Dear Fibromyalgia

Category: Fibromyalgia Conditions

Explore the conditions associated with Fibromyalgia, their symptoms, and how to manage them for improved well-being.

Dyskinesia And Fibromyalgia: Causes and Treatment

We still don’t know what causes fibromyalgia. But we often treat it with a class of drugs that are usually used to treat disorders like seizures. While these drugs can help manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia, they can also cause a range of side effects, including dyskinesia.

Dyskinesia is a condition that causes frequent, uncontrollable movements of the limbs. And it can become very difficult to manage if you suffer from it for a long time. So what exactly is dyskinesia, what’s the link to fibromyalgia, and what can you do to treat it?

What Is Dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia, or TD, is a common side effect of drugs used to treat seizures. One in particular that we should look at when it comes to fibromyalgia is Gabapentin. Gabapentin works by calming the interaction between nerves in the brain. This is effective for treating seizures which are caused by rapid-firing interactions between these nerves. But it’s also frequently used to treat fibromyalgia.

Gabapentin can work to manage many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Interestingly, in addition to the pain, it’s often prescribed to treat some of the chronic itchings that come along with fibromyalgia. It’s a symptom we don’t often think of when it comes to fibromyalgia, but chronic itching can be one of the worst elements of the condition if you suffer from it.

Because chronic itching seems to be the result of interactions between the nerves, Gabapentin can help to treat the itching.

But it can also lead to dyskinesia. Dyskinesia is basically an uncontrollable tendency to jerk your legs or arms. But it can also include other less obvious things like a tendency to purse or smack your lips together. The condition is usually worse when you have been resting, which can make the sleep issues caused by fibromyalgia even worse. But in addition, TD can cause you to jerk your head, blink your eyes, or even stick out your tongue without really realizing that you are doing it.

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

Dyskinesia And Fibromyalgia

It’s believed that TD is caused by low levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Low levels of dopamine are actually quite common in people with fibromyalgia, though we don’t know why. But TD seems to be more of a side effect of medications used to treat fibromyalgia than a complication of fibromyalgia itself.

The most likely reason that someone would develop TD is if they’ve been taking a drug like an SSRI or anti-seizure medication for at least three months. And we know that the majority of people who suffer from both TD and fibromyalgia tend to be older women.

So, people who have fibromyalgia currently being treated with these kinds of drugs have an elevated risk of developing it. And there are many anecdotal accounts of people who have developed it as a result of their fibromyalgia medication. If you’re interested, you can likely ask around within the fibromyalgia community and find people who have had a similar experience.

How Is It Treated?

The best way to cure TD is to simply stop taking the medications that cause it. Of course, this isn’t always an option. Many people depend on those medications to keep their fibromyalgia symptoms in check. And you should never stop taking a medication on your own without first consulting a doctor.

If you think you’re suffering from TD, you can go to a doctor for a test. The doctor will determine if you’re suffering from involuntary movements. They may decide that it is the result of your medication, or it’s possible that you’re suffering from another condition that causes involuntary movements. There are a number of these conditions including cerebral palsy, brain tumors, or Parkinson’s disease. Going to a doctor is a good way to eliminate some of these other possibilities.

There’s no medication that’s currently approved by the FDA to treat TD, but some psychiatric drugs might help. Others have reported success with treating the condition with dietary supplements like Gingko, but the scientific evidence for this is somewhat limited.

If the TD is really debilitating, you may have to judge with your doctor whether the benefits you get from the medication are worth the side effects. It’s an unfortunate position to be in, but we don’t really have any other good alternatives at the moment.

So, let us know. Do you suffer from TD? Is it related to your fibromyalgia medication? How did you decide what you needed to do? Did any supplements help you? Tell us in the comments.

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

10/27/2023
Link Between Achalasia and Fibromyalgia. Have a Look.

Achalasia is a rare disease. So rare in fact, that you may never have heard of it. But for people who suffer from the condition, it’s very real and often extremely painful. And it actually has a fair amount of relevance for people with fibromyalgia.

That’s because people with fibromyalgia often deal with persistent heartburn. and achalasia can mimic many of the symptoms of that condition. So it’s possible that if you have fibromyalgia and you’re dealing with frequent chest pains, you may actually have achalasia. And learning to recognize the signs can help prevent misdiagnoses and help you get effective treatment.

So, what is Achalasia? Why is it a concern for people with fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?

What Is Achalasia?

Achalasia is a condition where the muscles in the lower esophagus lose the ability to relax and contract. The ability of the esophagus to relax and contract is important in the process of digestion. When you swallow food, the esophagus expands to allow it to pass into the stomach. When you have achalasia, this normal process stops functioning correctly. And food can essentially get stuck in the esophagus. Obviously, this is often quite painful.

We don’t fully understand what causes the condition, but it probably has something to do with damage to the nerves that control the muscles in the esophagus.

The condition leads to a number of uncomfortable symptoms. There’s the obvious difficulty swallowing food or liquids. And when food gets trapped in the esophagus, your body may naturally regurgitate it. If this regurgitation occurs when you are lying down, the food may actually travel into the lungs, which can be dangerous.

And achalasia can also lead to sharp chest pains with no clear cause. This pain is a little different from heartburn, but people with the condition can have heartburn as well. That fact can sometimes make it difficult to diagnose the condition.

Achalasia is quite rare, but heartburn is very common. So, if you’re experiencing pain in the chest, a doctor will likely assume that you’re suffering from acid reflux. Luckily, there are a few tests that can determine if you have Achalasia. The doctor can take X-rays of the esophagus to look for contractions, or use an endoscopy tube to visually examine the esophagus.

People with fibromyalgia also have a higher risk of heartburn, which means that you may experience symptoms similar to achalasia.

Achalasia And Fibromyalgia

Having fibromyalgia makes you more likely to develop heartburn. The most likely explanation for this link is that having fibromyalgia makes it difficult to exercise. A condition that causes chronic fatigue and constant pain obviously makes getting regular cardio a challenge.

As a result, people with fibromyalgia often struggle with obesity. Those extra pounds put pressure on the stomach and esophagus, which can lead to acid reflux. Acid reflux causes chronic chest pain, which can sometimes be quite sharp. And these symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from achalasia.

If you’re experiencing chest pain, it’s always a good idea to see a doctor. It may even be a symptom of a more serious condition like heart problems.

What Are Your Treatment Options?

Your treatment will depend on which condition you have. If you have achalasia, there are a few options. Your doctor may perform a procedure where a balloon is inserted into the esophagus and inflated, forcing it to open. This procedure may need to be repeated several times if the condition reoccurs.

In addition, the doctor can inject muscle relaxants directly into the esophagus. This procedure may also need to be repeated regularly for best results.

There are also more permanent surgical procedures. The most common procedure is called a Heller myotomy and involves cutting away a portion of the esophagus, expanding the space for food to pass through. But this procedure can increase your risk of developing acid reflux. So, it may need to be combined with a procedure where a portion of the stomach is wrapped around the lower part of the esophagus, tightening the muscles to prevent reflux.

If you’re just suffering from acid reflux, your best bet is to lose weight. Losing just a few pounds can significantly improve your symptoms. But there are also a number of effective medications that reduce the amount of stomach acid you produce. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the best treatment program for you.

So, do you suffer from heartburn? Do you think it’s related to your fibromyalgia? Have you ever had achalasia? What did you do to treat it? Let us know in the comments.

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

10/26/2023
Chronic Pain Patient Abandoned by Doctor Dies

This will be the first Christmas that Tammi Hale spends without her husband Doug in over 30 years.

The 53-year old Vermont man, who suffered chronic pain from interstitial cystitis, committed suicide in October after his doctor abruptly cut him off from opioid pain medication.

“His primary care provider kept trying to wean him off his opioid therapy, which worked at higher doses,” says Tammi. “My husband ran out (of medication) early a few times, so the doctor cut him off completely one day. Six weeks later he took his life as no medical establishment would treat his chronic pain.”

We’re telling Doug Hale’s story, as we have those of other pain patients who’ve committed suicide because their deaths have been ignored or lost in the public debate over the nation’s so-called opioid epidemic. Patients who were safely taking high doses of opioids for years are suddenly being cut off or tapered to lower doses. Some are being abandoned by their doctors.

“I believe it will get worse with time. The docs are simply more interested in not risking their licenses than in treating chronic pain,” Tammi wrote to Pain News Network in a series of emails about her husband’s death.

Depression and suicidal thoughts are common for many people living with chronic pain and illness. According to a recent survey of over a thousand pain patients, nearly half have contemplated suicide.

But the problem appears to have grown worse as physicians comply with the “voluntary” prescribing guidelines released in March by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which have been adopted as law in several states. Many doctors now fear prosecution and loss of their medical licenses if they overprescribe opioids. Some have chosen not to prescribe them at all.

While federal and state authorities track the number of drug overdose deaths, no one seems to be following the number of patients who are dying by suicide or from cascading medical problems caused by untreated chronic pain. Some in the pain community call this “passive genocide.” Tammi Hale compares it to the Holocaust.

“The Nazis eliminated the sick and the weak first, right? Makes you wonder,” she says. “I realize my comments are harsh, but I believe the public needs to be aware of the dangers any one of us could be facing with this silent epidemic.”

Doctor Insisted on Weaning

Doug Hale began facing a life with intractable chronic pain in 1999 after a surgery left him with interstitial cystitis, a painful inflammation of the bladder. According to his wife, Doug tried physical therapy, antidepressants, epidurals, nerve blocks, TENS, cognitive behavioral therapy, and several different medications before finally turning to opioids for pain relief. High doses of methadone and oxycodone for breakthrough pain were found to be effective.

But a few years ago, Doug’s primary care provider (PCP) started urging him to wean to a lower dose.

“The PCP insisted on weaning. Although Doug clearly had documented malabsorption issues, the PCP persisted on weaning. The pressure to wean was unbelievable,” says Tammi.

“It came to a head in May of 2016. The PCP gave Doug one month to wean completely from 120mg/day of methadone and 20 mg/day of oxy. We knew this was impossible.”

Tammi says Doug checked himself into a 7-day detox program, where he was weaned to 40 mg of methadone a day. The doctor agreed to prescribe that amount, but it was not enough to relieve Doug’s pain. He started taking extra doses.

“He ran out a week early in late August. The PCP abandoned Doug, stating ‘I’m not going to risk my license for you. The methadone clinic can deal with you.’”

But the methadone clinic refused to treat Doug because they saw him as a chronic pain patient, not as an addict. “Had he turned to street drugs they could have treated him, but because he didn’t break the rules they couldn’t help,” Tammi explained.

Doug tried to detox at home, which Tammi calls a “brutal” experience. On October 10th, after being turned down by other healthcare providers, Doug went to his former doctor one last time to beg for help and was refused. The doctor said again that he didn’t want to risk his license.

“Doug left the office still thrashing in pain and despondent,” Tammi recalls. “The next day, my dear, sweet thoughtful husband of 32 years; a father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, well-loved by many, dragged a chair to a remote spot in our back yard. A spot we could not see from the house, the road, or by the neighbors.

“He shot himself in the head to escape his pain. He made sure we could still live in our home and not be plagued by gruesome memories. I just wish the medical establishment had an ounce of the compassion that he did.”

“Can’t take the chronic pain anymore. No one except my wife has helped me. The doctors are mostly puppets trying to lower expenses.”— Doug Hale

“Can’t take the chronic pain anymore. No one except my wife has helped me,” Doug wrote in a suicide note. “The doctors are mostly puppets trying to lower expenses, and (do not accept) any responsibility. Besides people will die and doctors have seen it all. So why help me.”

Tammi says she has been comforted by an outpouring of love and support from her family, friends, and community. Doug’s suicide surprised many.

“Doug did make vague references about suicide during the summer due to the desperation and pain. He was just such a tough guy, he survived so much that my reaction, and others after the fact, was no. Not Doug. He’s like the bionic man. Too much of a warrior to give up,” said Tammi.

“At his memorial, so many people commented on what an inspiration he was to them. To graciously bear the path of pain and his never-give-up attitude made them reevaluate their own daily issues. I guess you could say his legacy was love and to never quit.”

Tammi consulted with a medical malpractice attorney after Doug’s death, who told her the chances of winning a lawsuit against the doctor were slim. The cost of legal action would have also been prohibitive, after so many years of dealing with Doug’s medical expenses.

Tammi and Doug may never get their day in court, but she is determined to share his story in the hope that patients, doctors, and regulators learn from it.

“My promise to him was to share with others. He was thrown away like a piece of trash, but his life and the life of all humans are precious. All patients deserve to be treated respectfully,” she wrote. “Hopefully some changes will come in time before the holocaust grows too much larger.”

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

10/19/2023
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Harms The Brain: Northwestern University Research

Summary: People with unrelenting pain are often depressed, anxious and have difficulty making simple decisions. Researchers have identified a clue that may explain how suffering long-term pain could trigger these other pain-related symptoms. Researchers found that in people with chronic pain, a front region of the cortex associated with emotion fails to deactivate when it should. It’s stuck on full throttle, wearing out neurons and altering their connections.

People with unrelenting pain don’t only suffer from the non-stop sensation of throbbing pain. They also have trouble sleeping, are often depressed, anxious and even have difficulty making simple decisions.

In a new study, investigators at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine have identified a clue that may explain how suffering long-term pain could trigger these other pain-related symptoms.

Researchers found that in a healthy brain all the regions exist in a state of equilibrium. When one region is active, the others quiet down. But in people with chronic pain, a front region of the cortex mostly associated with emotion “never shuts up,” said Dante Chialvo, lead author and associate research professor of physiology at the Feinberg School. “The areas that are affected fail to deactivate when they should.”

They are stuck on full throttle, wearing out neurons and altering their connections to each other.

This is the first demonstration of brain disturbances in chronic pain patients not directly related to the sensation of pain.

Chialvo and colleagues used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brains of people with chronic low back pain and a group of pain-free volunteers while both groups were tracking a moving bar on a computer screen. The study showed the pain sufferers performed the task well but “at the expense of using their brain differently than the pain-free group,” Chialvo said.

When certain parts of the cortex were activated in the pain-free group, some others were deactivated, maintaining a cooperative equilibrium between the regions. This equilibrium also is known as the resting state network of the brain. In the chronic pain group, however, one of the nodes of this network did not quiet down as it did in the pain-free subjects.

This constant firing of neurons in these regions of the brain could cause permanent damage, Chialvo said. “We know when neurons fire too much they may change their connections with other neurons and or even die because they can’t sustain high activity for so long,” he explained.

‘If you are a chronic pain patient, you have pain 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every minute of your life,” Chialvo said. “That permanent perception of pain in your brain makes these areas in your brain continuously active. This continuous dysfunction in the equilibrium of the brain can change the wiring forever and could hurt the brain.”

Chialvo hypothesized the subsequent changes in wiring “may make it harder for you to make a decision or be in a good mood to get up in the morning. It could be that pain produces depression and the other reported abnormalities because it disturbs the balance of the brain as a whole.”

He said his findings show it is essential to study new approaches to treat patients not just to control their pain but also to evaluate and prevent the dysfunction that may be generated in the brain by chronic pain.

The study will be published on Feb. 6 in The Journal of Neuroscience. Chialvo’s collaborators in this project are Marwan Baliki, a graduate student; Paul Geha, a post-doctoral fellow, and Vania Apkarian, professor of physiology and of anesthesiology, all at the Feinberg School.

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

10/17/2023
Fibromyalgia and Hip Flexor Pain: Dr Sher Bailey

It is not uncommon to have hip flexor issues or pain in this area when living with fibromyalgia. The hips, hip flexors, and lower back correlate with fibromyalgia pain areas due to tender areas around the lower back, many more trigger point areas and other conditions that affect the surrounding areas.
The hip flexor muscles allow your hips to move with flexibility. You are engaging these muscles whenever you move your legs, and that means your hips are involved in most of the movements that you make throughout the average day.

A healthy person may not realize how often they use their hip flexors, but anyone living with fibromyalgia who experiences hip flexor pain will be well aware of this on a more regular basis.

I have personally dealt with hip flexor pain and then later re-strengthening of these areas while developing more fibro–safe exercises after my full hysterectomy three years ago. Yes, I do get it. I will address more of this later in the lower part of this article.

While there are some known injuries and medical conditions that can cause pain in the hip flexors, it can be difficult to identify a direct cause of this pain in someone with fibromyalgia, except for the many daily activities that I often refer to.

We might treat the pain as another symptom of the diagnosed condition or take more time to determine an exact cause for the pain. Either way, fibromyalgia, and hip flexor pain are often debilitating if not treated efficiently and promptly.

Understanding Fibromyalgia and Hip Flexor Pain

The psoas is responsible for a lot of general back and leg pain because the sitting positions that most people hold throughout the day cause the muscle to shorten for a long period of time. When you stand up and start moving around again, that muscle doesn’t want to lengthen and function properly.

Hip flexor pain is often referred to as flexor tendinosis. The pain from this condition typically comes from one or both of the following muscles: Illicacus and Psoas. These muscles are often lumped together as one unit, referred to as the iliopsoas.

For those suffering from fibromyalgia, the pain may come from other muscles that help the hips move. This includes the quadriceps, even though those muscles are lower than most hip flexor muscles.

While flexor tendinosis caused by an injury or issue not related to fibromyalgia may focus on one particular muscle or area of the hip, fibromyalgia patients may experience pain that spreads out throughout this region of the body. The cause of the pain is often unexplainable, as is typically the case with fibromyalgia pain.

Treating Fibromyalgia and Hip Flexor Pain

One simple way to prevent some fibromyalgia and hip flexor pain is to avoid sitting in one position for a long period of time. Get up and move around periodically so that your muscles don’t have time to set in one position.

You often hear me recommending safe and effective exercise and the importance of participating in some level of exercise in order to keep your body strong and more flexible, and this is another recommendation for hip flexor pain as well.

The more you learn how to move and how angles and over compensation do matter, the easier it is to prevent some causes of muscle pain. You can follow me on the Fibro Fit People page to learn more ways to safely and gently work these more vulnerable areas. In the video section there you will see exercises like my “side to side” exercises that help to gently work the hips and lower back, piriformis and more.

I also work with women after hysterectomy and other abdominal surgery to gently strengthen these vulnerable areas. I have been there, and yes, it is possible to feel strong after a hysterectomy and while living with the complexity of fibromyalgia and co-conditions.

The stretch I am performing here is great to do anytime, especially after sitting. We draw one leg up to the knee (no shoes) placing the foot gently on the inside of knee or lower if needed (this loosens the hips) then draw the arm up on the same side and feel the light stretch from your hips through your obliques.

If you spend much of your day sitting at a desk, invest in an office chair that is highly adjustable. Set the chair higher, allowing your hips to rest above your knees. This position is healthier for your hip flexors and may eliminate pain caused by the shortening of those muscles in the typical office chair position. You may also want to consider a standing desk that allows you to easily lift your work space.

I started using a standing desk last year and find it very helpful, in fact, I do more standing at my desk now than I do sitting. (note: some standing desks can be difficult on the shoulders to put up and down so it might be necessary to get a standing desk that uses an electric control for moving positions)

Regular strength training and very gentle stretching (done safely) may help keep those muscles strong and flexible. Again, be sure to avoid excessive sitting or this can sabotage efforts to incorporate effective exercise.

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

10/16/2023
Fibromyalgia Caused By Malfunctions In Two Key Body Systems – Autonomic Nervous System and Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis

A recent study threw up an interesting notion on the root of fibromyalgia. The study suggests that fibromyalgia could be caused by malfunctions in two chief body systems – the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA). These two body systems are key in regulating the production of important hormones and managing stress responses by the body. Imbalance in the two-body systems can lead to sleeplessness, lack of energy, higher pain sensitivity, mood changes, digestive problems, etc…

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The Autonomic Nervous System is a large network of multifaceted neurons that maintain homeostasis in the body. This network includes cardiovascular, ophthalmologic, thermoregulatory, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal systems in the body.

The ANS contains both the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous systems. The former controls the response called “fight or flight” when one gets into seemingly dangerous situations, whereas the Parasympathetic nervous system lowers the heart rate and slows down the muscles to save energy.

Fibromyalgia is linked to a malfunction in the ANS. Patients with fibromyalgia find that their Sympathetic Nervous System functions at an elevated pace and that their Parasympathetic Nervous System works at a much lower rate. Such individuals always face this inevitable “fight or flight” response. When such individuals are in a hyperactive state, they have an escalated heart rate. Women with this problem suffer from dysfunctional ANS.

Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA)

The HPA axis is a network of stress responses by the brain, pituitary, and adrenal glands. The main function of the hypothalamus is to maintain the body’s balance. It receives and sends messages from the nervous system via hormones through the circulatory system. The hypothalamus regulates and controls blood pressure, digestion, sleep cycles, sex drive, body temperature, coordination, heart rate, and sweating.

The pituitary gland is responsible for the secretion of certain important hormones for the body while the Adrenal Gland produces hormones for the entire body and controls chemical reactions and the “fight or flight” response to stress.

How ANS and HPA Lead To Fibromyalgia Pain

Together, the ANS and the HPA axis are major paths for body responses during stressful conditions. These responses include pain, trauma, infection, low blood sugar, and low blood pressure.

Due to certain malfunctions in the ANS and HPA, the body can struggle to maintain homeostasis. External factors such as persistent daily stress, injury, or other stressors can further knock the body’s equilibrium off-balance. The body systems and stress response regulated by the ANS and HPA respectively can go haywire.

Studies conducted have shown that fibromyalgia patients are prone to either inactivity or overactivity in the HPA, causing abnormal levels of important hormones and hence leading to various symptoms of fibromyalgia.

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

10/14/2023
How Shoulder Pain and Fibromyalgia are Related

Shoulder pain is really just pain in the joints and muscles in the shoulder area that may or may not limit what your arm can do.

Much of this pain originates in the tissues and bones in the shoulder, and you might also only feel the pain in the middle of physical activity or when you move your arms. Other times you might feel pain in your shoulder nonstop.

There are multiple questions you probably have if you suffer from shoulder pain, one of which is if there is any relation between fibromyalgia and shoulder pain. But in order to understand this correlation, it’s also critically important to understand what the causes of shoulder pain are what it is exactly.

The Causes of Shoulder Pain

The shoulder consists of three different bones. The upper arm bone, the shoulder blade, and the collar bone. The arm bone sits in a socket in your shoulder blade, and the muscles and tendons ensure that the arm is secure in this socket. When we feel pain in our shoulder(s), it is usually due to inflammation or a tear in the tendons, arthritis, nerve damage, an infection, a fracture, or a broken bone.

Tendons are the cords that hold our muscles to our bones, but just like nearly anything else, they can and do wear down over time. People who are regularly involved in physical activity will see that their tendons will wear down much faster than people who don’t.

As our tendons wear down, it is much more likely for them to be torn or suffer injury. This injury can develop over time or can happen all of a sudden, and if they are bad, the tendon can be completely split.

Something else that can cause shoulder pain is when the shoulder blade puts pressure on the tissues. When the arm lifts or is involved in any physical activity, the tissues rub against the top of the shoulder blade, which can, in turn, contribute to pain in the tendons as well. This type of pain is especially painful and severely limits what movement you can do in your arm.

For example, maybe you enjoy playing baseball and regularly lift and move your arm by pitching the ball above your head. This type of injury here, known as shoulder impingement, will eliminate your ability to perform that type of motion altogether.

One of the most common reasons behind shoulder pain is arthritis, and there are many variations of it as well. The reason why there are very many different types of arthritis is that it can occur in various parts of the body.

The type of arthritis that happens in the shoulder is called osteoarthritis, and common symptoms include pain and stiffness in the shoulder and swelling.

If you are displaying the symptoms of osteoarthritis, you should have it looked at immediately, since the pain will only worsen the longer it goes on without any substantial treatment. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in people who are middle-aged and is due to a variety of different factors including inflammation in the joints, infection, trauma, or sports.

The most common reaction with people who have osteoarthritis is to not move their shoulder in order to lessen the pain, but this will really make things worse since it will result in further stiffening of the shoulder.

The last major cause of shoulder pain that we are going to talk about is a fracture. A fracture is when bones in the body are broken, so common broken bones that can cause shoulder pain are the collarbone, shoulder blade, and upper arm bone.

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

Shoulder fractures and broken bones almost always are the result of physical trauma, such as suffering a sports injury, falling down, or being involved in an accident.

A fracture will lead to severe swelling in the affected area and cause intense pain. If you have suffered a fracture, you should secure medical attention from your doctor as soon as you can. Your doctor will give you a list of treatment options and officially diagnose where the fracture has occurred.

Fibromyalgia and Shoulder Pain

Fibromyalgia is one of the great mysteries of the medical world, as we still do not yet know all of the causes of it or even how it happens. It is estimated that between five to ten million Americans alone suffer from fibromyalgia, the overwhelming majority of them women. Fibromyalgia is also believed to run in the family, as people with a family history of fibromyalgia are far more likely to develop it themselves. In addition, middle-aged women are the most likely to develop fibromyalgia, but it has been known to occur in young adults, teenagers, and even young children too.

The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is a combination of muscle pain and fatigue. This pain and fatigue will have to be enough to greatly limit what the sufferer is able to accomplish in a day, as many fibromyalgia patients are reduced to laying down in bed for much of the day. The muscle pain usually occurs in the neck, back, chest, rib cage, thighs, and shoulders, and will worsen over time.

There are eighteen pressure points throughout the body, and it takes a person to feel pain in eleven of these pressure points to be officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia. A couple of these pressure points are located in the shoulders. If you feel pain in your shoulders, there are two options as to how it is related to fibromyalgia:

1. You aren’t feeling pain in any or very many of the other tender points, so you don’t have fibromyalgia and the pain is due to the causes that we have already discussed,

2. You are feeling pain in the other pressure points in addition to your shoulder, so the shoulder pain you feel could be a part of fibromyalgia.

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

09/25/2023
I’m A Doctor With Fibromyalgia. Here’s What I Wish People Understood About It

Fibromyalgia, a widely misunderstood illness, confuses and frustrates both patients and doctors alike. I know because I’ve seen it from both sides—as both a physician and a woman with the illness myself.

This common chronic disease is characterized by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and brain fog. It’s estimated that 5 million Americans currently suffer from the disorder, and close to 90 percent of those diagnosed are women.

Still, there remains a lot of confusion about what the illness really is and how it’s treated. Here are five truths about fibromyalgia that are not widely known, even by most doctors:

1. Fibromyalgia is real and can be treated—but it requires a holistic approach.

Research on fibromyalgia has lagged far behind other diseases, bogged down by controversy and a century of arguments about whether it’s a “real” illness.

This changed in 2002 when a groundbreaking study showed abnormalities in how the brain processes pain in fibromyalgia. These brain-imaging studies gave the objective data to prove fibromyalgia was “real” and triggered a decade of intensive research resulting in three drugs approved by the FDA that dull pain signals.

But those medications don’t treat the often more debilitating symptoms of fatigue and fuzzy thinking called “fibrofog.” To do that, doctors and patients have to be knowledgeable about different treatment options—especially holistic approaches such as making dietary changes to reduce inflammation or adding supplements to boost cellular energy production.

2. It’s no longer a complete mystery.

I often hear the myth repeated that “we don’t know what causes fibromyalgia.” Recent physician surveys reveal that most doctors still don’t know how to help their fibromyalgia patients—in spite of the existence of some very effective treatments. Fibromyalgia is often described in medical journals as “perplexing,” “mysterious,” and “confusing.”

The TV commercials that say fibromyalgia is a condition of hyperactive pain nerves don’t tell the whole story. In fact, pain-processing problems are only the tip of the iceberg. A much bigger factor is a stress (or danger) response that has gone haywire and is constantly on “red alert,” leading to a chain reaction that results in fatigue, brain fog, and muscle pain.

The only way to get lasting improvement in all of these symptoms is to systematically address the negative effects on the body of a chronic hyperactive stress response. A chronically activated stress response wreaks havoc by preventing deep sleep and keeping muscles tense, leading to pain and tenderness; impairing digestion and energy production; and throwing hormones out of balance. It also ultimately causes the pain-sensing nerves to increase the volume of their signals.

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

3. Fibromyalgia is primarily a sleep disorder.

Unfortunately, many doctors, even sleep specialists, are not aware of the sleep issues that come with fibromyalgia. But fibromyalgia is in many ways a sleep disorder, a state of chronic deep sleep deprivation. Studies have demonstrated over and over that patients experience inadequate deep sleep that is frequently interrupted by “wakeful” brain waves. This deep-sleep starvation contributes to the fatigue, muscle pain, and foggy thinking characteristic of the condition.

Treating sleep is the key to treating fibromyalgia, and it’s where I see the most benefit in reducing pain, fatigue, and brain fog. Sleep must always be improved before any other treatment will work, so it’s vital to address this with your health care provider to treat hidden sleep problems like obstructive sleep apnea and then add medications and supplements to help restore normal deep sleep.

4. Most doctors don’t know much about fibromyalgia—and it’s not their fault.

Fibromyalgia is an orphan disease that is not claimed by any specialty and instead awkwardly straddles the fields of rheumatology, neurology, sleep, and pain medicine. The majority of care falls to overwhelmed primary care doctors who don’t have time to go searching for new treatment ideas among the sea of medical publications. The big medical journals neglect fibromyalgia. In fact, since 1987, only one fibromyalgia study has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the most widely read medical publication in the world.

Since the busy primary care provider does not have time to actively search out new treatments for fibromyalgia, research has to be brought to their attention in some other way—namely by their patients. So in my new book, The FibroManual, I included a health care provider guide with research-supported medical guidance for patients to bring to their doctor’s attention.

5. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are effective treatments.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia—yet. But we don’t have cures for many chronic illnesses, like diabetes and high blood pressure. What we do have are effective treatments that manage those diseases well enough that they are minimally detrimental to one’s health. And powerful treatments for fibromyalgia are out there as well.

When people ask me if I have recovered from fibromyalgia, I say, “Yes.” I’ve found ways to feel much better and minimize its impact on my life. Ultimately, I do still have fibromyalgia, and there is no magic bullet that completely eliminates all symptoms. It requires work, and I have learned that consistency in my self-care routine is essential to keeping my symptoms under control.

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

09/24/2023
Surprising Causes Of Fibromyalgia Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About

1. Vitamin deficiencies Cause Of Fibromyalgia

Magnesium, vitamin D, and B12 deficiency are the most common vitamin deficiencies I see in those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I’ve had several patients completely reverse their fibromyalgia symptoms with magnesium alone. The best way to measure magnesium is a red blood cell (RBC) magnesium level, which can be tested through any conventional lab.

2. Gluten intolerance

Gluten has been liked to more than 55 diseases and is often called the “big masquerader.” The reason for this is that the majority of gluten intolerance symptoms are not digestive in nature, but are instead neurological, such as pain, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, behavioral issues, fatigue, and depression.

3. Candida overgrowth

Candida is a fungus or yeast, and a very small amount of it lives in your intestines. When overproduced, Candida breaks down the wall of the intestines and penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic byproducts into your body and causing a host of unpleasant symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, digestive issues, and pain. Virtually every one of my patients with fibromyalgia has had Candida overgrowth.

4. Thyroid

It’s vital that your doctor check all six blood markers to accurately measure your thyroid gland’s function. It’s also imperative that your doctor use the optimal levels rather than the standard reference range when assessing and diagnosing thyroid disorders. Getting my patient’s thyroid levels into an optimal range typically alleviates their fatigue, brain fog, sleep disturbances, and depression.

5. Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Leaky gut

There are more bacteria in us and on us than there are of our own cells. When these bacteria get out of balance through the use of antibiotics or a sugar-rich diet, we can lose our ability to digest and absorb nutrients, particularly B12. Gluten can cause SIBO and leaky gut and SIBO and leaky gut can lead to gluten and other food intolerances. It’s a catch-22 and a vicious cycle. You must “fix the gut” first in anyone with fibromyalgia.

Mycotoxins are very toxic substances produced by molds. Conventional environmental mold testing only tests for levels of mold spores and does not test for mycotoxins. I use a urine mycotoxin test in my clinic to determine if someone has been exposed to toxic molds.

7. Mercury toxicity

I recommend that all my patients find a biological dentist and have their mercury amalgam fillings removed. Mercury is toxic to our bodies and can be one piece of the puzzle for those with fibromyalgia. I then recommend heavy metal testing using a pre-and-post-DMPS urine challenge test.

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

09/19/2023
Fibromyalgia Disease Patient’s Difficulty Smelling Linked to Decreased Olfactory Bulb Volume

Patients with Fibromyalgia Disease may have reduced volume of the olfactory bulb, a key structure in how we perceive and distinguish smell, a study found. That finding may help explain why some patients report impairments in olfactory perception.

The study, “Decreased olfactory bulb volumes in patients with Fibromyalgia Disease,” was published in the journal Clinical Rheumatology. Olfactory perception, including being able to identify and distinguish different types of odors, is a feature often reported to be impaired in Fibromyalgia Disease patients.

The olfactory bulb is the first structure involved in our perception of a smell. It is composed of two types of nerve cells that receive input from cells in the nasal cavity. But, while “self-reported olfactory functions have been studied with olfactory tests, olfactory bulb volumes have not been studied” in Fibromyalgia Disease patients, the research team wrote.

The volume of the olfactory bulb is known to be reduced in other diseases, too, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and depression. Some of these patients also experience olfactory dysfunction.

To determine the volume of the olfactory bulb in a group of Fibromyalgia Disease patients, researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In total, the study enrolled 62 female participants — 30 with FM and 32 healthy controls — with mean ages of 44.2 and 41.7, respectively.

MRI analyses showed that the olfactory bulbs of patients with Fibromyalgia Disease had a reduced volume compared to healthy controls. Specifically, the mean volumes of the right olfactory bulbs were 74.9 mm3 in the Fibromyalgia Disease group and 92.6 mm3 in the control group. The mean volumes of the left olfactory bulbs were 74.3 mm3 and 92.8 mm3, respectively.

The mean of total olfactory bulb volume (the volume of both right and left) was 146.6 mm3 in the Fibromyalgia Disease group and 186.5 mm3 in the healthy control group, a 1.2 ratio difference.

The team suggested that the decrease detected in Fibromyalgia Disease patients is the potential result of alterations in neuronal structures in patients’ brains, evidence that may support the notion defended by some that Fibromyalgia Disease is a brain disorder.

Overall, the team concluded that patients with Fibromyalgia Disease are at risk of having decreased olfactory bulb volumes.“Outcomes of the present study should be kept in mind for proper and reasonable management of this tough syndrome and for future studies,” the team wrote.

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

09/15/2023