Discover a structured Fibromyalgia protocol to manage symptoms effectively, including treatment plans, therapies, and lifestyle strategies for improved quality of life.
Going to a spa helps people with fibromyalgia to find a lot of relief. There are a lot of services that have the potential to help reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia, so similarly spa could also be much more than a relaxing place. If you do for regular visits, even those visits can help you in easing your symptoms. There are different benefits of massages, facials and saunas that should be tried out if you are suffering from fibromyalgia. Following are some few services that prove to help fibromyalgia patients.
You should have a good communication with your therapist because each person with fibromyalgia has a different level of pain. so, you need to have some communication in order to tell the therapist how much pain do you have and how much pressure can you tolerate. Some people can only tolerate light massage, while other people can tolerate much more pressure and rub.
Moreover, some people may find it useful to have hot stimuli, while others to cold. The blood flow and flexibility in the muscles increases by the massage that is otherwise slowed down in people with fibromyalgia. Moreover, individuals also find it effective to have aromatherapy along with the massage, as it helps in relaxing inside and out. Listening to music during the massage can also help in relaxing inside and out. Talk to your professional about your symptoms before taking a massage, so that he can help you in a better way to relieve most of your symptoms.
Some fibromyalgia sufferers find it helpful to have hydrotherapy, but they have to make sure that they stay hydrated throughout the duration of the session. Moreover, some services like steam rooms and saunas can also be effective, as muscles get relaxed and immunity increases by it. Painful symptoms get helped out by natural substances like water, depending upon the severity of pain.
Facials can also help in giving benefits to the clients. People who take medications might see the differences in their skin, so those negative side effects from the medication can be treated by a facial treatment. Moreover, having a gentle massage may give you some relief, as the muscles in the face might have some kind of pain. So usually, facials are considered to be a source of transformation and it feels good to have them. Having a little confidence boost doesn’t hurt anyone.
Fibromyalgia sufferers are sensitive to a lot of things along with pain. Weather, stress, smell, and even the things they eat can affect them. Use of GMOs is the best among the things which can be of concern when you are trying to plan the diet for the best results while having fibromyalgia. The question arises whether GMOs can a play a role in worsening fibromyalgia symptoms or not.
GMOs refer to “genetically modified organisms”. It seems as one term but it actually has reference to a lot of different things as no rule is set on how the organism is modified genetically. This is the reason why fibromyalgia sufferers may find it a problem to use GMOs.
GMOs are the plants in which actual gene has been modified when it comes to crops like vegetables and fruits. It is usually not explained how they are modified. It could be modified through cross-pollination, cross-breeding or adding the chemicals directly to the plants.
If you think that you eat pork, beef and poultry from the animals that are fed with GMOs plants, you may also say that it is also considered that meat is also GMO if this meat comes from the animal who fed GMOs.
GMOs first use could be seen as a positive attempt. Areas in which foods like flood-ravaged states could not be produced; areas with drought-ridden swampland or areas of constant high or low temperatures were not have genetically modified plants in growth. People who might have starved were able to get the food by using GMOs.
The question has been asked as to whether chemical engineering usage has gone too far. This has caused the people to be encouraged in getting to purchase the organic food which is free of GMO and have foods that have a label of GMO. So people who have fibromyalgia can decide whether to take GMOs in their diet or not.
It is simply not easy to give a direct answer to this question because this term refers to a lot of different things. Has the food been genetically modified for it to adjust to some different land? Is it a cross-breed of different plants that are brought together? Or has it been grown with above the normal amount of herbicides and pesticides?
Whether GMOs can affect the fibromyalgia overwhelming pain and fatigue has the biggest factor which shows that we can’t define the GMOs as following one particular plan of the creation so it is not possible to pinpoint the health consequences.
For people with fibromyalgia, diet and chemical sensitivities play a huge role. There is a possibility that GMOs could be a problem in the health of people who suffer from fibromyalgia. With the GMOs, you don’t know exactly what you are eating and whether it will affect your fibromyalgia symptoms or not.
GMOs that would be taken under consideration are vegetables, fruits and legumes are grown for consumption, as well as GMOs that are given as a feed to animals who produce milk, lay eggs or being raised for consumption. As a result, a lot of possible sources of GMOs would occur which may or may not contain the substances that will affect fibromyalgia people’s health.
Unfortunately, no way is there by which we can know for sure about the substances that are an issue without knowing the beginning to finishing process of production of these foods, and for the consumer, that information is not available.
Currently, it is not necessary for the U.S to label the food that contains GMOs. Due to this fact, we all have consumed GMOs at some time somewhere.
The only way to avoid taking the food that contains GMOs is to stay away from the foods that may possibly have those in it, if the GMOs may make you sick. You would have to take the dairy products, meat labeled organic and have to purchase the prepared and canned food that is labeled as 100% GMO-free. Although it is not a legal requirement but a lot of companies have decided to put this on the labels.
You should try to purchase only organic foods for some time if you are having trouble in dealing with the symptoms of fibromyalgia-like muscle pain, severe fatigue, headaches and flu-like malaise under control, in order to see if helps in easing your health problems.
With this knowledge on hand, cannabis deserves a better reputation that the one it already has.
The cannabis patches are nothing but transdermal patches that release the “good stuff” in the skin, which later travel through the bloodstream.
These patches relieve neurological nerve pain caused by diabetes and fibromyalgia. Experts from the company explain that controlled doses can’t harm the body nor cause any side effects.
These patches guarantee that the needed amount of the healing content is delivered into the patient.
It can be applied through a penetrable membrane that allows full absorption or thin layers that melt on the skin. The thin layers are packed with powerful cannabinoid extract that reaches for the central nervous system, and relieves pain.
CBD is the second most important cannabinoid in cannabis. As you already know, THC is the first cannabinoid. CBD offers huge anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving potential. There’re almost no side effects, except for the hallucinogenic effect.
Mr. Raymond C. Dabney, CEO of Cannabis Science says that their product is just a tiny bit of the whole capacity of Cannabis Science.
“The development of these two new pharmaceutical medicinal applications are just the tip of the iceberg for what we see as the future for Cannabis Science.
While we strive to increase our land capacity for growth and facilities to produce our own product to supply our scientists with proprietary materials to make these formulations, we are also busy researching more potential needs for Cannabis related medical applications and developing the methods for delivery of these medications,”explained the CEO.
Over 10% of all Americans are affected by fibromyalgia, and many don’t even know they have it.
Neuropathic nerve pain is common in many people worldwide, and these patches can help in the treatment of both diseases. There’s a strong possibility that the patches even cure these health problems.
“As more states nationwide legislate for the legalization of cannabis and cannabis-derived medications, we here at Cannabis Science are focused on developing pharmaceutical formulations and applications to supply the huge growing demand expected over the coming few years,” finished Dabney.
Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain syndrome which comes with many symptoms and complications that we do not expect. For example, one of the less known symptoms that fibromyalgia patients would often suffer from is fibroma. Fibroma is basically an enlarged and benign growth on the skin, which is often painful and can sometimes be dangerous.
Fibromas are basically growth tissues in the body. However, the term could cover a wide range of growths and nails down to what is causing the fibroma so difficult.
If you have heard of the term “skin tag”, then you may be familiar with fibromas. Skin tag, which is a small growth of the skin, is a type of fibroma. These are fairly common especially for seniors. This kind of fibroma is not dangerous and can be removed easily. Moreover, skin tags are not often painful, but this is not really the case for all sorts of fibromas.
Fibromas are more common among people who suffer from fibromyalgia. However, the reason behind this has not yet been fully understood.
What is known is that fibromas are common for those who are suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and autoimmune conditions. This barely explains why fibromyalgia will make you more susceptible to skin tags in the same manner. Yet, it is hardly surprising since anyone who has fibromyalgia is aware how the condition will seem to trigger endless complications.
As of the moment, fibromas are among those conditions that lack proper medical research so it is hard to tell why it is closely being linked to fibromyalgia.
The good news is that fibromas are normally benign. This means that they are not dangerous for you at all. However, the bad news is that there is not a proper way to treat them through medications.
Of course, it would be great if there were medications that could help to shrink and then eventually eliminate them. However, for most people, the only option would be surgery. On a good note, the surgery involved is a simple procedure and can be done as an outpatient procedure, especially for cases of skin tags.
During the surgery the growth is usually cut away using a scalpel. The surgeon will then use a laser to seal the blood vessels instantly, making the procedure almost bloodless and extremely safe for the patient. Thus, the surgery can be done in about fifteen minutes and will only leave behind a small scar. Moreover, it also makes the procedure to be extremely safe for the patient.
In most cases, skin tag growths do not really need to be taken off. However, they can be unsightly and embarrassing for the patient and this is why those who have this will tend to suffer from stress, not to mention the other symptoms that come with fibromyalgia.
The condition can make it difficult to complete basic everyday tasks. Sometimes just getting dressed and out the door is too much, taking up the limited amount of “spoons” you have available to you. If your days are increasingly painful because of the clothes you’re wearing, you may need to make changes to your wardrobe. A few simple alterations could make a big difference, though. Here’s what we recommend when it comes to fibromyalgia clothing choices.
Fibromyalgia pain is typically present on both sides of the body, below and above the waistline, and along the vertebral column. In many cases, simply putting on clothes and wearing them all day is extremely painful for people with this condition. Many sufferers also suffer from touch sensitivity that makes any touch, no matter how gentle, a searing pain.
In addition, other common symptoms of fibromyalgia include heat or cold intolerance. The weather or even the thermostat can have an effect on the pain and stiffness that you may experience every day.
That means clothing for fibromyalgia sufferers must be easy to put on, comfortable to wear, and simple to remove. These are 15 fibromyalgia clothing choices that can help alleviate your pain. When in doubt, turn to your support groups or healthcare providers for more information.
There are certain fabrics that are more comfortable than others. If you have fibromyalgia, you want to find clothes that won’t irritate your skin. These soft and breathable fabrics can help:
Jeans aren’t just tight and restrictive, they can also be itchy and rough to the touch. Most people with fibromyalgia avoid denim altogether.
Unless they’re marketed as soft and stretchy, jeans are usually too rigid to provide any sort of comfort. Leggings, sweatpants, and other types of loose fitting pants are a better option. With today’s jeggings or other super comfy fabrics, you do have options that still look like denim without the ouch.
One symptom of fibromyalgia is increased sensitivity to temperature changes. You may find it hard to regulate these shifts and certain times of year with extreme weather can make it even more difficult.
Layering is the best way to make it through the day in a climate that changes often, especially throughout a single day. For instance, you may live in a coastal town that is foggy and cold in the morning, but sunny and warm in the afternoon. In this case, you should start with a light T-shirt or tank top and pair it with a soft sweater that is easily removable.
This method of dressing will allow you to be prepared for any weather changes as the day goes on.
You don’t have to sacrifice style to find pain relief. There are comfortable clothes for fibromyalgia that will help you look your best, no matter where you’re headed. These are some of the best brands, according to other people with fibromyalgia.
Old Navy: From work clothes to casual loungewear, Old Navy offers a range of styles at affordable prices
Lululemon: This activewear brand is on the expensive side, but fans rave about the quality, comfort, and stretch of Lululemon leggings
Under Armour: If you’re looking for advanced athletic wear, Under Armour carries unique fabrics that can regulate temperature and provide breathability
The North Face: Because this brand is typically geared toward apparel for outdoor activities, they carry great clothes for soft warmth, such as fleece pullovers
Hanes: Everyday comfortable essentials, as well as undergarments, are easy to find at Hanes
LOFT: If you need dressy yet comfortable work clothes, LOFT carries “Signaturesoft” clothing under their Lou & Grey line
Target: For an expansive range of affordable clothing for any event, Target has a wide variety of comfortable clothing
Aerie: Whether you need undergarments, swimsuits, or loungewear, Aerie carries items that are typically around $15 to $35
Also try to add quality clothing pieces to your closet. This can be tough when you’re on a tight budget, but it will be beneficial in the long run. Qualityclothes will last longer, even after consistent washing and wearing. Focus on buying a few essential items that are made with high-quality fabric. Cheaply made clothing can scratch and rub your skin in a way that will irritate your symptoms.
Shop sales, clearance racks, and use coupons to save money at stores that are usually on the expensive side. Look for gently-used consignment places that sell high-end clothing at a big discount.
Putting comfort over style doesn’t mean you have to look like you just rolled out of bed. Find clothing in fabrics, cuts, and colors that you love. If you find a piece that is especially comfortable, buy it in a few different colors. Build your wardrobe around these items and jazz them up with accessories.
On days when you wake up with unbearable pain, turn to the clothing items that are easiest to throw on, and simply add accessories. You can wear the same loose and flowing dress dozens of different ways. Purchase a few necklaces and scarves to add a pop of color. This will diversify your comfortable closet pieces.
Most women agree that bras are simply uncomfortable, whether you’re in good health or not. For those suffering with fibromyalgia, tight straps and underwires can actually be painful and a constant source of stress.
Luckily, there are options that can give you the support you need without the discomfort. Try these options if you’re dealing with ongoing fibro pain.
A bralette is a good choice for smaller-chested women because it only offers minimal support. They don’t have underwires or clasps, which means there isn’t anything that will dig into your skin.
They typically come in different types of fabrics, some with lightweight cups.
Depending on the type of pain you’re experiencing, front closing bras are easier to put on and remove without excessive movement.
These are popular for women who deal with arthritis and other common causes of chronic pain. They’re another great option for bad pain days when you need to minimize excessive movement.
While it isn’t the right option for every case, many patients experience pain relief while wearing compression clothing.
Compression garments can decrease chronic pain by increasing oxygenation and blood circulation. They may also reduce swelling and edema. By keeping muscles and joints stable, this type of clothing could even help prevent injuries.
Talk to your doctor to find out if this is the right method of pain relief for you.
Some days are worse than others for the five million people with fibromyalgia. There will be times when you need to limit even the most basic of daily tasks. For those days, turn to easy fibromyalgia clothing that won’t further irritate your symptoms.
For many people, this means loose fitting clothes. Flowing maxi dresses, oversized sweaters, and drawstring pants are all great options.
Don’t be afraid to wear certain items repeatedly. If you need to diversify them for work or social outings, add a layer or an accessory.
The warmer months of summer can be difficult. Whether it’s dry or humid, excessive heat can take a toll when you’re already struggling with symptoms.
Choose loose and thin fabrics for maximum breathability. Try to avoid dark colors that will absorb sunlight and heat. If you’re going to be outside, wear moisture-wicking fabrics that will keep you cool and dry from any excessive sweat.
Depending on the location and level of your pain, buttons can be difficult to maneuver on a bad day. Try to avoid button-down tops that can increase pain and stiffness in your hands and fingers.
Zippers may also be difficult to wear because of the rough seam that is typically found underneath. Look for clothes that are free of clasps and connectors. Find things that you can easily slip in and out of.
One symptom of fibromyalgia is cold feet, but elastic and itchy fabrics can make socks uncomfortable to wear.
If you’re struggling to find the right socks, experiment with different types. Perhaps shorter ankle socks are better than high socks that squeeze your calves. Socks that are labeled as light and breathable are often beneficial to avoid unnecessary pressure.
Still struggling to find comfort for your feet? Give diabetic socks a try. Fibromyalgia pain and diabetic neuropathy are very similar. These socks are designed to provide compression and increase circulation, which may reduce pain.
Tight waistbands can cause fibromyalgia pain to flare up, which means pantyhose and tights are a no-no.
If you need to wear them for work or a formal event, try thigh-high stockings. They offer the same clean and polished look without the tightness around your waist.
Tags can be itchy and uncomfortable for everyone, regardless of whether or not they suffer from a chronic pain condition. However, for those with fibromyalgia, it can be even more irritating.
Some brands like Hanes and Champion are going tag-free. The brand and size are printed directly onto the fabric instead of a tag. This eliminates the need for a bothersome piece of fabric that can irritate your skin and cause you more discomfort. If your clothes do have tags, gently unpick the stitching of them and remove entirely.
Maternity clothes, particularly maternity pants, are designed with a woman’s growing belly in mind. As a result, maternity pants are made with stretchy and elastic fabric that is meant to go underneath the belly.
This provides a better option for women dealing with chronic pain. These pants usually sit along the hips and offer much more flexibility, especially while sitting.
When paired with a long and loose top, no one will even know you’re wearing maternity pants.
Support and stability are important if you’re suffering with chronic pain due to fibromyalgia. A comfortable pair of shoes will cushion your feet and help you get around with ease. Some of the most popular shoe brands recommended by fibromyalgia patients include the following.
Sketchers: The memory foam used in some Sketchers designs can help provide comfort and support for walking
Scholl’s: Fans of this brand say that Dr. Scholl’s shoes offer good arch support and cushioned heels
Converse: A classic choice for those who love sneakers, the Converse pull-on styles offer flat and light shoes without laces that need tying
Birkenstocks: Unlike most sandals, Birkenstocks offer a thick cushion to ease pain associated with walking or standing
Uggs: Perfect for winter and colder weather, Uggs are much like soft and warm slippers
Nike: These walking and running shoes are designed for athletes of all types, which means they offer a range of specialty styles that can give you durable support
The sciatic nerve is the longest single nerve in the body. It runs from the spinal cord through the buttocks where it branches off to both legs and ends below each knee. When inflammation or irritation of this nerve occurs, it causes a painful condition known as sciatica. Because the sciatic nerve controls feeling in the legs, this kind of pain can create additional, long-term problems. Sciatica pain occurs in up to 10% of the population, most often affecting patients between the ages of 25 and 45. Pilates for sciatica is one therapy many have used to find pain relief. While it won’t work for everyone, some do find benefits from this practice. Here’s how.
Sciatica is any type of pain that stems from the irritation or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This can be caused by repetitive movements, poor posture, or lifestyle factors.
A slipped or herniated disc can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Chronic lower back pain is linked to this kind of pain. A pinched nerve will also create pain radiating down the leg like sciatica.
A number of different physiological events can trigger sciatica. A fall or injury that affects the spine and presses on the nerve can be one possible cause. However, most of the time a specific injury isn’t involved. In these cases, the irritation or pinching of the nerve due to the body’s natural aging effects lead to sciatica.
Pain will also usually increase when patients are sitting for a long period of time. However, it is important to note that increased pain over time may indicate a problem with the nerve itself.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, it may be helpful to seek the advice of a doctor or pain specialist who can suggest a variety of treatments to stop or alleviate the pain. Your individual treatment will depend on the severity of your pain and the specific cause. One noninvasive option is pilates for sciatica pain.
Pilates offers similar flexibility and stress-reducing benefits as yoga. However, because the exercises are done at a relatively quick pace, with a greater emphasis on strength, Pilates offers superior fat-burning and muscle-building capabilities. For tension and pain related to sciatica, these exercises can provide pain relief.
You’ll perform most Pilates exercises seated or reclining, instead of standing. These exercises frequently focus on the core, chiseling your physique as you move through the practice. As an example, a typical Pilates workout might include exercises such as laying on your back while lifting your legs straight into the air for a low-impact abdominal workout. Another exercise involves moving into tabletop position, with hands and feet on the floor, before lifting alternate legs straight for more core work.
While pilates for sciatica can help you find pain relief, always talk to your doctor before trying any new routines. Certain exercises may actually exacerbate or increase your pain. Therefore, it’s important to work closely with your doctor. Also, find a trusted Pilates teacher and talk to them about your condition. They can suggest exercise modifications during the workout as needed. This interview with Brent Anderson, phd, discusses some of the common poses to avoid if you suffer from sciatica pain.
Joe Pilates designed the Pilates system. He originally taught self-defense to detectives at England’s Scotland Yard in the years leading up to World War I. During the war, Pilates, a German, was taken as an enemy alien by the English. While held in camp, he taught other internees the exercise system.
Pilates’ students were sometimes patients lying sick in hospital beds. Pilates would rig equipment to hospital beds, allowing the patients to exercise despite their immobility. This influence can be seen in the Pilates reformer machine, which resembles a hospital bed. Resistance bands and other equipment secured to the frame increase the potential for building muscle and strength.
When Pilates moved to the U.S. in 1926, he took his exercise system with him, although it didn’t gain widespread popularity until the media began covering it in the late 1980s.
Today, 8.5 million people practice Pilates, and the industry grew more than 5% from 2008 to 2013, according to market research firm IBIS World.
Pilates’ premise involves building strength from the inside out, with strong abdominal and back muscles leading to overall physical strength. That’s why it can be so effective for a condition like sciatica. Pilates for sciatica helps build up the deep muscles that can help provide support to the sciatic nerve.
Nearly all Pilates movements focus on building the core—the muscles throughout the abdomen, those supporting the spine, and others involved with supporting the center of the body. Classes are either mat-based or conducted on special pieces of equipment. They also frequently involve the use of resistance bands, marking another departure from yoga.
Although many Pilates exercises can be challenging, modifications are available to suit people at all levels of fitness. As workouts progress and strength builds, you naturally progress to stronger movements with fewer modifications. Having a strong core makes your entire body feel strong.
The goal with sciatica treatment is to decrease pain and increase mobility. There are multiple ways to achieve this objective beyond Pilates for sciatica. Talk to your pain doctor about your best options. Some are more invasive or may require treatment with drugs to reduce the inflammation and irritation of the sciatic nerve. Some patients find relief with better nutrition. Therapeutic massage can also help manage your pain.
Acupuncture is a technique developed over centuries of Chinese medicine. Trained acupuncturists insert small needles in the skin at various trigger points. These trigger points access the body’s natural energy flow, also called chi. Acupuncture is also often coupled with relaxation and meditation techniques that incorporate the mind, body, and spirit. Individuals with symptoms of sciatica have experienced relief with acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture is non-invasive, with minimal risks for patients.
A trained physical therapist can help patients dealing with the effects of sciatica with exercises design to relieve the pain. A therapist will help you work through exercises that strengthen the muscles of the lower back, help you stretch the area, and alleviate some of the pressure on the sciatic nerve. Typically physical therapy has a component of at-home exercises as well to keep up the level of recovery. Your length of treatment will often depend on the cause of your sciatica pain and how well you keep up with the exercises between physical therapy visits.
Another alternative treatment for sciatica pain may be yoga. It’s similar to Pilates for sciatica, but is a deeply meditative practice. It practice involves a series of specific stretching exercises designed not only to increase your body’s flexibility but also calm your energy and promote relaxation. The physical exercise coupled with the mindfulness of yoga can help many patients better handle the effects of conditions such as sciatica. However, if yoga causes more pain than it alleviates you may want to speak with your doctor about different treatment options.
For more disruptive sciatica pain, some patients consider an epidural steroid injection. This treatment is designed to inject medication into the affected area of the body to reduce inflammation and help restore the body’s natural balance. However, most experts currently believe this is just a short-term fix and that patients will need to seek longer-term treatments along with comprehensive lifestyle changes to find the most relief from sciatica pain.
A chiropractor manipulates the human body to realign the musculoskeletal system. They can provide relief from a variety of conditions. Chiropractic care helps the body through its own natural healing process and does not involve any drugs. The manipulation of the spine can free its movements and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve alleviating the painful effects of the condition.
Sciatica is often made worse by remaining stationary. Most specialists encourage you to move to alleviate the pain and strengthen the muscles around the area. In the case of a herniated or slipped disc, you may need additional specialized treatments that will address those specific conditions. These treatments help relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve to reduce pain.
Because of the intense pain caused by sciatica, your doctor will likely create a comprehensive treatment plan that uses medical interventions alongside lifestyle changes or exercise regimens, like Pilates for sciatica. Especially at the onset of the pain, seek treatments that are less invasive. This may prove to have better long-term effects than drugs or surgical interventions.
Nearly one in every two people in the United States has a chronic illness, and of the people who have a chronic illness, 96% have an invisible illness. Many organizations have been making efforts to increase awareness of invisible illnesses. This month, there are several observances for different invisible illnesses, one of which is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
Fibromyalgia can be a devastating disease, with potential symptoms including widespread pain, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulty (often called “fibro fog”). It’s estimated that about five million people in the United States live with fibromyalgia, and yet most people without fibromyalgia have almost no awareness about this disease.
The theme of Fibromyalgia Awareness Day this year is “Your Voice Matters,” which encourages people to use their voices to advance support, advocacy, research, and education for fibromyalgia and other chronic pain illnesses. This is particularly important because, for many people, the stigma around invisible illnesses still exists. Diseases like fibromyalgia that can’t be seen are sometimes written off as “all in your head” or whining, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The first step to change this misperception is to start a discussion about fibromyalgia and other invisible illnesses on Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
Additionally, research and education about these types of illnesses are vital. Funding research can bring medical science closer to understanding how to treat and, eventually, cure fibromyalgia and other invisible illnesses. Educating people and making them aware of the symptoms of these diseases can help them understand how to manage their health. Also, knowing more about which symptoms are relevant can sometimes make it less difficult to diagnose fibromyalgia or other invisible illnesses, which can be very difficult to tell apart because of their similar symptoms.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and myalgicencephalomyelitis (ME) are two closely related diseases; according to some sources, they may even be the same disease with two different names. Both cause overwhelming fatigue that’s not relieved by rest as well as cognitive difficulty (“brain fog”). Additionally, both CFS and ME cause pain, often muscle pain that radiates from the spine.
There’s quite a bit of debate about the difference between CFS and ME. Some sources state that ME is caused by a viral infection; the infection causes damage to the brain stem and brain that’s visible during testing. In addition to this, ME tends to have a sudden onset, so distinct that some patients can even name the exact hour when they began to experience symptoms.
CFS causes a similar set of symptoms as ME. However, there’s no known cause for CFS. It’s believed that CFS can be triggered in people with a genetic predisposition for the disorder. Potential triggers for CFS include viral infections, hormonal imbalance, or immune system impairment. Symptoms and severity can vary over time.
The difficulty in differentiating between CFS and ME is summed up by the National Alliance for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (NAME):
“The short answer is that in many cases (possibly most cases) ME and CFS are the same disease with different names. Often patients are incorrectly diagnosed, depending on the physician’s knowledge of the differing clinical definitions, and there are very few physicians that have the knowledge, or take the time, to differentiate the patient’s diagnosis.”
International CFS/ME Awareness Day is an excellent time to start a discussion about these two illnesses. More education, advocacy, and research could help determine if CFS and ME are different diseases or the same, as well as advance diagnostic procedures and treatments.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, meaning that a person’s immune system starts mistakenly attacking his or her own body. In a person with lupus, the body produces autoantibodies that attack the skin, joints, and organs. While fibromyalgia and CFS/ME are invisible illnesses, lupus can be very visible during flare-ups. It causes a very distinct butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks.
The true danger of untreated lupus is the potential organ damage (and even failure) that it can cause. The heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys, in particular, are vulnerable to damage from untreated lupus. Additional potential symptoms include pain, swelling, fatigue, fevers, and confusion (“lupus fog”).
Finding more effective treatments, better diagnostic methods, and, someday, cures for these diseases will take a group effort.
This is the basis of having observances for these diseases. By marking a particular day as a time to bring attention to these diseases, more people will become aware of the debilitating effects of fibromyalgia, CFS/ME, and lupus. This can also lead to better-educated physicians. These diseases all share some similar symptoms – pain, fatigue, and confusion – and diagnosing them can be difficult. If public awareness increases, perhaps physicians will also work to increase their own awareness, shortening the time it takes for individuals to reach a correct diagnosis.
Also, knowing you’re not alone goes a long way. The more people are aware of fibromyalgia, CFS/ME, and lupus, the more supportive the rest of the community will be of people with these diseases. Eventually, the stigmatized “all-in-your-head” perception of these diseases will begin to disappear.
Whether you have or know someone with one of these diseases, or whether you’re simply curious or want to help promote advocacy efforts, there are lots of ways for you to make a difference. A few of these include:
Print off materials, like a World Lupus Day flier, and ask permission to hang them up in your community.
Change your profile picture on social media to honor a disease’s day of observation, such as on Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
Share facts, articles, and statistics on social media. A very simple way to do this is to follow organizations that focus on these diseases. When these organizations post something you find meaningful or helpful, share it with your own friends or followers to increase their understanding of these invisible illnesses.
If you live with fibromyalgia, CFS/ME, or lupus, let your friends, neighbors, or coworkers know. They’ll be more likely to go out of their way to support advocacy and research efforts if they know someone in their life has a particular disease.
If you have a friend or family member who’s living with one of these diseases, ask him or her if there are any popular misconceptions about that disease. Ask what you can do to alter these misconceptions or if there’s anything else you can do to help.
Consider making a donation to a reputable charity for one of these diseases. You can even earmark your donation for certain causes within the charity, such as funding research, surveys, or support groups. The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association even released a list of achievements that came from its 2014 donations. Consider donating today on Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
Pain in your neck. Pain in your back. Pain during that time of the month. We’ve all had pain, some of us more than others. But how much do you really know about how to manage all your aches and pains?
We spoke with an expert on pain management to get you the answers you need. Yvonne D’Arcy, MS, CRNP, CNS, is a pain management and palliative care nurse practitioner with more than 20 years of pain management experience. She has held positions as pain and palliative care nurse practitioner for Johns Hopkins Medicine Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. She is the author of 10 books on pain management and presents frequently on a variety of pain topics.
Here is what she had to say about pain management and her current work.
Question: What is the latest book you’re working on?
Answer: For many years, I thought primary care practitioners needed a book for pain management. The majority of people with chronic pain are showing up in primary care practices. Arthritis, osteoarthritis, migraines, other types of chronic pain, low back pain. They show up in a primary care office. Practitioners need some direction for patient management and support. I thought this is a book that was needed for a long time. It will be published in the first quarter of the year by Springer. It’s for health care providers—physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants; those folks that are seeing and prescribing medications.
Question: Why did you see a need for this book for health care providers?
Answer: Primary care physicians are being inundated with all these patients with chronic pain. They do see ones with acute pain like slips, trips and falls. The vast majority of low back pain and migraine and arthritis cases are seen in the primary care setting on a long-term basis. Many of the pain clinics send people back to primary care. This book is a long time coming. I’m enjoying writing it. It contains a lot of new and interesting materials that I think clinicians will be able to use efficiently.
Question: Is pain management different for men and women?
Answer: That’s an interesting question because it depends on which side of the gender gap you’re on. I wrote a book on women’s pain and can tell you that there are definite differences. Men use morphine efficiently. Women get a huge number of side effects. Women are seen as catastrophizing more. Women try to tough it out and self-treat it. It’s hard on women because they have to take care of kids, cook, clean and have a lot on their plate. When they have pain, it is more of an issue.
Question: Is it true women have a higher tolerance for pain?
Answer: Tolerance is defined as how much pain someone is willing to experience. Women do have a higher tolerance and are willing to experience a higher level of pain. Pain is produced along the same pathways in men and women. Men tend to want things taken care of. A woman by far and large probably would just keep going with her pain with a migraine. They keep pushing ahead, looking for something to take care of it.
Women’s pain is treated a lot differently. It’s minimalized and marginalized. Male doctors try to make it seem we’re complaining of something that isn’t quite as severe as it is. If you’re a minority woman, they have found that Hispanic and African American patients don’t get pain medications as readily in emergency rooms as patients who aren’t. It’s just part of that medical disparity because doctors just don’t seem to take their pain as seriously as other patients. It’s perceived that they’re just looking for medications, even when they’re not.
Question: What should women consider when seeking pain management?
Answer: Women looking for pain management physicians need to interview them. They want to work with someone who is empathetic to their condition and who is willing to commit to long-term follow up and support. They shouldn’t be focused only on medications. They should give a more holistic response. Women are more interested in essential oils and massage and acupuncture. Look for someone who includes that in your plan of care.
Anyone can prescribe medications. You need to make sure that the provider is someone you can rely on and trust. I feel sorry for women when get sent to a pain management specialist. I think they get categorized even before they get treated. You need to look for someone who is open-minded and listening to you and to what you’re saying about your pain. If not, you need to find someone else.
I encourage women to go on websites with patient testimonials about providers. I think women should spend more time looking at that, so they have a good idea of what other folks have experienced. They don’t need to feel bad if a provider they see doesn’t work for them. You can use the patient advocacy system that you’re working with and have them find a different provider. You don’t have to stick with someone you don’t like.
Question: What should women know about addictive pain management options?
Answer: There are a variety of things. Some patients with chronic pain do better with low doses of opioids. They have jobs and families and they do very well. They should know that there is the potential that they can develop a reliance on them. Women need to know that medications won’t take away all their pain.
The negative thing is that there is the potential for developing substance abuse: Those who take more pills than are prescribed; get early refills; get pills from a multitude of providers. You should be going to one doctor, not shopping around town. But there is always the potential that can happen. Medications do cause addiction for some. But they are a good fit and can provide a higher quality of life, for others. It just depends. Use the lowest dose for a shorter period of time. Health care providers can offer a trial to see if it’s effective. They’re looking at in healthier ways.
Question: Anything else you want to tell women about pain management?
Answer: Women need to be self-advocates. They can’t let the system take over. They can’t be afraid to disagree. They need to say, “That just doesn’t work for me,” and tell people what they need. If we can get more women to do that, we will be in good shape.
Instead, chronic pain management needs to take individual differences into account and ensure an adequate and unbiased response to treatment.
To help get the conversation started on chronic pain management, Chronicillness.co will convene a Chronic Pain Summit on July 17 and 18, in Ellicott City, MD. The event will feature presentations from prominent pain specialists and is designed to foster dialogue between patients, clinicians, researchers, and industry experts, and will include representatives from federal agencies and other non-profit organizations as well.
Together, we aim to raise awareness about chronic pain in women, address existing challenges and knowledge gaps, and encourage everyone to work together as we strive to find new and innovative solutions. Here is what we covered during the summit.
Chronic pain is a significant public health problem nationwide and according to a 2011 Institute of Medicine report can be considered as a disease in itself that requires adequate treatment and research commitment.
Two important differences to consider when treating and researching chronic pain are sex and gender. Sex differences are influenced by both biological and physiological factors such as hormones and genetics and gender differences by societal, environmental and cultural concerns. No matter the source, sex and gender differences must be considered in chronic pain diagnosis, treatment, prevention and management.
That’s because research finds women are more sensitive to pain and rate their pain higher as compared to men. Women are also more likely to have conditions that cause chronic pain—defined as lasting more than three months—such as lower back pain, knee pain (mostly osteoarthritis), neck pain, fibromyalgia, and migraines. Notably too, several painful conditions including uterine fibroids, pelvic pain, endometriosis, and vulvodynia occur exclusively in women.
Women with chronic pain conditions are more likely to be treated with opioids and use these drugs for longer periods of time than men, but even this isn’t a clear-cut issue. Although long-term opioid use can open the door to addiction, many women who take these drugs responsibly worry that policy changes may result in losing access to the only treatment that has been able to ease their pain and being stigmatized as drug addicts.
Recent scientific evidence suggests that the use of integrative and complimentary health approaches may benefit women with managing their chronic pain with or without prescription medications.
Studies have suggested that many chronic pain patients can benefit from incorporating physical therapy, massage, exercise, acupuncture, yoga, Tai Chi, or meditation into their treatment regimen, but most healthcare professionals don’t know enough about these modalities and health insurance companies rarely cover them fully, if at all. Psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, may also be useful, but again research, education, and access are limited.
The Department of Health and Human Services addressed these issues in a recent report and proposed best practices and recommendations for balanced pain management based on biopsychosocial model of care, individualized patient-centered care, better and safer opioid stewardship and a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain.
In the end, any approach to chronic pain must also recognize that gender, racial and cultural biases often exist in pain treatment and management. Unconscious bias by health care professionals can greatly affect the way pain is assessed, treated and managed in women, especially women of color who are less likely to receive any or adequate pain treatment.
Disability, stigma, workplace related issues, access to care and affordability of treatments are all important issues that impact pain management and the quality of life in women living with chronic pain. Whatever the reasons for these biases and these disparities, the tremendous effects on a woman’s psychological health cannot be underestimated.
Earlier this month, superstar Lady Gaga took to social media to announce that she has long struggled with fibromyalgia.
The news has put the painful and poorly understood illness center stage.
Just this week, the singer announced on Twitter that she’s postponing the European leg of her 2017 “Joanne” concert tour due to what she described as fibromyalgia-related “trauma and chronic pain.”
Gaga hasn’t offered up details of her condition, although it comes just before a new TV documentary about the singer—set to premiere Friday on Netflix—that will reportedly highlight some of her health concerns.
But one thing is already clear: the disease does, at times, pull the rug out from under the performer’s best-laid plans.
“The pain and disability seen in fibromyalgia is typically worse than almost any other chronic pain condition,” explained Dr. Daniel Clauw. He is a professor of anesthesiology, medicine/rheumatology and psychiatry at the University of Michigan.
“[The pain] doesn’t just affect one area of the body you can avoid moving, and often is accompanied by severe fatigue, sleep, memory and other issues,” Clauw noted.
Dr. Marco Loggia added that “it can be extremely debilitating.” Loggia is associate director of the Center for Integrative Pain NeuroImaging at Massachusetts General Hospital in Charlestown, Mass.
“Most of the patients we encounter in our research studies are significantly impacted by the disorder,” Loggia noted, “which sometimes prevents them from having normal work and social lives.”
Fibromyalgia was first recognized by the American Medical Association as a distinct disease back in 1987, and is “a relatively common chronic pain disorder,” Loggia said.
How common? The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (NFMCPA) indicates that the illness affects up to 4 percent of the world’s population, and anywhere from 5 million to 10 million Americans. It is much more common among women, who account for 80 percent of patients. Although it can affect children, it is most often diagnosed during middle age.
According to Loggia, the disorder is characterized “by persistent, widespread pain, fatigue, un-refreshing sleep, memory loss, poor concentration and other symptoms.”
The NFMCPA adds that it can also give rise to sensitivity to light and sound, as well as to a degree of psychological distress in the form of anxiety and depression.
But what exactly is it, and how does it develop?
The picture is murky, with the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases flatly acknowledging that “the causes of fibromyalgia are unknown.”
But experts suggest that the disorder is likely driven by several factors, including exposure to a traumatic event (like a car crash) and/or exposure to repetitive injuries. Central nervous system disturbances may also play a role, as might a genetic predisposition to feel pain in reaction to stimuli that most people perceive as benign.
Struggling to find more in-depth answers, Loggia noted that American and German researchers have recently identified a subset of fibromyalgia patients who appear to have abnormalities in some of their peripheral small nerve fibers.
His own research suggests that some degree of brain inflammation may be at play, given that brain inflammation is common among chronic back pain sufferers and most fibromyalgia patients suffer from chronic back pain.
Unfortunately, Clauw cautioned that the failure to identify a clear cause for fibromyalgia has given rise to the myth “that it is not real.” That, he said, is decidedly not the case.
Loggia agreed.
“Traditionally, patients with fibromyalgia have been met with a great deal of skepticism, stigma and even condescension, including by many physicians that are supposed to take care of them,” Loggia said. “Even today, their pain is often dismissed as ‘all in their head,’ not real,” he added.
“However, many studies—and particularly those using brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging—have now provided substantial support to the notion that the excessive sensitivity to pain that these patients demonstrate is genuine. I think that it is time to stop dismissing these patients,” Loggia said.
What these patients need now are “better drug and non-drug treatments,” Clauw said.
“We’ve only begun to take this condition seriously from a research standpoint for about 20 to 30 years,” he noted, adding that there are no “really effective” drugs for fibromyalgia.
Loggia said that means a lot of the focus has been placed on pain management, with patients turning to interventions such as painkillers (opioids) as well as yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy. “But these interventions are rarely ‘completely curative,’” he added.
As for Lady Gaga, she likely faces a better prognosis than most. “That this was diagnosed when she was younger is good, because many people go years or decades undiagnosed,” Clauw said. “But she also almost certainly got better recognition and treatment for her condition given who she is. Others in similar medical—but different social—situations would struggle to even find a doctor to see them and take them seriously.”
