardiac related.

    Can Fibromyalgia make Costochondritis worse? 

    Living with Fibromyalgia is bad enough, but when adding Costochondritis to the mix it can seem a whole lot worse. But can Fibromyalgia make Costochondritis worse?

    Fibromyalgia often leads to central and peripheral sensitization where nerves are a lot more sensitive to noxious stimuli, so it will take less pressure on the chest before these nerves fire and alert the brain of a potentially dangerous stimulus. This would make it feel a lot more tender to the touch than it should normally be. Think of a turn dial that usually likes to sit at 1-3 unless something is wrong (like inflammation) and is then turned up when there is an issue. With Fibromyalgia though, the dial is already sitting at 7, so when a potential threat is noticed this can turn it up to 10. This can result in more painful sensations than are usually warranted. So, given what we know about the current pain mechanisms, having fibromyalgia is likely to make having Costochondritis worse than it would be for someone without fibro.

    Treating Costochondritis or Fibromyalgia chest pain 

    Your first port of call when it comes to Fibromyalgia and Costochondritis should be your doctor. Anti-inflammatories will help to deal with a lot of the pain from Costochondritis, but this isn’t a long term solution. As we previously mentioned, having a healthy and happy rib cage means that it needs to be able to move freely, so this should be your second port of call: focusing on relearning to move your ribs.

    We would also suggest that you check to make sure that you are indeed not Hypermobile and that the pain doesn’t arise from a rib subluxation.

    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

  • Fibromyalgia Headaches Based on Researches

    Headaches are one of the hallmark symptoms of living with Fibromyalgia. Headaches can be debilitating and make everyday life seem almost impossible. But what is a Fibromyalgia headache and is the mystery surrounding them accurate?

    In this blog we’ll take a look at the following: 

    • What is a Fibro headache (and what it is not) 
    • Why Fibro headaches occur
    • Fibromyalgia headaches from medication
    • How to get rid of a Fibro headache
    • Life after headaches: Recovery stories

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    It’s no secret that many of our new Fibromyalgia clients, both online and in studio, suffer headaches that disrupt their daily life. By the end of a programmed their headaches are either completely gone or reduced so much they’re almost unnoticeable. There is one key part of a programmed that all of our Fibromyalgia clients must go through; Understanding what Fibro is, but more importantly, what Fibro is not! 

    Take a look at the Fibromyalgia recovery stories we regularly post to our page and many will say the same thing: the programme is hard! But not in the way you might think. Let’s take an inside look at how our clients get rid of their headaches and how they get their Fibromyalgia success stories

    What is a Fibro Headache (And What it is Not) 

    One important thing to realize when it comes to Fibromyalgia headaches is that Fibromyalgia does not cause headaches, for one simple reason: Fibromyalgia is not a clear cut pathology.

    Fibromyalgia is a culturally adopted label that we use to describe a common set of symptoms that appear together. Hence the name Fibromyalgia “Syndrome”. A syndrome being a group of symptoms. In my opinion, as a Fibromyalgia specialist, the hardest part of any recovery is objectively looking at our own understanding of Fibro and our circumstances. It is incredibly difficult to change our understanding when there is so much information available that states the contrary. This bad info usually comes from Doctors, Physiotherapists and other reputable healthcare professionals. Throw Google in the mix and the outlook on Fibromyalgia can be a gloomy one. 

    It is incredibly easy to believe information that is freely available but is not actually correct. For example, have you heard of the following? 

    • Goldfish have a 3-5 second memory? (Not true!)
    • Bulls are angered by the colour Red (Bulls don’t have the colour receptors to see Red)
    • The evil queen from Snow White…what does she say to the mirror on the wall? (Go ahead Google it, it ain’t “mirror mirror on the wall”) 

    Keep in mind that until very recently (1967) women were not allowed to enter Marathons as it was thought their wombs would fall out! It is no different with Fibromyalgia. There is an abundance of really bad info which simply is not correct. The first step of a programme involves breaking down the Fibro label. When you understand what Fibro is, the whole process becomes so much easier. So let’s take a look and prepare for some against the grain advice and support

    Fibromyalgia is a culturally adopted label for a set of symptoms with no known cause. It is usually diagnosed via a process of elimination. Once all of the “red flag” nasties have been ruled out, a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia is given and we’re put in a box and forgotten about. Been there, done it, got the T-shirt! We are then left to fumble in the dark without any understanding of what’s happening or hope of getting better. 

    Sound familiar?

    Many of our previous and current clients experience the same thing. So bearing in mind Fibromyalgia has no pathological cause (no blood markers, no imaging findings, no sample findings, no diet findings.) Can there be headaches caused by Fibro?

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    Can There Be Such a Thing as a Fibromyalgia Headache?

    The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) do not recognise Fibro as a cause of headaches.

    And this is where most people struggle. The headaches and pain are very real. I’ve personally had pain dismissed as “all in your head” with the age-old advice of “try some meditation or Yoga.” If it was that easy none of us would need help. If we can change our understanding of Fibromyalgia from a disease to a syndrome we stand a much better chance of recovery. 

    So what is a syndrome? Well, it’s a common set of symptoms that group together with no known cause. Some common Fibromyalgia symptoms are: 

    If you can change your outlook on Fibro, then recovery is possible. If not, people enter a never ending cycle of trying all kinds of different treatments then accepting life as it is. At this point, things only get worse. Please don’t be one of those people!

    A few paragraphs back I mentioned NICE & ICHD do not recognise Fibromyalgia as a cause of headaches. Having worked with the Fibromyalgia community for several years now, I’ve noticed there are several types of headaches that are prevalent and also recognised by the ICHD. These are: 

    A very common scenario we see in studio or online is people suffering from one of the above headaches which have been passed off as a “Fibro headache.” This can pose a lot of problems, the main one being you will not receive the proper care for your headaches if they are simply passed off as being caused by Fibromyalgia.

    So Why Are We So Prone to Headaches When We Have Fibromyalgia? 

    It comes as no surprise that if you are in pain, stressed out, and unable to partake in the life you want to live, headaches are most likely going to occur. Let’s look at the cold hard facts of the common headaches we see frequently.

    Tension-Type Headaches and Fibromyalgia

    If you are reading this then you likely know what comes with a tension-type headache (TTH):

    • Dull, aching head pain
    • The sensation of tightness or pressure across the forehead or on the sides and back of the head
    • Tenderness in the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles

    A Tension-type headache is a diagnosis of exclusion, a catch-all term used to describe a headache that isn’t a migraine. It is a pretty vague term.

    Whilst the etiology of TTH is thought to be multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental factors, the most common theory supports a heightened sensitivity to pain in people who have tension-type headaches. Increased muscle tenderness, a common symptom of tension-type headaches, may result from a sensitised pain system. Hmmm…. sounds a lot like the people diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, doesn’t it? When diagnosed with Fibro, moving can be an absolute nightmare. The threat of a flare-up can all but make us a hermit. This lack of movement and a sensitised system may be a large contributing factor in causing tension-type headaches. We know that stress and anxiety naturally cause us to tighten up which throws further fuel on the fire.

     Fibromyalgia Headaches and Medication

    Fibromyalgia headaches can also come with a cocktail of meds. GABA drugs, amitriptyline drugs and opioids like Tramadol amongst others like Codeine/Morphine. Starting a course of these drugs can cause horrific headaches and cognitive impairment (brain fog). Do you feel like a zombie after taking Tramadol or Pregabalin? I certainly did and I was still in pain! Getting off meds is just as bad.

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     Probably the most guilty of this are the GABA drugs; Pregabalin and Gabapentin. A little known fact about these drugs which shocks a lot of our clients (it may shock you too!) is they are primarily used an anti-epileptic drug. In other words, they dampen activity in the brain. Check out the NHS & BNF descriptions of Pregabalin and see for yourself its uses and side effects (Spoiler; It’s headaches amongst other nasty stuff) No wonder we feel like a zombie!

    The secondary use is for nerve pain. So if you’re an epileptic with nerve pain, this is the drug for you. If you suffer from chronic pain, this drug is may contribute to the problems of brain fog and headaches. When our clients lay their Foundations and start to see results, we then start to have them dose down their meds with their doctor when they realise it’s doing them no favours. 

    Migraines and Fibromyalgia

    Migraines are another common finding with Fibro. Some people have true migraines, others have a lacklustre diagnosis after seeing a GP several times with previous headaches. You may then be prescribed a drug like Amitriptyline or Sumotriptan and left to it. If these drugs help your headaches, then it is likely that you are suffering from a true migraine. However, if they don’t, they may be contributing further to your headaches. These drugs are also guilty of causing incredible jaw stiffness, which can further add to the tension-type headache described earlier. Diagnosing migraines is a difficult business.

    Any good Doctor will give you a headache diary and compare it to the diagnostic criteria to come to the conclusion of a migraine. If you were given a migraine diagnosis after presenting with a headache, I’d consider reconsidering! It may be a simple fix and save you years of angst. 

    Dehydration Headache

    Another guilty party when deciphering the headache puzzle is the dehydration headache. It seems so simple and is often the first call to action when addressing headaches….How much water do you drink? Not orange juice, tea, coffee or pop, but clear tap or bottled water? For many, the answer will be incredibly low. Sometimes our brain needs to bathe in the liquid gold which is water. Ever had a hangover and a stinking headache? It takes time for it to go away and plenty of fluids. 

    Our NHS suggests we drink 6-8 glasses per day. That’s often a big ask for even the most active person. But I would trade off not having a headache for needing to pee any day of the week. 

    Conclusion

    When we look at the paragraphs above one thing is clear: Fibromyalgia does not cause headaches: because it’s a word and a label.

    People experience headaches for a variety of reasons. The reason headaches are so prevalent in those with Fibromyalgia is likely from the various biological, psychological and social stresses that come with being in pain. From a career of helping people with Fibromyalgia, I can tell you that headaches do not go until all of these stressors are either eliminated or mediated.

    It can be hard to follow the advice that is against the grain. Our clients are always tedious when it comes to headaches as they can be one of the worst experiences of chronic pain. It’s not easy to read and accept that Fibro is a culturally adopted label. You may have spent years being told it is an incurable disease and this is life now. 

    If you trust me on anything it should be this; Fibromyalgia doesn’t need to be your life. We post recovery stories on a regular basis of people just like you. People with debilitating pain, headaches and mobility problems. The only difference between you and them is the context in which chronic pain is viewed. For those that realise recovery is possible, it’s just around the corner. 

    We’re on a personal mission to lift the veil on Fibromyalgia and Fibromyalgia treatment. What we do has been shrouded in mystery for years but now we’re finally being recognised as the cultural authority on Fibromyalgia treatment and we want to help as many people as possible. 

    We’ve all been there and taking the plunge is scary. But it’s worth it.

    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

  • Fibromyalgia pain: Issues with tissues?

    It’s not uncommon for those with Fibromyalgia pain to feel defeated following a doctors visit, as over the years pain has been somewhat of a blind spot for doctors, with most having a difficult time treating even the most common types of pain. In one study looking into this very topic, it was found that 82% of graduates lacked basic competency in this area, if you also factor Fibromyalgia pain into this equation, then it’s likely to get even more complicated.

    Let me start by saying that pain is a very real experience, it destroys lives and it certainly doesn’t discriminate who it chooses. However, much like what I just wrote, we tend to anthropomorphize pain. We assign negative human qualities to it, as at times it feels like it’s malicious in its very nature. I know that at the moment it may feel like it’s you versus your fibromyalgia pain, battling every day with this omnipotent foe, but the pain isn’t malicious. Pain is your brain trying to keep you safe, it doesn’t mean your body is damaged or that you are ready for a knackers yard, as some of my favorite clients have put it.

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    In the studio, we often find that one of the most prevalent fears around Fibromyalgia pain is that most believe it means they are damaged. However, if the last few years of research into pain has taught us anything, it’s that this statement is simply not true. In fact, most people with Fibromyalgia can attest to this, as after countless imagining and other tests, there is nothing seemingly wrong with their nerves, bones, or muscle.

    It is understandable as to why people can feel like pain does mean damage though, after all, pain is one of our most primal protective responses, and if it didn’t instil fear and force us to worry then it wouldn’t be of much use.

    Those with Fibromyalgia are subjected to multitudes of tests, including, blood tests, imaging, and nerve conduction test. However, as is often the case, those individuals are given a clean bill of health once those test results come back normal, despite still being in pain. As I mentioned before, after a plethora of tests to find the reason for your pain come back normal. it can easily leave people a little deflated. I can personally testify to this.

    After being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, having tests conducted, and being told nothing is wrong, it leaves people wondering just what the hell is actually going on.

    A history of pain

    Pain is defined as: An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.

    The definition of pain has remained untouched for many years, but was finally updated in 2020 to add in “resembling that associated with”. Even after all these years we still seemingly struggle to define pain, and rightly so. Pain is ridiculously complex, and we will never truly understand it in its entirety, at least not until we can fully explain consciousness. And even then, we are most likely still going to struggle.

    The science of pain has come a long way since we first started to try to understand pain. So, before we get into this, let’s take a little history lesson on pain and see where we have come from, and where we are going.

    Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) pushed that pain was caused by evil spirits entering the body during injury, and because he was considered a fairly smart guy during his lifetime, his theories seemingly stuck around, for a very long time.

    Rene Descartes (1596 – 1650) introduced and eventually solidified the Cartesian Model of Pain (CMP) into history and ultimately medical science. The CMP explained pain as being created in the tissues that would send pain signals to the brain. Even in 2022, a plethora of medical treatments are still being used based on the CMP where people receive nerve blocks, have nerves burnt or are given cortisone injections in an attempt to relieve their pain. However, we now know this model, like many before, has pieces missing, yet is still largely practiced. Keep in mind also, that this theory was created back in a time we were burning people at the stake because we thought they were witches, so there’s always that.

    The Gate Control Theory (GCT) by Melzack and Wall was the next kid on the block. This theory explained how the spinal cord acted as a gatekeeper, choosing what dangerous and non-dangerous messages were sent to the brain. Even after some of the greatest minds had come together to help explain pain, the GCT could still not explain how people could be in pain without any messages being sent to the brain. Think of when amputees still feel pain in the limbs that they no longer have(which we are going to look at a little bit later), or in our case much closer to home, when we feel pain despite the lack of tissue damage. If the GCT is to be believed, the pain we feel in these cases is not possible and we all know that’s not true.

    We then had the Neuromatrix Model of Pain, followed and updated by the Cortical Body Matrix, which was heavily supported by evidence and built upon the principles of the formation of neurotags. But, alas, even in these later theories of pain, pieces were still missing.

    Most recently, we have moved towards the Biopsychosocial (BPS) model of pain. This was first put forth by Dr George Engel in the 1970s. The Biopsychosocial model of pain considers all the biological, psychological and social factors which can influence pain. The Biopsychosocial model explains how pain is created and modulated by the brain, how pain can be influenced by tissue damage or created in the absence of tissue damage. It describes how pain is a multifactorial, personal experience. It is ultimately the BPS model of pain that helped me understand my own personal pain experience and help me ground my method in solid, evidence-based science.

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    Given the current body of research we have on pain to date, the BPS model of pain is the only model that can stand up to criticism.

    Fibromyalgia pain does not mean damage

    Despite having imagining showing no damage to tissue, bone, or nerves, it can still be hard for individuals to truly believe they are not damaged. After all, it’s hard not to when your muscles and bones ache to such an extent it limits what you can do every day. So, to help hammer home this point of pain not meaning damage, I managed to find some brilliant examples to help show you how pain can exist with or without damage. One such example is that of people around the world who don’t even feel pain!

    This is known as “congenital analgesia” and for those with this rare medical condition, their life expectancy is drastically reduced. After all, how would you know if your appendix was about to burst if you couldn’t feel pain? Or how would you know if you were walking on a fractured leg? Well, the truth is you wouldn’t.

    There’s a reason we experience pain and it’s not about damage, it’s about protection. In fact, we don’t even need a body to feel pain. There’s no shortage of people with pain in legs and arms that were amputated decades ago, suffering what is commonly referred to as phantom pain syndrome.

    Pain is 100% real, but it is also a subjective experience, which means we have no real way of knowing if everyone feels the pain the same way. As I mentioned before, If pain is made in the brain, then we don’t even need a body to feel it. A great example regarding phantom limb pain is the example is of  Mark Goddard back in the late ’90s, who fell off his motorbike and began to suffer intense pain in his hand as a result. Mark had multiple x-rays, MRI’s and even nerve conduction tests, and every time, they came back fine. After a while, Mark asked the NHS to amputate his hand, as he felt that he would rather not have the hand if it meant no more pain. After a long drawn out argument with the NHS about the ethics (because he was asking them to amputate a hand with perfectly healthy tissue), they said no.

    After being told no by the NHS, Mark had reached the end of his tether and decided that he would take matters into his own hands. Over the next two weeks, he built a guillotine in his shed. Mark waited until his wife went out of the house and he chopped his own hand off! He threw his hand into a bucket and set it on fire so that it could never be reattached, and after a whole year of not having his hand, Mark still had hand pain….despite not having a hand. If you want to read about marks story, you can read his press article here.

    I myself have seen this in the studio over the years, as clients report that joints hurt, despite the fact they have had a full knee replacement years ago! They were feeling pain in a piece of metal, which again, is a great way to show you that you experience pain in the brain and not the tissue. Pain is complex, it needs emotion, beliefs, context, and so much more to exist.

    Mark is the perfect example that pain isn’t about damage, as he had healthy tissue, but also had pain, then he had no tissue after he removed his hand, but he still had pain. Pain is for protection, it’s not just about damage. In the studio, we see clients every day who have spent decades afraid to even move, in fear they with hurt themselves.

    So, if somebody can have no damage and still have pain, can somebody have damage and experience no pain? In short, absolutely!

    Take for example Federico who was involved in a shark attack. Fed was out surfing one day when he was attacked and sustained a bite to the arm. After being rescued and pulled to shore, he realised he had also been bitten on the leg and he had never even felt it. You can read about Fed here.

    Then there is a great story about Julia, a Russian woman who was walking home one day from work and encountered a mugger. She was unknowingly stabbed in the neck, but took over an hour to realise that the knife was still in there! You can read her story here.

    I hope this short article has helped you dispel some of the myths around pain as a result of damage and has encouraged you to do more, and let your brain slowly begin to start trusting your body again.

    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

  • Signs Your Back Pain Is Serious

    Signs Your Back Pain Is Serious

    We’ve all had back pain from time to time. Maybe we lifted luggage that was too heavy, held a baby for too long or carried a backpack overloaded with books.

    Some aches and pain here and there are normal—ones that tend to go away after you rest or exercise. But millions of Americans have ongoing back pain. It’s the leading cause of disability in people younger than 45, and many factors can cause it.

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    You shouldn’t be in severe and significant pain for a long time. So, how do you know if your back pain is serious? Read on to find out more.

    Here are a few signs that your back pain shouldn’t be taken lightly.

    1. You fell.
    Consider if you’ve had a serious trauma, such as you fell from a height or had a car accident. Even if you’ve had a minor trauma and are over 50, your health care professional will want to talk to you and examine your back pain. When you’re older, falling down even a few steps can cause a fracture. If there is no fracture, you may be told to manage your pain with medicine and physical therapy.

    2. You have an ongoing fever.
    A fever that isn’t responsive to medicine and is accompanied by back pain could be a sign of a serious infection. If it’s an infection, you may be prescribed antibiotics. You may be told to rest and then resume your daily activities once you feel better.

    3. You have tingling or numbness.
    Here, you have a pins-and-needles feeling in your back that won’t go away. It usually means that you have nerve damage or irritation, making it more significant than your typical back pain. You can experience permanent disabilities if you leave this condition untreated. Your health care professional can evaluate you and may order tests to get images of your spine. Treatment depends on your diagnosis.

    What is VCF?

    Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are the most common fractures in people with osteoporosis, a silent condition that weakens your bones and makes them more susceptible to fractures. VCFs affect about 750,000 people annually, says the National Osteoporosis Foundation. And they affect about one-quarter of postmenopausal women in the United States. The risk of this condition increases with age; about 40 percent of women age 80 and older are affected.

    VCFs happen when the bony block or vertebral body in the spine collapses. That can lead to severe pain, deformity and height loss. These fractures happen more commonly in the middle portion of the spine.

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    Most of the time, a VCF happens without an injury or pain. It can be caused by something as insignificant as a sneeze. One of the first signs of VCF is height loss. Think about whether your adult children seem taller. Do you need to hem pants you’ve worn for years? Are you suddenly unable to reach a shelf? These signs may mean you’ve experienced VCF.

    Risks if left untreated

    VCFs can be very painful. People who’ve had one VCF are at five times greater risk of having a second one. Risk for death goes up to more than 50 percent a year after a vertebral fracture.

    Each broken vertebra raises the risk for another since it changes how weight is balanced on the spine. You’ll experience pain in your back and chest as these muscles have to work more to hold you upright. It gets more difficult to walk. You develop stomach troubles and difficulty breathing. If you do nothing, you may experience disability.

    Complications related to VCF include:

    Segmental instability

    When a fracture leads to a vertebral body collapse of more than 50 percent, there is a risk of segmental instability. Because spinal segments work together, when one segment deteriorates or collapses, it can produce pain and impair daily activities. The instability eventually leads to a quicker degeneration of the spine in the affected area.

    Kyphosis

    Here, the front of the vertebrae will collapse and “wedge” because of a lack of normal vertebral space. Kyphosis leads to a more rounded thoracic spine, which may be referred to as hunchback or dowager’s hump.

    Neurological complications

    If the fracture causes part of the vertebral body to place pressure on the spinal cord, the nerves and spinal cord can be affected. The normal space between the spinal cord and beginning of the spinal canal can be decreased if pieces of the broken vertebral body push into the spinal canal.

    The narrowing of the spinal canal due to a VCF can injure the spinal nerves or cause problems later from nerve irritation. The lack of space can also lower the blood and oxygen supply to the spinal cord. This can lead to numbness and pain in the affected nerves. The nerves may lose some of their mobility when the space around them decreases, which can lead to nerve irritation and inflammation. Back pain isn’t par for the course as you get older. If you experience any back pain, make sure to speak with a health care professional about your symptoms.

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  • Should You Have Back Surgery for Your Pain?

    Should You Have Back Surgery for Your Pain?

    Back pain is extremely common, with experts estimating that up to 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

    If your back pain is disabling and persistent, your health care provider may recommend diagnostic tests like an XRAY or MRI to determine if surgery may be the best option for you.

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    Back surgery can help relieve some causes of back pain, but the key is the ability of your physician to identify key signs of symptoms to determine whether surgery is needed.

    Some other reasons you may want to ask your health care provider for more information about surgery include: bone spurs in your spine; trouble walking; a degenerative spinal condition that’s causing side effects like weakness; a slipped disk that isn’t improving; a tumor on your spinal cord; or a broken or dislocated bone in your back. In most cases, your surgeon will discuss with you appropriate treatment based on your clinical history. However, it is important that you let you your surgeon know if you have unrelenting pain, neurological issues or a serious problem like a spinal cord injury.           

    Types of surgery
    Some minimally invasive procedures are outlined below.

    Balloon kyphoplasty
    Balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) is a minimally invasive surgery that can stabilize a fracture or compressed vertebrae due to osteoporosis, cancer, or noncancerous tumors. It can alleviate your back pain from a spinal fracture and restore vertebral height and proper spinal alignment. Other benefits include improved mobility, ability to perform daily tasks and better quality of life. During surgery, balloons are used to elevate the fractured vertebra to return it to the correct position. The balloon creates a cavity that is filled with a special cement to prevent collapse from happening again. Good candidates are people with severe pain, those too frail or old or whose bones are too weak for spinal surgery, or younger people who have osteoporosis (where bones become weak and brittle) caused by steroid treatment or a metabolic disorder.

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    Diskectomy
    Here, the damaged portion of a herniated disk is removed from the spine to relieve irritation and inflammation of a nerve. A herniated disk happens when some of the softer material inside the disk pushes out through a crack in the exterior. Typically, surgery involves full or partial removal of the back portion of a vertebra to get to the ruptured disc. It’s most effective for treating pain that radiates down your arms or neck pain. It’s less helpful for treating back pain. But your health care professional may suggest it if other treatments haven’t worked or your symptoms worsen.

    Laminectomy
    Here, bones overlying the spinal canal are removed. That enlarges the spinal canal and creates space, relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. Typically, the pressure is caused by bony overgrowths in the spinal canal, also known as bone spurs. These growths can happen in people who have arthritis in their spines and are also a normal part of aging. A laminectomy is generally only used when more conservative treatments haven’t relieved symptoms or symptoms are severe or worsening.

    Spinal fusion
    Spinal fusion permanently connects two or more bones in your spine with metal plates, screws or rods. That fusion forms one, immobile unit. The surgery improves stability, corrects a deformity and relieves pain. It can be used to stop the progression of a spinal deformity (such as scoliosis), spinal weakness or instability, or a herniated disk.

    Artificial disk replacement
    Here, worn or damaged disks are removed and replaced with artificial ones. The procedure aims to help relieve back pain while maintaining normal motion. In general, good candidates for disk replacement have no prior surgery on the spine, no spinal deformity, back pain that’s caused by one or two problematic disks, and no significant joint disease in the spinal nerve.

    Make sure to speak with a health care professional about both the benefits and risks of these procedures.

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  • Back Pain Is Not a Normal Part of Aging

    Spotting gray hairs on your head. Forgetting where you put the car keys. Waking up a bit earlier. These things all can be a part of life as we get older.

    But what about your back. How much back pain is normal? Is it OK to be in pain or is something bigger going on? Yes, basic aches and pains are facts of life. So, a little spine pain is totally normal and common.

    Still, back pain shouldn’t be severe and significant. You shouldn’t have sharp pain when you wake up and you can’t recall doing anything out of the ordinary, says Roy Nissim, DC, a chiropractor who practices in Santa Monica, Calif.

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    If you did yardwork and you normally don’t, it’s normal to be a bit achy. But if you’re in construction and you’re in back pain (even after taking some over-the-counter medicines to help relieve pain and inflammation), something may be wrong. “We can wake up with aches and pains,” says Dr. Nissim. “But a sharp and dull pain isn’t normal. For most, if pain lingers for more than 48 hours, that’s a red flag. A light bulb should go off that something’s not right.”

    He also says you want to look out for pain that goes away and then returns feeling worse. That can be a red flag that something is going on.

    Don’t wait to visit a health care professional if you’re in pain. “Don’t let pain linger longer than a week,” says Dr. Nissim. “If something is bothering you, seek help. It’s easier to treat and resolve something that’s new, fresh and acute rather than treat something that’s chronic.”

    Why prevent falls
    No one likes to fall. It’s embarrassing and, as you get older, it’s dangerous. If you prevent falls, you ward off most fractures and serious injuries. According to the National Council on Aging, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for older Americans. In fact, 25 percent of Americans ages 65 and older fall at least once each year. What’s worse, falling once doubles your chances of it happening again.

    You can take some general measure to help prevent falls. Work on balancing exercises, says Dr. Nissim. For example, stand on one foot. Or sit and then stand without using your hands to help you up and down. Be aware of your surroundings. For example, sit a moment before you get out of bed. Then stand and get your balance before you walk. Women should avoid high-heeled shoes, which may make them prone to tripping, Dr. Nissim says.

    Vertebral compression fractures
    Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are the most common fracture in people with osteoporosis, affecting about 750,000 people annually, says the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. VCFs affect about one-quarter of postmenopausal women in the United States. The risk of this condition increases with age; about 40 percent of women age 80 and older are affected.

    VCFs happen when the bony block or vertebral body in the spine collapses. That can lead to severe pain, deformity and height loss. These fractures happen more commonly in the middle portion of the spine.

    Most of the time, VCFs happen without an injury or pain. It can be caused by something as insignificant as a sneeze. One of the first signs of a VCF is height loss. Do your adult children seem taller? Do you need to hem pants you’ve worn for years? Are you suddenly unable to reach a shelf? This may mean you’ve experienced VCF.

    Risks if left untreated
    A VCF is painful. Even when you don’t feel it, says the National Osteoporosis Foundation, it can be serious. People who’ve had one VCF are at five times the risk of having a second one. Risk for death goes up to more than 50 percent a year after a vertebral fracture. Each broken vertebra raises the risk for another since it changes how weight is balanced on the spine. You’ll experience pain in your back and chest since these muscles have to work hard to hold you upright. It gets harder to walk. You develop stomach troubles and difficulty breathing. If you do nothing, you may experience disability.

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    Treatment options
    Current therapies for vertebral fractures include nonsurgical and surgical treatments. Nonsurgical management includes analgesia, bed rest, physiotherapy, and back bracing.

    A balloon kyphoplasty (BKP)—a minimally invasive surgery that can stabilize a fracture or compressed vertebrae due to osteoporosis, cancer, or non-cancerous tumors—is another treatment option. It can reduce your back pain from a spinal fracture and restore vertebral height and proper spinal alignment. Other benefits include improved mobility, ability to perform daily tasks and better quality of life. During the surgery, balloons are used to elevate the fractured vertebrae to return them to the correct position. The balloon creates a cavity that is filled with a special cement to prevent collapse from happening again. Good candidates are people with severe pain, those too frail or old or whose bones are too weak for spinal surgery, or younger people who have osteoporosis caused by steroid treatment or a metabolic disorder.

    Although the complication rate for BKP is low, as with most surgical procedures, serious adverse events, some of which can be fatal, can occur, including heart attack, cardiac arrest (heart stops beating), stroke, and embolism (blood, fat, or cement that migrates to the lungs or heart). Other risks include infection; leakage of bone cement into the muscle and tissue surrounding the spinal cord and nerve injury that can, in rare instances, cause paralysis; leakage of bone cement into the blood vessels resulting in damage to the blood vessels, lungs, and/or heart. Talk to a health care provider about both benefits and risks of this procedure. A prescription is required. Results may vary.

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