Category: Fibromyalgia

Clavicle or shoulder pain in fibromyalgia is like any other symptom in that it can easily wax and wane, but might be more common than you think.

With a recent shoulder injury (and labral tear) myself, I have seen even more clearly the process of shoulder injuries, stiffness, and how fibromyalgia symptoms can “interplay” with common shoulder/ clavicle injuries or tears. 

One thing I do in working with fibromyalgia, is to convey the importance of the “process”
The shoulder is a great example. I know how great the pain can be, and how it can interrupt sleep and cause limitations, but when we more correctly work through the process, there are greater rewards. 

Continue to follow here in the shoulder related articles, and in the live interactive videos as I update this process. (in fact, I recently showed some of my own progress and what I have been doing in a video at the bottom of this article)

It’s common for those with fibromyalgia to experience pain in the shoulders, upper arms, and/or clavicle, which is the collarbone that runs between the shoulder blade and breastbone.

Some people might suffer continuous pain while others notice it more when they’re overly tired, or when they are using certain repetitive motions.

The way people with fibromyalgia describe their shoulder and clavicle pain varies as well. Some describe it as a stretching or twisting muscular sensation, while others say it’s more of an indescribable ache that cuts down to the bone.

The pain may stay in one place for some people while it tends to move down the arms, across the chest, or into the neck for others. 

If you feel the pain radiating and moving, it is likely to be connected to trigger points. These trigger points that we often refer to can be dormant or active, and can become activated by a specific turn, move, injury, illness, or accident.

What to Do If You’re Suffering Shoulder Pain in Fibromyalgia

If you or someone you care about is suffering from consistent or recurring pain in the shoulders, upper arms, and/or clavicle, don’t assume that it’s only due to fibromyalgia.

Some people suffer with this pain for months or even years without checking with a doctor because they assume that it’s the fibro. There are many other things that can cause pain in this area of the body. 

Other possible causes of shoulder pain in fibromyalgia include not only trigger points, but a recent accident of any kind, even one that occurred in another area of the body.  Increased neck pain due to an accident or trauma to the neck can also make you more susceptible to pain around the clavicle and shoulder areas.

In fact, if you suffer with morning stiffness around your neck area, this can easily radiate in the collar bone/clavicle area. Read more here about neck pain in fibromyalgia. It might be obvious, but avoid wearing a purse on one side of the body (which can greatly exacerbate clavicle pain) and consider wearing a light backpack purse if possible. 

Improper posture of the upper body can also instigate this pain or exacerbate it when already there. With posture, most people tend to lean forward more than they realize, and this is easily exacerbated by excessive use of cellphones, computers, desk work, carrying kids, washing dishes, and more.

Starting to be more aware of your posture is a great start. When you are standing, or maybe standing in a line, bring your hands back together on your lower back.

Is this uncomfortable for you? Then yes, it likely means that your posture is suffering and contributing to pain in the upper arms (humeral area), shoulders, neck, and clavicle area. You can also increase this posture technique by adding a free weight, 1-8 pounds free weight is great.  

And, just like other areas of the body where we work to restore the fascia, you can gently work just under the clavicle as I am showing here. Refer to the fitness page below where I have many videos on working this and other vulnerable areas of the fibro body. 

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Strategies for Pain Management of Clavicle or Shoulder Pain in Fibromyalgia 

This clavicle pain is often assigned to fibromyalgia if no other causes are found and you have already been diagnosed with fibro. At that time, you may need to find ways to treat or ease the pain just as you do with many other fibromyalgia symptoms.

Here are some strategies that may help you limit interference with your daily life:

• Invest in a good quality neck support. Alternate with ice and heat on the back of neck and wrapping around the clavicle. Wrap the ice in a towel as needed to increase tolerance over time. 20 minutes ice, 20 minutes heat. During this time, stretch your neck back by lying on the bed flat, no pillow.
• Keep working at a more consistent sleep schedule. This is difficult for many fibro bodies, but it can make a world of difference in terms of your pain levels. Try to at least challenge yourself to stay off the internet a couple hours before bedtime. This will also help increase melatonin production naturally.

Many of us living with long term fibromyalgia have found that improving our physical condition and increasing overall agility can have an impact on the intensity of pain, symptoms and our ability to maintain more independence. Remember what I so often say regarding injury prevention and overall fitness levels which is “our independence depends on it” 

In some cases, your doctor may perform tests to look for interior causes of the pain. If nothing is found, they may refer you to a specialist who can perform an ultrasound to look for problems that are commonly missed by primary care physicians. You may even need an MRI to take a closer look.  

Are you a side sleeper?

Sleeping on the side can tend to constrict the clavicle area on the side you are sleeping on. However, if you are one of those people who falls asleep more easily on your side, then try to at least switch positions if possible to avoid more constriction around this area.  I often find it interesting that what happens on the back side of the body can affect the front side and vice versa (in that prospective area). This occurs with pelvic pain (front) and lower back pain, abdominal pain and back pain, and yes, even clavicle pain and trapezius pain in fibromyalgia. 

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For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

It is not so uncommon to experience fibromyalgia and ankle pain.  Although it might not be one of your first symptoms when living with fibromyalgia, you might find that you start experiencing pain in one or both ankles.

This pain may extend to your toes, heel, and even up into your calves. It may also just stay around your ankles and may or may not come with swelling. 

This is an important weight-bearing area of the body that we need to take care of the best we can.

When severe and consistent, ankle pain can limit your ability to walk, run, and enjoy other daily activities, especially due to the weight-bearing nature of the ankles. Let’s focus on some things you can do to limit the pain and continue enjoying daily life.

The First “Step”

It’s easy to assume that any type of pain is associated with your fibromyalgia, but this diagnosis doesn’t prevent you from sustaining injuries or illnesses that have nothing to do with fibromyalgia.

When you first notice ankle pain, you may want to see your doctor so that they can eliminate all other potential causes. 

This is especially true if you also have swelling in your ankles, feet or calves. Swelling may hint to inflammation, but it can also occur when you’ve sustained an injury or it could indicate an endocrine condition in the thyroid or even circulation issues.

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If no other cause if found, you may be able to then safely assume that this is just another symptom of your fibromyalgia. 

Proper Foot Support for Fibromyalgia and Ankle Pain  

So, one thing we want to keep in mind regarding any kind of ankle or foot pain is prevention. We want to prevent injury to this area whenever possible.

If you have a particular kind of foot structure that causes overcompensation for instance, you would want to consider seeing a foot doctor for custom orthotics.

This will help both the feet and the ankles. Some specialty shoe stores are also making this custom orthotics now as well. 

Be extra careful when wearing sandals. If you are walking on any kind of uneven surface, and you have on sandals, one wrong move and your foot can slip to one side of the sandal causing a potential ankle sprain.

Examples of these uneven surfaces could be walking on the sand on the beach, walking on a pathway made of rocks or gravel, or walking on stairs of any kind.

Treating Fibromyalgia and Ankle Pain

How do you treat ankle pain that seems to have no cause? Aside from prevention as noted above, you might consider Myotherapy if possible trigger points are involved. 

See my video below for safely working around the ankles yourself at home. 

I often recommend Myotherapy which is hands on trigger point release done by a therapist. Acupuncture might also be helpful if that is available to you. 

It really comes down to easing the pain so that it doesn’t interfere with your daily life. If the pain is severe and consistent enough to interfere with your quality of life, see your doctor immediately.

You may also want to consider stretching and gently exercising your ankles. Roll them from one side to the other. Reach down and pull your toes back gently, feeling the stretch through the back of your leg and knee.

These stretches may not always eliminate the pain, but they can help ease tension in the muscles and maintain the strength of your feet. 

This means consistent strengthening around the calves and knees, which will also benefit the tender areas around knees. This is an area of the body that people tend to ignore when it comes to consistent conditioning. 

It doesn’t even require equipment in the beginning. It can be something as simple as standing and then going up and down from the toes (heels up) while squeezing the calves on the upper position. (do this without shoes on.) 

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Standing and Sitting

Be careful about overcompensation when standing.

Try to be aware if you tend to stand with one hip higher than the other, as this can also affect not only the ankles and knees, but the lower back as well. This tends to occur with normal activities of daily living like washing the dishes, where you might not be focused on your lower body posture. 

With sitting, you want to avoid the tendency to turn the ankles in or out, try to keep them straight forward, or at least practice this more often. Try to avoid sitting on one leg or any activity that strains the ankles. Some people even tend to roll the feet out to the sides when standing. Be more aware of these tendencies. 

Additional Causes/Remedies for Fibromyalgia and Ankle Pain 

Cold and hot compresses may help some people ease fibromyalgia and ankle pain as well.

If you notice that the pain is more intense in the morning or after a long period of sitting or standing, you may want to check with a foot specialist to eliminate heel spurs and other conditions known to cause this pain. This is especially true if you also have pain in the heels or between your toes.

I find that CopperWear support around the ankle is helpful. This combines light compression and copper for healing effects. These are very thin and can be work with or without shoes.

You may also have trigger points, specifically around the Peroneus Tertius. It can be helpful to get a session with a massage therapist who knows Myotherapy/Hands on Trigger Point Release.

And because this area can be fairly easy to massage yourself, don’t hesitate to use thumbs and gently stroke down the outer calve area into the outer ankle bone. Go slow, hold and release as you go down the outer leg. 

Your family doctor may not know about all of the conditions that cause pain in the foot and ankle, so a specialist is worth your time if the pain is consistent or you experience repeat episodes. Some conditions impacting the feet aren’t noticeable in an x-ray, so don’t assume that a clean scan means there is no identifiable cause for your pain.

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For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Do you feel like your internal thermostat is broken?

You are certainly not alone. Temperature dysregulation is quite common in fibromyalgia. And yet, as warm-blooded animals, human beings are usually quite amazing.

When our surrounding environment heats up, our bodies are supposed to automatically kick into gear to cool things down internally. What happens when the surrounding environment gets chilly? Our bodies know just how-to warm things up. 

With fibromyalgia, we are susceptible to an additional factor called Adrenaline Dominance. When adrenaline is too high for extended periods of time, this begins to affect extremities, like cold hands and feet for example. In the case of those of us with MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, our exposure to toxin or fragrance on people or things around us can cause adrenaline to rise, therefore causing a cascade of symptoms, including temperature dysregulation. 

Between daily fluctuations in outdoor temperatures and our indoor HVAC systems, we encounter a variety of temperatures each day. The human body has the ability to keep up with those changes, keeping us comfortable and safe. Unfortunately, it is not so cut and dry when we are living with fibromyalgia.

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What Happens with Temperature Dysregulation?

All of this warming up and cooling down happens naturally in most people, but it may not work as smoothly if you have fibromyalgia. It’s common for people with fibromyalgia and its primary co-conditions to experience one or more of the following scenarios:

• Heat Intolerance: You have trouble cooling down when your surrounding environment warms up. This can vary from a heat sensitivity to complete intolerance that could put some people at heightened risk of heat stroke.
• Cold Intolerance: You have trouble warming up when your surrounding environment gets chilly. This can vary from sensitivity to cold environments to the inability to handle even moderately cool temperatures without freezing. It can even activate other symptoms.  

You know how I often say that not only your extremities feel unbearably cold, but your “internal core” feels cold so it doesn’t matter how many layers you put on. That is temperature dysregulation or sensitivity at its greatest.

• General Temperature Sensitivity: You may find that your body has trouble regulating to heat and cold. One day you’re cold while the next you’re hot despite consistent outdoor temperatures.
• General Autonomic Dysfunction: Your body temperature may seem out of sync with your surrounding environment. When everyone around has on jackets or sweatshirts, maybe you’re sweating in a tank top. You may also experience hot flashes or cold chills when it seems the heat or cold sensation is generated from within your body rather than in response to your surrounding environment. Excessive sweating might also occur. 

Temperature dysregulation simply means that your body doesn’t respond to the surrounding temperature as it should naturally. Many fibromyalgia patients also suffer from temperature sensitivity which means that your body overreacts to sensations of heat or cold. This is often caused by the body’s failure to react appropriately to surrounding temperature as well as a reduced pain threshold.

Remember that “pain threshold” is often perpetuated by things like Substance P and nerve related issues as we talk about in the nerve pain article. Much different than pain tolerance which is often very high in those of us living with fibromyalgia.

Need a warm hug ? This Hope and Faith warm throw blanket is just beautiful. 

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Living with Temperature Dysregulation

Like other symptoms in fibromyalgia, there is no immediate cure for temperature regulation problems. You may want to keep a written record of the temperature problems you’re experiencing to find a pattern of temperature dysregulation. This way, you can more easily correlate with any hormonal imbalances that you may be experiencing. 

Also, if like me, you have had a full hysterectomy and might be experiencing hot flashes which are exacerbating your temperature dysregulation, please consider some of the points I make in the Menopause article.I was able to eliminate my hot flashes with bio-identical progesterone, which only occurred after my hysterectomy, but when they did occur, I understood very quickly just how those of us with fibromyalgia will tend to react quite differently to common “hot flashes” due to hormones fluctuations. 

When other women described their hot flashes, they mostly focused on being hot, very hot. In my case, not only did I wake up in a sweat, I had severe nausea, heart palpitations, and it seemed to exacerbate symptoms in my fibro. 

Your symptoms could also be attributed to an imbalance in the endocrine system. This can include the pituitary, thyroid and/or adrenals. Read more here about how we approach treating underactive thyroid. 

Family Members on Board? 

If you live with other people, you may need to find a middle ground between the temperature you would like to maintain in your home, and the temperature that others need for comfort. This seems to be one of the most contentious issues between a husband and wife these days.

There are many ways that you can help your body cool down or heat up in order to keep up with your surrounding environment. You may keep ice packs or use cool, wet rags to cool your feet, hands, and forehead when you’re too hot. 

If you tend to have cold feet like I do, try putting foot warmers in your shoes or slippers. It is especially important to keep the feet warm before bed, as cold extremities can keep you from being able to fall asleep.

NOTE: You can also put them in between two pair of socks when you go to bed if you don’t want them touching your skin.

We need every advantage we can get. Sometimes I will make a cup of hot tea or decaf coffee JUST to keep my hands warm!!

In some cases, people with fibromyalgia have moved to new states or countries that offer a climate that is more in sync with their body’s sensitivities. Obviously, this isn’t going to be feasible for all of us, but never give up on finding more creative ways to adapt to fibromyalgia, temperature dysregulation, and all of the myriad of symptoms. 

What about adrenal stress and temperature problems? 

When the body is under stress from living with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia, this can drain the adrenal glands. When you experience a stressor or exposure to a toxic environment, this can put extra burden on the adrenal glands, which can in turn lead to variations in body temperature. 

I can tell you my own experience with toxins and temperature problems. If I get exposed to a toxin, perfume, etc. it is not uncommon for my extremities to get very cold. You can read more here on Adrenal Stress and how to cope better with it.

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For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

If you’ve ever sat with a leg tucked underneath your body or fallen asleep with one arm at an odd angle, there’s a good chance that you’ve experienced paresthesia. This is the medical term for the pins-and-needles feeling that occurs when pressure is applied to a nerve for a long period of time. It can also feel like numbness, itching, burning or crawling across the skin.

For most people, paresthesia is an occasional discomfort that is quickly relieved by removing the pressure from the nerve. This is what you do naturally when you shake an arm or leg out of its sleep. When paresthesia occurs repeatedly or without an obvious application of pressure to a nerve, there is typically an underlying condition causing the issue. One potential underlying cause is fibromyalgia.

Nerve Damage & Fibromyalgia 

When researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital tested 27 fibromyalgia patients for nerve damage and compared them against 30 healthy adults, they found that damage to nerve endings was more prevalent in the fibromyalgia group. This small study was published in the journal PAIN in 2013 and recommended ongoing research into the neurological impairments of fibromyalgia patients.

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This research is significant because fibromyalgia is connected to and as I often say, it tends to “interplay” with our central nervous system. The fact that many of us with fibromyalgia also have neurological dysfunction could hint to other potential causes and treatments for the disorder.

There have been other studies that have found symptoms mimicking neurological disorders in fibromyalgia patients. One study was published in 1988 in the Journal Rheumatology. Of 161 fibromyalgia patients studied, more than 80 percent had experienced tingling or numbness. What’s even more noteworthy is the fact that most of the participants with symptoms of paresthesia had no diagnosis for a known neurological disorder that would cause those symptoms. Some even had normal electromyograms, which is a test typically used to diagnose neurological conditions.

Further research is needed to understand the connection between nerve damage and fibromyalgia on a deeper level, but it’s clear that tingling and numbness are common in fibromyalgia patients. The question is whether treatments commonly reserved for patients with neurological disorders will help some fibromyalgia patients, since the cause of fibro paresthesia is potentially different.

How to Treat Chronic Paresthesia

Paresthesia is typically relieved by treating the condition causing the discomfort. This is often a herniated disc, spinal column mass, vitamin deficiency, stroke, liver or kidney disease, and many other conditions known to cause neuropathy or nerve damage. The problem is that not all fibromyalgia patients with chronic paresthesia will have or be aware of another underlying condition causing the problem. Like most symptoms of fibromyalgia, we can treat surface symptoms the best we can, but as always, we need to keep working on underlying issues and root causes.

Natural or prescription anti-inflammatories are sometimes used to help relieve mild symptoms, but low-dose antidepressants may help with more severe symptoms for some patients. It may also help to ensure that your diet includes enough B vitamins and that you aren’t suffering from other nutritional deficiencies. Acupuncture and massage are also considered effective alternatives, and you can read more here at Natural Rxs for Fibromyalgia.

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Paresthesia, Fibromyalgia & character traits

In the mind/body category of the website, we focus on the fact that fibromyalgia IS NOT all in your head, but it can and does affect the mind, the brain, the inability to think clearly, or to stay positive and motivated. The point I most often work to get across is that it’s not just about “thinking positive” or even just repeating affirmations. No, it is so much more. The mind body exercises we refer to will help to bring a more “automatic conditioning” to how we think, act, and react to the world around us. 

Believe me when I say that working on the mind body part, despite the reality of physical symptoms, is an ongoing process. It can be done, and we are delving even more into some specific teachings over the next year that I have been developing and adding to what I already implement in terms of mind body conditioning. 

Paresthesia impacts nerves in specific areas of the body, and fibromyalgia often centralizes within the different parts of the nervous system. It may seem unlikely that either condition would affect personality traits, but one small study published in the July 2018 issue of the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases found some evidence that a connection does exist between personality, fibromyalgia and paresthesia.

The study included 101 females diagnosed with fibromyalgia and a comparison group of 53 healthy people not diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The fibromyalgia group was split in two, separating those who also suffered from paresthesia. All groups were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory for four personality characteristics:

• Harm Avoidance – A worrisome personality that includes a lot of fear and doubt with a pessimistic state of mind. (what are we influenced by?)
• Novelty Seeking – An exploratory personality trait that includes a drive for new and exciting experiences, which may involve impulse decision making.
• Persistence – A consistent personality trait that involves following through on plans and committing fully to the resolution of problems. (this is not about perfection)
• Reward Dependence – A personality trait that responds strongly to reward, which may include social approval.

The results showed that both fibromyalgia patients scored significantly higher in harm avoidance than the control group, and those with paresthesia scored among the highest of all. Fibromyalgia patients also scored significantly lower in self-directing, with the paresthesia group coming in the highest again.

This is one small study that hints to qualities and traits that may come with paresthesia and fibromyalgia. And, we all can have a little of all of those traits in us, don’t you think? If you have fibromyalgia and you’re routinely bothered by signs of paresthesia, talk to a medical professional about screening for other underlying causes. In the absence of neurological disorder or trauma, you can try alternative and over-the-counter medications that may also help improve other symptoms of fibromyalgia. 

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For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

It is important to note here that not all eye conditions are attributed to fibromyalgia, but some symptoms in the eyes and face can be exacerbated by fibromyalgia. 

I often say that fibromyalgia tends to be equal opportunity in regards to the areas and systems of the body affected. Yes, fibromyalgia has the ability to contribute to eye pain, and I will detail some of these ways here.

However, we always like to extend a caution that we should all get our eyes checked regularly. We don’t want to miss another condition.  

Let’s examine a few possible factors in Fibromyalgia and Eye Pain

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Ocular Migraine

Living with chronic migraine since the age of 9, I certainly understand the pain of headaches. You might often hear me say in our video interactives that “this is the area where we think, express ourselves, and interact with the world around us” 

When a migraine started, I would often lose my vision or see black spots in front of my eyes, greatly impeding my vision.

I remember the first time this happened in the fourth grade. We were walking in single file back to the classroom. By the time we got back to class, I was seeing those big black spots, and this time, vomiting as well from the intense pain. 

Yes, migraine is common in those of us with fibromyalgia, and although ocular migraine may be less common, it can be part of our fibromyalgia symptoms. 

Fibromyalgia, Trigger Points, and Eye Pain

Trigger points can occur anywhere around the body. They tend to occur around muscle and connective tissue. When we have trigger points around the head, this can cause pain in the face, sinus area, jaw, and the eyes. 

Stress can contribute to triggering points. The head and neck just happen to be a place where we hold stress.

Thyroid and Eye Pain 

If you start noticing more pain behind your eyes, this could be a number of things, but it could also be related to a thyroid dysfunction.

Although we treat thyroid issues more holistically here, it is a good to know that continued pain behind the eyes may indicate a need for greater attention to our thyroid. 

Lights and Eye pain 

Does glare seem to bother you more? Do lights seem very bright to you when they are not too bright for people around you?

Light sensitivity is a common symptom in fibromyalgia. Although it can be related to many other things like heavy metal toxicity in the body, it is best to avoid eye strain from florescent lights, driving at night, or being on screen devices too long every day. 

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Insomnia and Eye Pain 

If a lack of restorative sleep is an issue for you, then you likely notice an effect on your eyes. When our body restores at night, that means every part of our body.

Our eyes have a great need for restoration. Without proper sleep, my own light sensitivity is greater, and I will need sunglasses more on an overcast day. 

Whether it’s insomnia, or simply staying up too late, our eyes can pay the price. Avoid screen time at night as much as possible. 

Screen Time and Eye Pain in Fibromyalgia 

Be sure you set your blue light filter on all of your devices.

This will help lessen your exposure to the blue light from screens every day. If you are not sure how to do this, search for your particular device and follow the instructions. It is very easy to do on a cellphone. Go to your settings. 

Avoid too much screen time every day by setting your hours ahead of time.

Facebook even has a way that you can monitor your time. I set mine for three hours. If I am on  more than three hours in any one day, it will tell me about it. Time is up. 

What about CBD oil and Eye Pain? 

Because we have the endocannabinoid system of the body, we have many receptors all over our body. CBD oil can help to reduce inflammation, therefore supporting eye health. 

If you scroll back up slightly to the Sunsoil Organic CBD ad, you can take advantage of trying the Sunsoil products at 20% off.  Sunsoil is an amazing company and they are giving our followers 20% off all first orders. 

Histamine Issues and Eye Pain 

Some of us who have fibromyalgia, also have issues with histamine.  This can create an intolerance to certain foods “high on histamine” as I like to say, or even some foods that can exacerbate histamine, like some citrus fruits. 

Also, nasal congestion can contribute to eye pain, and although we don’t want to use anti-histamines every day, we need to avoid congestion in the body by avoiding mucous forming foods, and by avoiding toxic indoor environments. 

Epstein Barr Virus / CFS ME

If you also live with the Epstein Barr virus like I have for many years, you likely know this can contribute to eye pain. CFS/ME is one of those handful of inflammatory factors I often talk about in regards to fibromyalgia.

There can be inflammation around the brain stem, and you might have more symptoms in your head and face with Epstein Barr, and CFS/ME. 

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For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Do you ever think about how fibromyalgia and blood vessels affect each other?  Is there a connection?

I often say that fibromyalgia is complex and affects multiple systems in the body. When you think about fibromyalgia, you think about the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, GI tract, brain, etc. But do you ever think about your blood vessels and what they are really doing there in your body?

And, what does fibromyalgia have to do with your blood vessels and is there a connection? At this point, the most accurate answer to this question is “possibly.” In 2013, a firestorm of controversy was kicked off in the fibromyalgia community due to the release of promising results from a study on the hands of fibromyalgia sufferers. 

The research was completed by a group of doctors who biopsied tissue from the hands of 24 women with fibromyalgia and nine control subjects. They found that the fibromyalgia sufferers had more sensory nerve fibers at select points of the blood vessels in their palms. 

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Because fibromyalgia affects multiple systems and areas of the body, it is not surprising that fibromyalgia can also affect the blood vessels of the body. What has been missing in the information thus far is the connection to fibromyalgia and trigger points.  Also, be sure to read the paragraphs in the middle to last part of this article to learn what you can do to better support your own blood vessels. 

As you continue to read and follow here in the site, you will see many of the pieces of the fibro puzzle come together. This isn’t chasing a false cure, this is addressing the roots and systems of the body that are more vulnerable when living with fibromyalgia.

One thing we will never do here is give you false hope or breaking news about some exaggerated headlines regarding fibromyalgia. That is exactly what happened a few years ago as research was simply being conducted on fibromyalgia and blood vessels. We always look at the body as a whole. 

Trigger Points, Fibromyalgia and Blood Vessels

Trigger points are different than the standard 11-18 tender points found on the fibro body of a person living with fibromyalgia. Tender areas involve soft tissue areas of the body and do not radiate the same way that trigger points do. They can however “interplay with the trigger points”, as I often like to say. 

You see, trigger points in the scalene muscles of the neck, can radiate pain into the shoulder, arm, and hands. The blood pooling that can occur in the hands may likely be due to these trigger points in the upper back area, which are most common in people with fibromyalgia. (The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, Clair Davies, Amber Davies) 

Remember that treating trigger points in fibromyalgia, as well as understanding the role of tender points, is most helpful when getting any kind of body work.

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Why All the Buzz about Fibromyalgia and Blood Vessels?

Articles circulated around the internet for years, and many people got their hopes up that a real cure for this devastating disorder was on the way. The idea was that excess nerve fibers in the blood vessels could explain why so many fibromyalgia sufferers experience pain in their hands and/or feet. Some of the articles released claimed that the cause of fibromyalgia was discovered, but that’s not exactly the case.

While it’s possible that this research could prove some connection between excess nerve fibers within blood vessels of the hands and fibromyalgia, the research stopped short of proving that connection. When one blogger followed up with two of the doctors responsible for that initial study, she discovered that additional research has been held up due to the lack of funding. 

While the doctors find it interesting that fibromyalgia patients have those added sensory nerve fibers in their blood vessels, they cannot say with certainty how to go about treating this one issue within fibromyalgia. 

Looking at the Bright Side of the Relationship Between Fibromyalgia and Blood Vessels

Since the research has proven that fibromyalgia sufferers have these extra nerve fibers in their blood vessels, it is possible that those nerves are triggering the pain, stiffness, and fatigue that go along with fibromyalgia. It’s also possible that those blood vessels aren’t allowing blood to pass through the hands efficiently, leading to another possible cause of the pain and discomfort. 

Are There Other Ways We Can Improve the Health of our Blood Vessels? 

If we know that fibromyalgia can affect our blood vessels, is there anything we can do to have a positive effect on them and therefore our symptoms? 

Vitamin C is great, and I recommend taking the purest additive free vitamin C, we use HealthForce C powder from raw nutrients.  I also like using pure antioxidant extracts like Goji extract and Acai extract. The brand we have used for many years is from Genesis Today. 

Please note: it is better to be consistent, than to take a manufacture recommended amount of many supplements. If you can only afford half, or maybe you take it every other day, but you take it consistently that way, you are still one step ahead. Making your supplement regimine effective AND cost effective. 
Many of our dietary principles are also beneficial for the cardiovascular system. 

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Exercise and Healthy Blood Vessels

As practitioner and trainer, I also suggest fibro safe exercise.  You see, when we get that blood flowing, we are protecting our blood vessels.  With fibromyalgia, we have to get more creative at times in order to work with and around those more vulnerable areas of the body. Remember what I so often say. “safe and effective exercise is much different than daily activities of living that might involve cleaning, bending, stopping, starting, etc.” 

The body was meant to move, and the body was meant to strengthen. Whatever level is right for you. 

What I do is more specific to fibromyalgia, arthritis and auto immune issues. Why do I specialize in fitness for fibromyalgia people? Because first of all, I get it. I have lived with it myself since a young age, now 49, I am passionate about helping anyone with fibromyalgia and its primary co-conditions to live a more active and joyful life.  

And, secondly, safe and effective exercise is well verified for those with fibromyalgia. The key is doing it in a way that work with you and not against you, that is exactly why I do this. 

Blood Vessels and the Endothelium 

When we exercise, the inner lining called the endothelium produces nitric oxide. This Nitric Oxide protects the vessel walls from developing atherosclerosis (fatty substances that thicken arteries and inhibit proper blood flow).

This is also important for heart health. Blood vessel health directly affects the heart and healthy blood flow.

Just like we strengthen our muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments, we must also think about the strength and integrity of our blood vessels.  Also remember that I work with various levels, so please don’t think about exercise in the conventional sense if that tends to turn you off to it.

Protecting our blood vessels while getting more oxygen to our blood is always a good thing.

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For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Hyperhidrosis is a condition that involves excessive sweating that isn’t the result of physical exertion or exposure to intense heat. The sweating may impact the hands or feet, underarms and even the face.

In order to receive the diagnosis, patients must routinely exhibit at least one instance of intense sweating each week during wakeful hours.

Close to 3 percent of the U.S. population has received this diagnosis, which translates to approximately 8 million people. This number is potentially much higher when you consider the many people who suffer from symptoms of hyperhidrosis regularly without seeking medical attention.

This can be an embarrassing condition that many people feel they simply have to endure because it’s how their bodies work and effective treatment is difficult. 

Hyperhidrosis in Fibromyalgia 

When researchers analyzed the prevalence of skin disorders in fibromyalgia patients, they discovered that more than 30 percent routinely experienced hyperhidrosis. Even further, this was the only skin condition found to impact a large percentage of the participants.

The frequency of excessive sweating is higher among fibromyalgia patients than it is the general population.

 It’s common for a person with fibromyalgia to step out of the shower or get out of bed already soaked with sweat. It’s also common for patients to describe feeling cold all over while their faces are on fire and covered in sweat. 

When I am working with people who have fibromyalgia, they will sometimes say that they sweat excessively. People also tend to be self-conscious about this, but please know that this is common and many of us with fibromyalgia tend to have issues at one time or another with hyperhidrosis.

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There might be times where you feel that the amount of exertion compared to the heart rate and sweating doesn’t compute or make sense, and again that can be the “nature” of fibromyalgia itself. There can be many factors here.

Treatments for Hyperhidrosis

Fibromyalgia symptoms are typically treated individually. This is the same with hyperhidrosis. When a fibro patient asks their doctor about relieving excessive sweating, they are given the same treatment suggestions as people who suffer hyperhidrosis without fibromyalgia.

Common treatments might include nerve-blocking medication and Botox injections. The injections are often a surprising suggestion, but Botox can block nerves believed to contribute to the excessive sweating. One round of injections can last up to a year, and this is one of the longest lasting treatments available for hyperhidrosis today. 

• Choose moisture-wicking materials for clothing, socks and shoes. These materials are most often used for athletic and leisure clothing, but you can wear some items under professional attire to help wick away sweat. Just make sure that you don’t wear heavy layers that will lead to overheating and even more sweating.

Most people with hyperhidrosis focus on avoiding the sweating all together, but that can make matters worse. Most find that it’s difficult to stop the flow once it is turned on, but most people can find ways to at least reduce or manage sweating when root causes or stressors are addressed. Sometimes it is can be increased pain or symptoms that can bring on sweating. 

You often hear me talk about the importance of keeping a safe home, work and car environment, free of toxins and fragrances. These endocrine disruptors can also bring on symptoms of anxiety and sweating when we are exposed to toxins. Laundry toxins, body care toxins and toxic cleaning agents just have no place in a healthy home. 

Dehydration & Hyperhidrosis

Drinking your water daily becomes more important when your body is determined to sweat even when your body is at rest. You may also find that you need to consume electrolytes, including calcium, potassium and magnesium. 

A Raw form of calcium is also essential for strong bones, and magnesium supplements can help with sleep at night. Since most fibromyalgia patients also struggle with sleep disturbances, a nightly dose of magnesium is often a good addition to the treatment plan.

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Neuroinflammation & Hyperhidrosis

Scientific research is uncovering inflammation in the brains of many fibromyalgia patients and this could possibly have something to do with the constant sweating that many fibro sufferers experience. Researchers have found that fibromyalgia patients have high levels of lactate in their bodies even when they aren’t physically active. Lactate is typically released in the muscles during exercise, so it’s unusual to see high levels of lactate in individuals when at rest.

What else do you do during exercise? Yes, you sweat.

While there is no scientific connection between neuroinflammation and hyperhidrosis, it’s possible that the sweating is caused by the same inflammation that leads to the production of excess lactate. It’s as if hydro sufferers are always working hard even when they’re watching television or sleeping. If you or someone you love has fibromyalgia and is always sweating, talk to a medical professional who is familiar with both conditions. There are other potential causes for excessive sweating, including hot flashes during menopause. You can try some home remedies to stop the sweating on your own, but further medical attention may be needed to prevent the sweating so that it doesn’t interfere with your daily life. 

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For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

The Nervous System in Fibromyalgia

You likely already know about the connection between the nervous system and fibromyalgia. 
You likely know that fibromyalgia is complex too, but we know that many times, the nervous system is at the heart of many symptoms.

Research in recent years continues to prove that this is truly a physical condition that is connected to a dysfunction in the nervous system but affects various other systems of the body.

You are not crazy, you live with a multi-system condition, and if you are like me, I also have its primary co-conditions as well, CFS/ME and MCS.

As I often say, this is a multi-system condition affecting many systems in the body. You might often hear me say when we talk in our live videos that it often starts in the nervous system and branches off into other areas of the body.

The fact that most patients suffer from pain that spreads throughout their bodies for most if not all of their lives hints at an issue with the nerves. The nervous system is the body’s way of interacting with the world.
The nerves take in information from the surrounding world and trigger physical responses, including pain. There are billions of nerve cells in the system, which means billions of possible pain trigger points for fibromyalgia patients.

We know a lot more today about fibromyalgia than we did in the past, and our goals here correlate well to create the safest and least invasive approach. Let’s take a look at what research has discovered and what it may mean for the treatment of this condition moving forward.

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The Central Nervous System and Fibromyalgia

The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain accepts information from the surrounding world and sends signals to the body through the spinal cord. This communication is what triggers motion, speech, thought and other responses to anything happening in our surrounding worlds.

For instance, you will pause the tv, and get up from the couch after hearing a knock at the door because your brain sends signals to your spinal cord ordering those motions.

That last sentence reminds me of a story I was telling in one of our recent interactives on the Facebook page. I was winding down at home at about 9:30 at night when a neighbor came and knocked repeatedly very loudly on my front door. My first reaction was to be startled, something must be wrong. Long story short, nothing was wrong, the neighbor just had a question for me. 

But, my nervous system didn’t care at that point, as it was already riled up and ready for a fight. Do you know what I mean? So, for those of us with fibromyalgia, it can take longer for the body to regulate down that stress (fight or flight) 

In a 2018 issue of Seminars in Immunopathology, Littlejohn, MD, from the Monash University in Australia presented a review of the fibromyalgia symptoms that are now connected to the nervous system. In an interview regarding that research, he stated that fibromyalgia research originally focused on the muscles and soft tissue.

The focus shifted to the central nervous system when researchers realized that the pain threshold for fibromyalgia patients is lower not only in the muscles but also in the peripheral tissues.

This hinted at an issue with the brain and spinal cord, particularly something that makes the body more sensitive to pain as well as light and other environmental stimuli. And, guess what? it’s not a psychiatric condition. The brain just happens to play a primary role in stimulating pain, anxiety, and other common symptoms that come with fibromyalgia.

The CNS becomes far too sensitive to stimuli from the outside world, so what someone without fibromyalgia would register as a touch or another non-threatening event is registered as pain for someone with fibromyalgia. This is why the pain threshold is so much lower throughout the body for fibro patients. The pain triggers are going through the spinal cord and out to other areas of the body when it’s not necessary.

We know that treating fibromyalgia with opioids and narcotics is ineffective because it doesn’t address neurotransmitters in the brain that trigger the pain. Medical professionals are now leaning towards exercise, cognitive therapy, and stress reduction strategies in addition to different types of prescription medication that are better able to control CNS responses. 

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The Peripheral Nervous System and Fibromyalgia

The peripheral nervous system includes nerves that extend from the spinal cord into your extremities. This includes your arms, legs, hands, and feet. You also have cranial nerves that go from your brain to your eyes and other regions of the head.

Your organs are connected to the spinal cord by autonomic nerves. All of these nerves are designed to put your body in motion in response to signals sent through the spinal cord from the brain.

There is some research that suggests fibromyalgia may actually start in the peripheral nerves. One study of the nervous system and fibromyalgia found that people with fibromyalgia have more slender stromal nerves compared to people without fibromyalgia.

It’s now believed that differences in those nerves could make the spinal cord and brain more sensitive rather than it all starting in the CNS. This is not currently the dominant way of thinking, and further research is needed to explore this idea.

Other studies of the nervous system and fibromyalgia have shown potential differences in peripheral nerve fibers and other components of the peripheral nervous system, hinting at many potential causes of fibromyalgia pain. It’s possible that each fibro patient suffers from different peripheral nerve disorders, making this already complex diagnosis even more tangled.

What you can take away from this today is the importance of exercise, stress reduction, healthy eating, and other lifestyle treatments. Depending on pain medication alone ignores the root causes of fibromyalgia and can lead to more long-term pain in joints, spine, and muscles. 

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For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store