Dear Fibromyalgia

Tag: fibromyalgia diagnosis

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

  • What is Myofascial Pain Syndrome and How it is affiliated with Fibromyalgia.

    Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome often go together. Because of the frequent overlap and some similar symptoms, they’re often mistaken for the same condition and, as a result, people with both are sometimes only diagnosed with and treated for one.

    That’s a real problem, for three major reasons:

    1. they require different treatment
    2. MPS’s trigger points can be eliminated
    3. MPS pain can exacerbate FMS, and lowering MPS pain can calm FMS symptoms considerably

    Some researchers use the name “chronic myofascial pain” (CMP) instead of myofascial pain syndrome because of evidence it’s a disease, not a syndrome. (A “syndrome” is a set of symptoms without a known cause.)

    Overview

    In MPS, muscles and connective tissues (which make up the fascia) develop what’s called a trigger point (TrP). These are not the same as FMS tender points.

    A trigger point is a small, hard knot that you can sometimes feel under your skin. The knot itself can be painful, especially when poked, but it often causes pain in another area, which is called referred pain.

    Trigger points typically form as a result of trauma to the tissue. Experts don’t know why damage that heals normally in most people causes TrPs in others. However, studies suggest that muscle injury in some people leads to abnormalities where the nerve cells connect to muscle cells. This suggests MPS is a neuromuscular disease.

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    Association

    Why people with MPS frequently develop FMS isn’t yet clear, but a growing body of evidence shows that, in some people, chronic pain can make changes to the central nervous system, resulting in central sensitization. If theories are correct, early treatment of MPS may help prevent FMS.

    An emerging umbrella term for FMS, MPS and other conditions involving central sensitization is central sensitivity syndromes.

    Symptoms

    Some symptoms associated with MPS are similar to symptoms associated with FMS, while others are linked to only one of them.

    The symptoms they have in common include:

    Symptoms associated with MPS but not with FMS include:

    • numbness in the extremities
    • popping or clicking joints
    • limited range of motion in joints, especially the jaw
    • doubled or blurry vision
    • unexplained nausea

    Symptoms associated with FMS but not with MPS include:

    For more fibromyalgia symptoms, see The Monster List of Fibromyalgia Symptoms.

    Diagnosis

    Referred pain makes MPS especially hard to diagnose and treat. Typically, a doctor says, “Where does it hurt?” and then looks where you point. To treat MPS, you and your doctor need to examine your symptoms and figure out where your trigger points are.

    Your doctor can find trigger points by feel or based on symptoms.

    Tests such as magnetic resonance elastography and tissue biopsy may show abnormalities in TrPs, but their roles in diagnosing MPS still aren’t clear.

    By contrast, no test or scan reveals abnormalities in the tissues where people with FMS experience pain.

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    Treatments

    You have several options for treating MPS:

    • Trigger-Point Injections: The doctor inserts a needle directly into a TrP or in several places around it to loosen up the taut bands. The doctor may inject a pain-relieving medication, such as corticosteroids or lidocaine. (Note: some doctors believe corticosteroids can exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms.) When no medication is used, it’s called dry needling.
    • Acupuncture: Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice similar to dry needling. While studies of its use in MPS are limited they are promising, and many patients and practitioners report good results.
    • Physical Therapy: A special kind of therapy called spray-and-stretch is common for treating MPS. A physical therapist guides you through stretching exercises while spraying a numbing substance on your muscle. The therapist may also use certain massage techniques to loosen your muscles and TrPs. In addition, a therapist can work with you on factors such as poor posture that may contribute to MPS.
    • Medications: Common drugs for MPS include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aleve (naproxen) or ibuprofen-based drugs like Advil and Motrin, and tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, doxepin, and nortriptyline.

    MPS Treatments vs. FMS Treatments

    Here again, there is some overlap but also important differences. Treatments used for both MPS and FMS include:

    Studies show trigger-point injections are not effective at relieving fibromyalgia tender points, and NSAIDs are not effective at treating FMS pain.

    For more on fibromyalgia treatments, see Treating Fibromyalgia – A Multidisciplinary Approach.

    Coping

    With significant differences in their symptoms, diagnostics, and treatment, it’s clear that fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome are not the same conditions. However, it can be extremely difficult to determine which condition is causing which pain when a person has both of them.

    By working both on your own and with your doctor and/or physical therapist, you may be able to figure out where you have trigger points and how best to treat them without exacerbating your fibromyalgia. Relieving the myofascial pain is likely to quiet your fibromyalgia symptoms, so you could well see a double benefit.

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    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

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  • Sensory Overload: How Noise Can Affect You in Fibromyalgia

    Sensory Overload: How Noise Can Affect You in Fibromyalgia

    Sensitivity to environmental stimulation, including bright lights, loud noises, and even certain smells, can make living with fibromyalgia particularly challenging. You might wake up each morning wondering what new trigger may exacerbate your fibromyalgia symptoms.

    “I deal with everything on a day-to-day basis,” says Stephanie Parker of Dover, Del., who believes her symptoms are consistent with fibromyalgia but has not yet been formally diagnosed. The symptoms keep her from participating in daily family activities, such as watching her kids’ ballgames in the afternoons.

    Tina Pringle, who was diagnosed 16 years ago with fibromyalgia, says that her fibromyalgia symptoms have been overwhelming at times. “The symptoms all merge together, and because of the fatigue and brain fog, everything becomes a maze of sheer confusion,” explains Pringle.

    The United Kingdom resident says her eye doctor identified her light sensitivity, but it’s her sensitivity to sound that’s most troubling. “Loud bangs, a child crying, loud music, shouting, dogs barking, and my worst annoyance, whistling, are all an issue,” she says. “The noises resound in my head like a clanging cymbal and cause my whole body to tense up.”

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    As her tension grows, so does her fibromyalgia pain, and she has to retreat to a darkened room to relax. Her reaction is particularly problematic at home, where her teenage daughter often loves to play loud music and behave in typically boisterous adolescent fashion.

    Noise is just the beginning of the sensory anguish that might be contributing to your fibromyalgia pain. People living with fibromyalgia report:

    What’s Going On Inside Your Head

    This heightened sensitivity may be difficult for you to understand, much less explain to friends and family members who see no outward problem. The uncomfortable and painful sensations of fibromyalgia may be part of your brain’s unusual way of processing pain, suggests fibromyalgia researcher Benjamin Natelson, MD, a neurology professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City and author of Your Symptoms Are Real: What to Do When Your Doctor Says Nothing Is Wrong.

    According to a study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation that compared and analyzed reports from women with rheumatoid arthritis, women with fibromyalgia, and women without a pain syndrome, those with fibromyalgia were much more likely to report intense, unpleasant responses to sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile sensations.

    Another study, published in the journal Pain Research and Treatment, suggests that changes in brain chemistry among people with fibromyalgia may be linked to sensitivity to stimuli such as sound and smell. Imaging studies have provided visual depictions of this altered response to sensations. In some respects, the brains of people with fibromyalgia may be hyper-responsive to even the possibility of pain or discomfort, Dr. Natelson says.

    Researchers have also tested tissue samples and found elevated levels of inflammatory markers in the skin of people with fibromyalgia — which may be linked to hypersensitivity to touch. Touch sensitivity is real for people like Pringle, who says that there are times when even holding hands with her partner is too painful to bear. Clothes that are too tight, massages, and even light touches all ratchet up her pain and stress. To make matters worse, Pringle says she occasionally even flinches involuntarily when touched by others, which can be hurtful to those around her.

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    What to Do About Fibromyalgia Symptoms

    How can you address a problem that might stem from your brain’s wiring? Here are some practical steps you can take to manage these sensory symptoms:

    • Work with a supportive doctor. “If your doctor doesn’t believe you have fibromyalgia, get a new one,” stresses Natelson. Pain treatment will be most effective, he says, when you and your doctor are on the same team. Three prescription medications have been approved for treating fibromyalgia and could help you manage your fibromyalgia pain and reduce your hypersensitivity.
    • Be active. A review of exercise as part of fibromyalgia treatment, published in the journal Rheumatology International, showed that aerobic exercise may offset pain and minimize tender point sensitivity. Natelson advises gentle physical conditioning. His prescription: “Walk for 30 minutes every other day at about 1.5 to 2 miles per hour.” This increases blood flow to the muscles and tissues. Very gradually, increase your pace to about 3.6 mph. This level of activity “seems to downregulate pain perception,” Natelson explains. Walking outside is ideal, but if you’re sensitive to temperature changes, light, smells, and other sensations, start a walking program inside your home or at the gym.
    • Avoid your triggers. As much as you can, control your environment so that you limit potential causes of discomfort
    • Ventilate your home well to remove strong smells.
    • Consider earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to minimize or eliminate loud sounds.
    • Take care of your skin and reduce irritation by using gentle products and avoiding temperature extremes, such as very hot or very cold water.
    • Wear loose-fitting clothes and dress in light layers that you can remove if the weight of your clothes starts to irritate your skin.
    • Set boundaries. When her sensitivity to light is especially intense, Pringle simply explains to family members that she can’t watch TV with them right at that moment.
    • Create a retreat. On particularly difficult days, a comfortable, cool, darkened room might be a soothing place to relax and recharge.
    • Wear sunglasses. Inside or out, if you feel sensitive to light or certain patterns, put on some shades and give your eyes a break.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Daith Piercing & Fibromyalgia – Does it Help Migraine Pain?

    If you have fibromyalgia, there’s a good chance you experience migraines too. They can be quite debilitating. Mine sent me to the ER once, but not because of pain. It’s because the migraine effects were mimicking a seizure in many ways. And migraines can hit you whether you have fibromyalgia or not. So what can you do about them? Well, there are medications, of course. You can also just ride them out. Or you can try alternative methods like acupuncture which has proved highly effective at relieving migraines. Many people are turning to a seemingly related alternative called a Daith piercing.

    A daith (pronounced “doth,” but apparently “daith” like “faith” is acceptable too) piercing goes through the ear’s innermost cartilage fold. It’s kind of close to a tragus piercing.  Many people swear by them for alleviating migraines. Others say they are useless. Most seem to think to pierce that location on the ear is related to acupuncture’s use of pressure points. So what exactly is the deal? And does it really work or not? More importantly, should you get one?

    Daith Piercing: Is it Like Acupuncture?

    When we talk about acupuncture and pressure points, we are essentially talking about what is usually referred to as Chinese Medicine. There are traditional forms, classical forms, and many others. I am not an expert in this field. But I have studied a number of books, documentaries, and other resources about or related to Chinese medicine. I’ve even written about it in academic settings. I also have a spouse who has completed nearly half the training required just to understand Chinese medicine, not even to practice yet. Thus, I can tell you with absolute certainty: it is based on a highly complex system that is literally thousands of years old. And it’s definitely effective, no question there!

    Chinese medicine (sometimes called Eastern medicine) is rooted in a much different understanding of the body than Western medicine. Here in the West, we tend to focus on alleviating symptoms, rather than looking at the system as a whole. Chinese medicine looks not just at the main organs, but their delivery systems, energy channels that run all throughout, and much more. Acupuncture uses very specific points on the body that target highly specified organ systems and functions, all of which are connected. Have you been to an acupuncturist or at least seen the needles they use? They are ultra-fine and bend easily. But they are just the right size because the targets are so small.

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    About that Earring….

    Think about how thick a traditional earring is compared to one of those needles. Now, an acupuncturist is trained to hit the exact spot on your ear to relieve migraine pain. Thus, if a piercer who has never been trained in Chinese medicine pierces your ear in that innermost cartilage fold, what are the odds that they will hit the very spot to relieve migraines? Pretty slim, don’t you think? I mean, it’s hit or misses, right?

    Does that help you understand a possible (and highly likely!) reason why some people say that Daith piercings work great to relieve their migraines, but others say it does nothing?

    Is Daith Piercing Safe?

    A Daith piercing is just that: a piercing. It’s as safe as most piercings are, which means it still has the same risk factors as other piercings too. Most notably, infection. Other than that, there’s one other risk factor that is noteworthy but based entirely on the individual: pain threshold. While the ear cartilage is not necessarily dangerous for piercing, it can definitely hurt. And if you suffer from fibromyalgia, then you are already abnormally sensitive to pain.

    So the ultimate question is: should I do it? If you want to relieve migraines through a Daith piercing, the chances of it being effective are about 50/50 according to anecdotal reports. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that there is not a lot of research on migraines. But there are a lot of people out there who have gotten a Daith piercing in an attempt to relieve their migraines. Check out their stories before making your decision.

    A Few Words of Caution

    Let’s reiterate: it may or may not work. If you have fibromyalgia or a heightened sensitivity to pain, then I would advise against this piercing. Because even those folks with several piercings and a high threshold for pain tend to agree – this is a particularly painful spot. But if you want to do it regardless, just because it looks good, then go for it. Note that it can get infected and often hurts for a while during the healing process. Also, be cautious because some people have adverse reactions or allergies to certain metals. This could be related to an excess of- or some sort of- toxicity in your body. At any rate, it is something to keep in mind.

    If you are looking for ways to relieve your migraines, I highly recommend finding a quality acupuncturist before trying the Daith piercing. And if you have fibromyalgia too, tell the practitioner. They need to know about pain sensitivities because they can modify their plans according to what they can handle. Talk with them about getting a Daith piercing to treat your migraines. You might find that they choose other points on the body to treat your migraines much more effectively than that one spot on your ear.

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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

  • Link Between Allodynia and Fibromyalgia

    Have you ever tried resting in bed, but the sheets are somehow painful enough to keep you awake? Have you ever been outside on a warm day only to have a cool breeze or gust of wind hurt your body all over? Or how about this one: has the elastic on your sleeves, pants, or socks bothered you so badly that you just had to change clothes or go naked for a bit? If you’re reading this and don’t have fibromyalgia, these scenarios may sound absurd. But the struggle is real, folks, and it’s called allodynia.

    Allodynia and fibromyalgia often go together. For example, I’ve literally had to get up in the middle of the night a few times in life just to shave my legs because the irritation and pain from my pajamas or sheets touching the hair was keeping me awake. So I’ve been shaving every day of my life for years now just to avoid that sensation.

    The best way I have found to help people understand what I’m dealing with is to say, “Think about the most sensitive places on your body. It could be your lips, fingertips, tongue, or whatever. Now imagine that your whole body and even your muscles are made from the same nerves that are found in those places. Then think about how it would feel if it was overly stimulated all the time. That’s a lot like what I experience when the wind blows and even sometimes when I’m gently touched by my partner or pet.”

    Just What is Allodynia?

    Researchers at the UK-based Cardiff University explain that “neuropathic pain is caused by damage to- or dysfunction of- the peripheral and central nervous system, rather than stimulation of pain receptors.” If you’ve done any reading at all about fibromyalgia, then these are ideas you should definitely be familiar with. In fact, they add that “neuropathic pain commonly results in ‘spontaneous’ pains. Some of these sensations appear to have a ‘life of their own and are bizarre.” Bizarre and spontaneous sensations and pains? Sounds like an average day when you’re dealing with fibromyalgia, doesn’t it? Well, allodynia is one of those spontaneous pains.

    You see, allodynia falls into a category of “evoked pains” which are “usually exaggerated responses to innocuous events that do not cause pain in people with ‘normal’ pain pathways.” Ok, now we’re getting somewhere, aren’t we? This explains why those without fibro usually have no concept of what this is like. Allodynia is specifically pain that comes from simple contact which isn’t usually painful. Like blowing wind, unshaven legs, and sheets touching your skin.

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    Kinds of Allodynia

    There are three forms of allodynia. First is touch or tactile, meaning the pain that comes from the touch of, for example, clothing against the skin. Second is mechanical allodynia which is caused by movement across the skin from things like towels used for drying off, the brushing of bed sheets, and yes, even the wind. Lastly is thermal or temperature-related allodynia. That’s referring to hot or cold temperatures that are not extreme enough to damage your tissues. Indeed, the temperature may be rather. But with allodynia, it feels extreme so we might refer to it as temperature sensitivity.

    You can actually have just one form or any combination of allodynia, and even all three. As you can see from the personal examples I shared, I obviously have the first two kinds. The third is hit or miss for me, but it’s definitely a problem. And your fibro experience may be similar to mine or very different. Nevertheless, allodynia and fibromyalgia go hand-in-hand as should be evident by now.

    Treating Allodynia and Fibromyalgia

    Allodynia is a type of pain commonly associated with fibromyalgia. It can be really difficult for non-fibro people to understand. And unfortunately, like fibromyalgia, allodynia cannot be cured. Rather, they must be managed. One treatment often recommended to help the muscular pain associated with fibro is massage. However, I have to use this method sparingly and in short bursts. My allodynia keeps me from enjoying a massage for longer than 45 minutes if I’m lucky. So be mindful that massage therapy can make it worse, but it also helps to simply know your limitations and tell the therapist when you’ve had enough.

    Some fibro patients get allodynia pain relief from topical creams like Tiger Balm, Aspercreme, Lidocaine, or BioFreeze. Certain drugs used for the moderate treatment of pain have helped some fibro patients deal with their allodynia as well. Medications such as Tramadol, Lyrica, and Gabapentin are effective for treating a number of symptoms, including the pain from allodynia and fibromyalgia.

    Have you found a particular treatment, method, or remedy for allodynia and fibromyalgia that works for you? Please share it with us because every little bit helps in this community!

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia Supplements | How Nigella Sativa Can Helpful for Fibromyalgia Patients

    People with fibromyalgia have chronic pain that results from inflamed muscle and tissue.  Fibromyalgia causes painful and achy spots in the muscle and can prevent people from being active.  Pain can range from mild to severe, and some people who have fibromyalgia have a hard time getting out of bed.

    Aside from chronic muscle pain, fibromyalgia can also lead to anxiety, depression, isolation, and others due to the pain endured by sufferers.

    As a treatment, people try various different methods including massage, acupuncture, drug treatments, homeopathy, stress relief exercises, meditation, exercise, and others.  There are many lifestyle changes that people with fibromyalgia pain must make.

    People with fibromyalgia often suffer from fatigue and have a hard time sleeping.  Even when they first wake up, they may feel tired and not rested. Therefore, it is important for people to manage their stress levels, and to work to try to avoid depression and isolation.

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    There are different drug treatments used to ease the pain of fibromyalgia.  Corticosteroids and NSAIDS are treatments that can ease pain, but they can also have adverse side effects.

    Many people are seeking alternative methods of healing, including homeopathic and natural/alternative medicine.  These methods use natural substances to treat conditions and diseases.

    One natural method to ease fibromyalgia is taking colloidal silver (2-4 ounces per day).  Proteolytic and digestive enzymes can be taken to help dissolve fibrin.

    Other natural supplements that may help include curcumin, magnesium, Nigella sativa (black seed oil), and herbal oleander.  All of these work with the immune system.  Nigella sativa may help fibromyalgia.

    It has been estimated that 80-95% of people with fibromyalgia are magnesium deficient. Magnesium is a necessary nutrient for over 300 biochemical functions in the body.

    Colloidal silver has been very effective in helping to treat fibromyalgia symptoms.  Herbal oleander is a powerful immune booster and can be helpful in relieving fibromyalgia.  This should be taken in a proven supplement form, as it can be toxic in high doses.

    Vitamin D3 is an immune modulator and D3 deficiency has been linked to immune disorders. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric and is an immune modulator that relieves pain and inflammation.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia Diagnosis | Is Fibromyalgia Genetic? How do I know if I have fibromyalgia?

    People with fibromyalgia often ask, “Is fibromyalgia genetic?” It’s a hard question to answer, especially when little is known about how fibromyalgia works. But it’s something that could be relevant to getting the best possible treatment. So let’s look at the evidence.

    Is fibromyalgia genetic?

    If you have fibromyalgia, there’s a good chance that you know someone in your family who also has it. According to research, fibromyalgia does tend to run in families. And that implies that there is a genetic component to the disease.

    The fact that fibromyalgia might be genetic means that the genes that are responsible for so much about the way your body works are passing along fibromyalgia.

    But that also means that if someone in your family has fibromyalgia, then you are also likely to develop fibromyalgia.

    What does that mean for you?

    Because we know that fibromyalgia is genetic, we know that having a relative with fibromyalgia is a red flag when it comes to the possibility of being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. So if someone in your family has the disease, you should keep on guard for the signs that you are also developing it.

    Fibromyalgia can’t be cured, but it can be treated. And there’s no reason to spend years suffering without any treatment at all from mysterious aches and pains because you didn’t realize you had the disease.

    After all, many people with fibromyalgia can go years before finding out that the cause of their pain is in fact, fibromyalgia.

    So with your knowledge of the fact that fibromyalgia is genetic, you can have a better chance of catching it early.

    How do I know if I have fibromyalgia?

    There are a few warning signs of fibromyalgia that you should watch out for:

    If you have any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor. Tell them if fibromyalgia runs in your family. This will alert them to the possibility that you have fibromyalgia and they should begin tests.

    Just remember that the best way to deal with fibromyalgia is to be proactive about managing your symptoms. And get a diagnosis as soon as possible.

    Fibromyalgia is a difficult disease to live with. It causes chronic fatigue and pain all over the body. And people who have fibromyalgia often find it hard to find a treatment that works for them. That’s why it’s important to get a diagnosis early so you can get effective treatment as soon as possible. There are a few early signs of fibromyalgia that you should look for to tell if you have fibromyalgia.

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    What Are The Early Signs Of Fibromyalgia?

    Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose. And in the early stages, the first signs of fibromyalgia can be very different for different people. One of the best symptoms to look for early on is chronic fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often feel like they can’t seem to get a good rest no matter how much they sleep. And to make things worse, sleeping can be very difficult by itself.

    Just feeling tired all the time is probably worth a trip to your doctor, as chronic fatigue is a symptom of many different conditions.

    In addition, the most obvious symptom, and the one that doctors use to diagnose you is widespread pain. Fibromyalgia pain is located along 18 different points on the body. These are usually in the joints of the limbs and back. A doctor will test you to see if you have pain in 11 of these points, which is sufficient to prove that you have fibromyalgia.

    This pain is typically what causes fibromyalgia patients to visit a doctor, as it is difficult to manage.

    What Should You Do If You Think You Have Fibromyalgia?

    If you have these early signs of fibromyalgia, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. If possible, it’s best to see a doctor who specializes in fibromyalgia. You can contact the National Fibromyalgia Research Association for a list of fibromyalgia specialists in your area. And a doctor who treats fibromyalgia regularly will be more aware of the early signs of fibromyalgia and better equipped to recommend an effective treatment.

    Be honest and thorough when describing your symptoms as it will help the doctor make the best diagnosis possible.

    What Are Some Treatments For Fibromyalgia?

    There are a number of drugs that doctors prescribe to treat fibromyalgia. Often these are anti-depressants, like Lyrica and Cymbalta, that increase the levels of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin helps calm the nerve pain associated with fibromyalgia.

    But there are also other drugs that are new when it comes to treating fibromyalgia but show promise. Drugs like naltrexone offer new hope to people with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia.

    And doctors are rapidly testing new drugs and making advancements in the study of what causes fibromyalgia. Meanwhile, many find that the standard treatments are at least partially effective.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia Conditions | Fibromyalgia Can Mask Chronic Inflammatory Disease of the Spine and Pelvis

    Fibromyalgia symptoms can mask the presence of chronic inflammatory disease affecting the joints of the pelvis and spine, according to new research.

    The study, titled “Prevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study With Application of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Classification Criteria,” was published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. It highlights the importance of vigilant management of fibromyalgia symptoms by doctors and patients, taking into account the possible underlying presence of inflammatory disorders.

    Unlike other rheumatologic diseases, fibromyalgia is non-inflammatory in nature, and recent reports suggest that it is caused by uncontrolled hyper-activation of the pain-associated nervous response.

    Fibromyalgia patients can present a broad spectrum of symptoms, including chronic nocturnal back pain, morning stiffness, and disturbed sleep. However, these are also symptoms of an inflammatory condition called axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

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    The spA is a chronic inflammatory condition involving the spine, pelvis, and surrounding joints. Although SpA and fibromyalgia are very different diseases, they can overlap and share similar symptoms.

    Aiming to determine the incidence of SpA among fibromyalgia patients, a total of 99 patients with fibromyalgia underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation for the identification of structural alterations common in SpA chronic inflammation1, such as bone erosion and spine deformations (sclerosis).

    About 8% of patients presented symptoms of inflammation in pelvic joints, while 17% and 25% presented bone erosion and sclerosis, respectively. Despite the frequency of these symptoms, only 10% of fibromyalgia patients were positively SpA diagnosed, according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society classification criteria.

    “When approaching the clinical conundrum of differentiating between ‘pure’ fibromyalgia and those cases with an unsuspected underlying inflammatory disease, the physician must attempt to rely [on] on clinical judgment and on available diagnostic tools,” the study’s authors, from medical centers in Tel Aviv, Israel, wrote.

    Through blood tests that evaluate levels of a protein associated with inflammation, known as CRP, the authors found that the diagnosis of SpA was positively associated with increased CRP levels and physical function limitation. This result suggests that CRP could be used as a diagnostic tool for SpA among fibromyalgia patients.

    “These results underscore the importance of recognizing the overlap between inflammatory and centralized pain in each patient and call for increased clinical vigilance in the process of differential diagnosis,” the authors concluded.

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  • Fibromyalgia Diagnosis | Discovery Of New Tests & Causes For Fibromyalgia Could Offer Relief To Millions Of Sufferers

    A diagnosis of fibromyalgia is often given when doctors are unable to find another cause for chronic widespread body pain. But many fibromyalgias suffers are often told the pain is all in their heads. Now, discoveries about the potential cause of fibromyalgia, along with a new test to diagnose fibromyalgia, could offer relief to millions — the vast majority of whom are women. If you have fibromyalgia, you’ve likely experienced frustration when trying to find a treatment that works to alleviate body pain, fatigue, brain fog, and more. And, you might experience the additional blow of family, friends, and even doctors telling you that your symptoms are psychosomatic.

    “Fibromyalgia patients tend to be stressed, tense, anxious, ambitious, and sometimes depressed. Some fibromyalgia sufferers describe themselves as perfectionists,” Stanford Medicine reported. “They may also suffer from symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or migraine or tension headaches. Physicians who dismiss their patient’s complaints as being ‘all in the head’ can also make symptoms worse.”

    More and more evidence has emerged about how the body and brain work together, and how a communication breakdown between these two systems can contribute to chronic pain conditions. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have identified an underlying condition that could play a role in illnesses like chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome, according to a study published in the journal Current Pain and Headache Reports. Additionally, another study published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice reported that a new test could more effectively differentiate fibromyalgia from other chronic pain conditions.

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    New Screening Can Effectively Diagnose Fibromyalgia

    The study from the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice was conducted to help primary-care physicians become more skilled at correctly identifying fibromyalgia. According to the study, half of all primary-care providers from the U.S., Asia, and Europe did not know how to diagnose fibromyalgia. The screening method, which involves using Achilles tendon pressuring in tandem with an inquiry about widespread body pain, can help doctors determine if a chronic pain patient might have fibromyalgia in less than one minute.

    Being able to get a fast and accurate diagnosis can save chronic pain suffers years of tests and uncertainty. “Because of the many different symptoms it may present, fibromyalgia can be challenging to diagnose,” Fibromyalgia News Today reported. “The process often takes two to three years and three to four evaluations by different medical teams to reach a correct diagnosis.”

    If you’ve seen Gaga: Five Foot Two, then you know that Lady Gaga did not receive her fibromyalgia diagnosis for five years. This new screening method is meant to speed up that process. According to Fibromyalgia News Today the study used three clinical measures — blood pressure (BP) cuff‐evoked pain, digital palpation evoked pain, and a single question about “persistent deep aching” — to indicate fibromyalgia.

    “The study found that patients with fibromyalgia showed significantly greater sensitivity to digital pressure and BP-evoked pressure pain compared to patients with chronic pain but no fibromyalgia,” Fibromyalgia News Today noted. “When questioned about deep ache, more fibromyalgia patients responded positively than the other groups of participants. Additional analysis showed that patients who had right Achilles tenderness and who endorsed the deep-aching question had an 11 times greater chance of having fibromyalgia.”

    The study concluded that patients who receive a positive diagnosis need a follow-up exam to confirm whether or not they have fibromyalgia.

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    Half Diagnosed With Fibro Might Have SFPN

    The Massachusetts General study found that something called small-fiber polyneuropathy — the impairment of small nerve fibers — is present in a variety of different diseases and often results in symptoms of burning and shooting pain. Fox 25 in Boston spoke to Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander, who was involved in the study and said that those who suffer from diseases like fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome might actually have a disease called small-fiber polyneuropathy, or SFPN, a disorder in which nerve cells found under the skin are attacked by the body’s immune system. One of the reasons it’s so hard to diagnose is that even though patients suffer from widespread pain, no one can see it — but that’s now changing.

    She discovered that drugs called immunomodulators — medications used to help regulate or normalize the immune system — can be effectively used to treat SFPN in some patients, which is offering relief to long-time sufferers. “It’s pretty routine that I have patients who break down and cry when they get an answer for the first time to something that’s been disabling them for years or decades,” Oaklander said, adding that SFPN is diagnosable by biopsy.

    The study described symptoms of SFPN, and they’re pretty on point with what many people with fibromyalgia, IBS, chronic fatigue, and undiagnosed chronic pain report. “Many individuals report the gradual onset of distal symptoms that include vague disturbances of sensation in the feet. These symptoms may include the feeling of a wrinkle in a sock that cannot be removed or of small pebbles or sand in the shoe. Others may report a cold-like pain, tingling or a pins and needles sensation,” the study detailed.

    Other, more severe, symptoms include persistent burning pain and transient electric shock-like pain with symptoms worsening during periods of rest and at night. Additionally, “Patients with small fiber neuropathy frequently complain that the bedsheets are exquisitely painful, and therefore, wear socks or use ‘foot tents’ to keep the sheets from making physical contact with the feet.”

    Harvard’s newspaper, the Harvard Gazette, reported that as many as half of all people diagnosed with fibromyalgia may actually have SFPN, which could be good news because, unlike fibromyalgia, SFPN is treatable with immunomodulators. Because the two diseases are so similar, it can be difficult to tell them apart. And, while not everyone who has fibromyalgia has SFPN, those who do may find some relief with medication. What’s more, because SFPN can be diagnosed with a biopsy, patients can finally find out one way or the other if they have it.

    Overall, these two discoveries offer hope for chronic pain sufferers who often feel like they’re fighting an invisible war. Having more options to diagnose and treat chronic pain is a positive step on the road to healing.

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  • Researchers Say Fibromyalgia Pain May Be Linked To Spinal Cord Dysfunction | Fibromyalgia Researches

    According to a study titled “Lengthened Cutaneous Silent Period in Fibromyalgia Suggesting Central Sensitization as a Pathogenesis” and published in the journal PLOS One, dysfunction in spinal cord processing may be responsible for pain in fibromyalgia (FM) patients.

    Among other side effects, Fibromyalgia is portrayed by chronic widespread pain, but the root cause that is responsible for chronic pain in FM is still vague. A recent study has shown that for fibromyalgia pathogenesis, central pain amplification is key, FM pathogenesis also known as “central sensitization” is a process that is characterized by augmented pain and sensory processing in the spinal cord and brain.

    The cutaneous silent period (CSP), a spinal reflex interceded by A-delta cutaneous afferents that are used to evaluate pain processing in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, between FM patients and normal healthy controls were compared by the researchers. The amount of people that were analyzed was 24 fibromyalgia patients (diagnosed according the 1990 American College of Rheumatology classification system) and 24 healthy controls of same age and sex. CSP was checked from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle which is present in the hand between the wrist and the base of the thumb by using standard electro diagnostic equipment, along with patients’ parameters in which statistic information, number of tender points, visual analog scale and fibromyalgia affects surveys scores were included.

    These findings suggest that in the central nervous system, fibromyalgia is linked with pain modulation mechanisms dys-functioning. Also, according to researchers study, there was no correlation between CSP and clinical parameters like VAS score, K-FIQ score, age, and height, which postures questions in the matter of whether to utilize CSP to survey ailment seriousness. As a matter of fact, researchers emphasize that extra reviews are required to additionally assess the relationship between CSP parameters and clinical information.

    The authors write in their report, “In conclusion, dysfunction of supraspinal control may be responsible for pain in FM, giving additional proof that central sensitization underlies the pathogenesis of the disease,”

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  • Double Up These Two Medicine to Fight Fibromyalgia Pain | Fibromyalgia Medication

    Is there a more effective way to treat fibromyalgia?

    A Canadian researcher think he has uncovered one. Ian Gilron is the Director of Clinical Pain Research, Professor of Anesthesiology, and Biomedical Sciences, and Faculty in the Centre for Neuroscience Studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    The results of a trial suggest that combining pregabalin (Lyrica), an anti-seizure drug, with duloxetine (Cymbalta), an antidepressant, can safely improve outcomes in fibromyalgia, including not only pain relief, but also physical function and overall quality of life. Until now, these drugs have been proven, individually, to treat fibromyalgia pain.

    “Previous evidence supports added benefits with some drug combinations in fibromyalgia,” says, Dr. Gilron. “We are very excited to present the first evidence demonstrating superiority of a duloxetine-pregabalin combination over either drug alone.”

    Fibromyalgia was initially thought to be a musculoskeletal disorder. Research now suggests it’s a disorder of the central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the level and activity of brain chemicals responsible for processing pain signals.

    “The condition affects about 1.5 to 5 per cent of Canadians – more than twice as many women as men. It can have a devastating on the lives of patients and their families,” explains Dr. Gilron. “Current treatments for fibromyalgia are either ineffective or intolerable for many patients.”

    This study is the latest in a series of clinical trials – funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – that Dr. Gilron and his colleagues have conducted on combination therapies for chronic pain conditions. By identifying and studying promising drug combinations, their research is showing how physicians can make the best use of current treatments available to patients.

    “The value of such combination approaches is they typically involve drugs that have been extensively studied and are well known to health-care providers,” says Dr. Gilron.

    This new research was published in the journal Pain.

    Dr. Gilron and his research team at Queen’s are members of the SPOR Network on Chronic Pain. The national network, funded under Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, directs new research, trains researchers and clinicians, increases access to care for chronic pain sufferers, and speeds up the translation of the most recent research into practice.

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