Tag: fibromyalgia diagnosis

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

  • Do Over-the-Counter Painkillers Alter Emotions, Reasoning?

    Sure, an over-the-counter painkiller like Tylenol or Advil can help ease aches and pains, but could it mess with your thoughts and emotions, too?

    That’s the finding from a new review of recently published studies. The studies focused on how nonprescription painkillers might temporarily alter emotions such as empathy or even a person’s reasoning skills.

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    “In many ways, the reviewed findings are alarming,” said a team led by Kyle Ratner, a psychology and brain science researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

    “Consumers assume that when they take an over-the-counter pain medication, it will relieve their physical symptoms, but they do not anticipate broader psychological effects,” the study group said.

    One clinical psychiatrist who reviewed the findings said they aren’t far-fetched.

    “Intuitively, this makes sense, as physical and emotional senses can overlap in the brain,” said Dr. Alan Manevitz of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

    “While physical pain can be locally ‘felt’ at the site of a physical injury, the main source and registration of physical pain is in the brain,” he explained. “The same is true of hurtful, emotional and painful feelings. We say our ‘heart is breaking,’ but emotions are felt in the brain.”

    The new study reviewed findings from studies focused on common over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

    The experiments suggest that a regular dose of the pills might affect a person’s sensitivity to painful emotional experiences. For example, in one study, women who took ibuprofen reported less hurt feelings from emotionally painful experiences, such as being excluded by others or writing about being betrayed.

    However, men had the opposite pattern—they became more sensitive to these types of scenarios if they had just taken the painkiller.

    Ratner’s team suggested that these medicines might also reduce a person’s ability to empathize with the pain of others. For example, one experiment found that people who took acetaminophen were less emotionally distressed while reading about a person suffering physical or emotional pain and felt less regard for the person, compared with people who did not take acetaminophen.

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    People also seemed more willing to part with possessions after taking an over-the-counter painkiller in one study: Their asking price for a possession was lower if they had recently taken such a drug.

    Nonprescription painkillers might even impair “information processing,” the researchers said. In one study, people who took acetaminophen made more errors of omission during a task than those who did not take the drug, for example.

    Dr. Michael Ketteringham, a psychiatrist at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City, reviewed the findings. He stressed that—given an ongoing epidemic of opioid abuse—people shouldn’t be too concerned about the new report.

    “Over-the-counter pain medications play an important role as alternative medication to opioids in the treatment of pain,” Ketteringham said.

    But the study team wondered if, sometime in the future, it might be possible that the medicines could be used to help people deal with hurt feelings.

    Still, both Ratner’s team and Manevitz stressed that it’s far too early to turn over-the-counter painkillers into psychological treatments.

    “Clinically, we are a far cry away from the doctor saying, ‘Heartbreak? Take two Tylenol and call me in the morning,’” Manevitz said.

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    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

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  • Electrical Pulses May Ease Lower Back Pain

    A new treatment that aims electrical pulses at irritated nerves around the spinal cord appears effective at relieving chronic lower back pain and sciatica, a preliminary study suggests.

    The minimally invasive procedure, called image-guided pulsed radiofrequency, eased lingering pain in 80 percent of 10 patients after a single 10-minute treatment. Ninety percent were able to avoid surgery.

    “Given the very low risk profile of this technique, patients suffering herniated disc and nerve root compression symptoms may undergo a safe and fast recovery, going back to normal activities within days,” said study author Dr. Alessandro Napoli, an interventional radiologist at Sapienza University in Rome, Italy.

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    “In fact,” he added, “one of the dramatic advantages of this technology is that we can perform it in a day-surgery setting, without anesthesia, and [patients] go home the same day.”

    Napoli’s study was scheduled for presentation Wednesday at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting in Chicago. Studies presented at scientific conferences typically haven’t been peer-reviewed or published, and results are considered preliminary.

    About 8 in 10 people suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives, according to study documents. This pain can be due to a herniated disc in the lower spine. Sciatica is radiating leg pain caused by a pinched nerve in the lower spine, which also may be due to a herniated disc.

    Also called a slipped or ruptured disc, a herniated disc occurs when the spongy material inside a spinal disc squeezes through its tough outer shell because of aging or injury. This material can press on surrounding nerves, causing pain and numbness or tingling in the legs, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

    Conservative, nonsurgical approaches typically ease symptoms of a herniated disc over time, according to the AAOS. These treatments include rest, gentle exercise, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, cold or hot compresses, physical therapy and massage therapy.

    Learn More: Self-Care for Lower Back Pain

    However, about 20 percent of those with acute low back pain don’t find relief through these measures. That leads some to decide on surgery to remove disc material pressing on their spinal nerves. For these people, Napoli said, image-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment may become a viable option if larger studies reinforce his findings.

    Napoli’s research included 80 people who had experienced at least three months of low back pain from a herniated disc that hadn’t responded to conservative treatments.

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    Image-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment uses computed tomography—a CT scan—to help physicians insert a needle to the location of the herniated disc and surrounding nerves. A probe that’s inserted through the needle tip delivers pulsed radiofrequency energy to the area over a 10-minute period, resolving the herniation without touching the disc, Napoli explained.

    More than 80 percent of the 80 study participants were pain-free a year after a single treatment. Six people required a second treatment session.

    Pulsed radiofrequency has been widely used in pain medicine for other types of chronic pain, Napoli noted.

    He said the treatment works by “eliminating the inflammation process” in nerves surrounding the herniated disc, hindering painful muscle contractions. “The aim was to interrupt this cycle and give the body the chance to restore a natural healing,” he added.

    Dr. Scott Roberts, a physiatrist with Christiana Care Health System in Wilmington, Del., said the new findings showed “an impressive drop in pain and improvement in function.” However, he noted that the research didn’t include a control group for comparison with people not given the treatment.

    “With no control group, we don’t know how much of the improvement we’re seeing would have happened anyway,” Roberts said. “I was very encouraged by [the study] because its results are significant, but it’s far from conclusive without a control group.”

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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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  • Pain Relief for Achy Joints

    Getting older certainly has its perks, but the reality is that aging can take its toll on many of us, despite our efforts to get out there and stay active—especially as the cold weather sets in.

    No, it wasn’t an exaggeration when your mother/father/grandmother or someone else rubbed their knee/elbow/back, winced and muttered, “I can feel a storm coming on.”

    Yes, there is evidence that shows a link between weather changes and chronic pain, especially joint pain and migraines. A 2007 Tufts University study showed that for every 10-degree drop in temperature, there was an incremental increase in arthritis pain. Low barometric pressure, low temperatures and precipitation can all increase pain. The theory is that these conditions increase swelling in the joint capsule, says the Arthritis Foundation.

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    It all adds up to giving your body an opportunity to heal itself by reducing its creation of pain-driving substances and stimulating mitochondria, the “energy packs” that drive cellular function and repair.

    Here are a few of the more common causes of joint pain and ways to ease your discomfort.

    1. Injury
    You slip and fall. Overdo it at the gym. Get rear-ended in your car. Sleep in the wrong position. Sit cramped on a plane for too many hours. Have poor posture. There are a zillion ways to injure your body, whether quite innocently and unknowingly from an everyday cause or overuse from repetitive motions over time.

    That pain can lead to stiffness, sleep disturbances, a burning sensation in your muscles, achiness or acute pain running from mild to severe.

    What to do to relieve muscle tension and soreness? Well, you can complain, call a doctor, take a pain reliever or rest—but don’t underestimate the power of massage in delivering a significant reduction in pain and soreness.

    2. Osteoarthritis
    This chronic condition of the joints is sometimes referred to as degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis. It gets its name from the way it develops: cartilage, the cushion between our joints, breaks down over time and with use. What comes next? Pain, stiffness and swelling.

    If your knees, hips, lower back and neck hurt, you’re in good company with the 27 million other Americans who feel the pain. Also affected could be the small joints in your fingers and the bases of your big toe and thumb.

    Although physical activity might be the furthest thing from your mind when you’re feeling this way, it pays to be active. Studies show that simple exercise, like walking, can help manage or even reduce the pain from osteoarthritis. Weight management, stretching and anti-inflammatory medications can help, too, as can alternative approaches like massage, acupuncture and hydrotherapy.

    3. Bursitis
    We all have bursae—small sacs filled with fluid that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near and around the joints of the shoulders, elbows and hips. When these become inflamed from repetitive movements, you’ve got bursitis, which can also affect the knees, heels and base of the big toe. Sometimes you can get bursitis from putting pressure on a joint for too long—like kneeling or leaning on your knees or elbows, for instance.

    The pain from bursitis can make you feel achy or stiff and can hurt when you move or press on the joint, which might also appear swollen or red.

    While you can’t prevent all types of bursitis, there are some things you can do to reduce the likelihood you’ll get it. If you do a lot of things that require kneeling, take stress off your knees by using a kneeling pad; warm up and stretch prior to strenuous activity; maintain a healthy weight to take stress off your joints and strengthen the muscles around them; use your knees, rather than your back, to lift heavy loads.

    Bursitis usually improves on its own, but you can help it along by resting, icing and taking a pain reliever. More aggressive treatment, if necessary, might include physical therapy, prescription medications and steroid injections.

    4. Gout
    This inflammatory form of arthritis affects about 4 percent of American adults.

    Many people think of gout as a “rich man’s disease,” a result of a lavish and expensive diet. That’s only a very small part of the picture. Most of the uric acid—actually about two-thirds of it—is produced naturally by your body. The rest comes from diet, in the form of purines, found in animal and plant foods. In fact, one of the great myths of gout is that it is caused by or can be controlled by diet. The reality of it is that gout is mainly a metabolic disease with genetic origins.

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    Gout occurs when there’s too much uric acid in your body and your kidneys can’t flush it out. It builds in the bloodstream and forms needle-like crystals in a joint. Those crystals, in turn, bring on sudden and severe attacks of pain, tenderness, redness and swelling. It commonly affects the big toe but can also occur in your feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. It can make the joint feel like it’s on fire. The pain can get so severe that even the weight of a sheet can be impossible to tolerate.

    Don’t think that you don’t have control over gout. You might not be able to change your genetics, but you can change factors like being overweight, which contributes to things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar—all linked to gout.

    Experts say that although eating a low-purine diet won’t cure gout, it’s important to eat well and maintain a healthy weight. And, it’s wise to limit foods that increase uric acid levels, such as red meat, shellfish like shrimp and lobster, beer, liquor and high-fructose corn syrup.

    To help ease the pain from acute attacks and prevent future ones, gout is usually treated with medication like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and others), colchicine (a pain reliever used for gout pain) and corticosteroids (like prednisone).

    5. Lyme Disease
    Achy knees and Lyme disease often go together, and that’s because the bacteria transmitted by the tick bite can spread to your joints. This stiffness could also develop in your neck, hands and feet. Aside from joint pain, Lyme’s usual symptoms are fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash characterized by a bulls-eye red circle that usually appears about seven days following the bite.

    Left untreated, Lyme can also spread to the heart and nervous system.

    Each year, approximately 30,000 people get bitten by a tick and develop Lyme disease. The first way to prevent it is to reduce your exposure by avoiding wooded and brush areas with high grass and leaf litter. Also, use insect and tick repellent, and inspect your body thoroughly for ticks after you’ve been outdoors. Putting your clothing in a hot dryer for 10 minutes can kill off any ticks that hitched a ride.

    Caught early, Lyme can be successfully treated with a variety of oral, and sometimes, intravenous antibiotics or penicillin.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

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  • Lady Gaga’s Fibromyalgia Puts Illness in the Spotlight

    Earlier this month, superstar Lady Gaga took to social media to announce that she has long struggled with fibromyalgia.

    The news has put the painful and poorly understood illness center stage.

    Just this week, the singer announced on Twitter that she’s postponing the European leg of her 2017 “Joanne” concert tour due to what she described as fibromyalgia-related “trauma and chronic pain.”

    Gaga hasn’t offered up details of her condition, although it comes just before a new TV documentary about the singer—set to premiere Friday on Netflix—that will reportedly highlight some of her health concerns.

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    But one thing is already clear: the disease does, at times, pull the rug out from under the performer’s best-laid plans.

    “The pain and disability seen in fibromyalgia is typically worse than almost any other chronic pain condition,” explained Dr. Daniel Clauw. He is a professor of anesthesiology, medicine/rheumatology and psychiatry at the University of Michigan.

    “[The pain] doesn’t just affect one area of the body you can avoid moving, and often is accompanied by severe fatigue, sleep, memory and other issues,” Clauw noted.

    Dr. Marco Loggia added that “it can be extremely debilitating.” Loggia is associate director of the Center for Integrative Pain NeuroImaging at Massachusetts General Hospital in Charlestown, Mass.

    “Most of the patients we encounter in our research studies are significantly impacted by the disorder,” Loggia noted, “which sometimes prevents them from having normal work and social lives.”

    Fibromyalgia was first recognized by the American Medical Association as a distinct disease back in 1987, and is “a relatively common chronic pain disorder,” Loggia said.

    How common? The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (NFMCPA) indicates that the illness affects up to 4 percent of the world’s population, and anywhere from 5 million to 10 million Americans. It is much more common among women, who account for 80 percent of patients. Although it can affect children, it is most often diagnosed during middle age.

    According to Loggia, the disorder is characterized “by persistent, widespread pain, fatigue, un-refreshing sleep, memory loss, poor concentration and other symptoms.”

    The NFMCPA adds that it can also give rise to sensitivity to light and sound, as well as to a degree of psychological distress in the form of anxiety and depression.

    But what exactly is it, and how does it develop?

    The picture is murky, with the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases flatly acknowledging that “the causes of fibromyalgia are unknown.”

    But experts suggest that the disorder is likely driven by several factors, including exposure to a traumatic event (like a car crash) and/or exposure to repetitive injuries. Central nervous system disturbances may also play a role, as might a genetic predisposition to feel pain in reaction to stimuli that most people perceive as benign.

    Struggling to find more in-depth answers, Loggia noted that American and German researchers have recently identified a subset of fibromyalgia patients who appear to have abnormalities in some of their peripheral small nerve fibers.

    His own research suggests that some degree of brain inflammation may be at play, given that brain inflammation is common among chronic back pain sufferers and most fibromyalgia patients suffer from chronic back pain.

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    Unfortunately, Clauw cautioned that the failure to identify a clear cause for fibromyalgia has given rise to the myth “that it is not real.” That, he said, is decidedly not the case.

    Loggia agreed.

    “Traditionally, patients with fibromyalgia have been met with a great deal of skepticism, stigma and even condescension, including by many physicians that are supposed to take care of them,” Loggia said. “Even today, their pain is often dismissed as ‘all in their head,’ not real,” he added.

    “However, many studies—and particularly those using brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging—have now provided substantial support to the notion that the excessive sensitivity to pain that these patients demonstrate is genuine. I think that it is time to stop dismissing these patients,” Loggia said.

    What these patients need now are “better drug and non-drug treatments,” Clauw said.

    “We’ve only begun to take this condition seriously from a research standpoint for about 20 to 30 years,” he noted, adding that there are no “really effective” drugs for fibromyalgia.

    Loggia said that means a lot of the focus has been placed on pain management, with patients turning to interventions such as painkillers (opioids) as well as yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy. “But these interventions are rarely ‘completely curative,’” he added.

    As for Lady Gaga, she likely faces a better prognosis than most. “That this was diagnosed when she was younger is good, because many people go years or decades undiagnosed,” Clauw said. “But she also almost certainly got better recognition and treatment for her condition given who she is. Others in similar medical—but different social—situations would struggle to even find a doctor to see them and take them seriously.”

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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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  • New Chronic Pain Treatments Help the Whole Person

    New Chronic Pain Treatments Help the Whole Person

    Women who live with chronic pain seek relief through all kinds of treatments, from acupuncture to physical therapy, medication to psychology.

    But in recent years, researchers have proven a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain management can offer substantial and sustained pain relief.

    Even if you have explored multiple treatment modalities, you likely haven’t experienced a true multidisciplinary pain management program. That’s because they are few and far between. These complex team-driven programs require resources typically found only at large medical institutions. Some patients travel from far away to receive care because the potential life-changing effects are worth it.

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    What is a multidisciplinary pain management program?

    In a multidisciplinary approach, a team of clinicians collaborates to create custom treatment programs for each patient, using a variety of modalities. Patients often spend many days a week, sometimes for multiple weeks, in a program.

    “It’s more of a patient-centered, goal-oriented, holistic approach,” said Tim J. Lamer, MD, pain management specialist at Mayo Clinic and president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. Lamer explained that multidisciplinary pain management is like a puzzle where every piece matters—and they all fit together.

    Institutions like the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Pain Management Center in Chicago provide a model for multidisciplinary care, according to attending physician Shana Margolis, MD. There, most patients have previously tried one discipline at a time but not an approach that combines them all. The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab uses a biopsychosocial approach, meaning its team treats biological, psychological, and social drivers of pain, both as individual forces and as forces that intersect with one another.

    Multidisciplinary pain management programs may include:

    • Pain psychology: Teaching patients how mood affects pain and how pain affects mood, often using cognitive behavioral therapy. “When you’re in pain, it can make you more irritable, anxious, and depressed, which then can make it harder to manage your pain, and you can get stuck in a vicious cycle,” said Margolis.
    • Biofeedback therapy: Providing a variety of relaxation techniques that employ monitoring technology that gives patients instant feedback on their efforts.
    • Physical therapy: Including time spent on strengthening, range of motion, biomechanics, and pacing.
    • Occupational therapy: Focusing on ergonomics and improving a patient’s ability to perform everyday tasks with less pain.
    • Vocational therapy: Helping patients learn to reclaim their working life through a variety of strategies.
    • Art therapy: Using creativity to cope with pain, express emotions, and even reduce symptoms.
    • Interventional therapies: Employing techniques like nerve blocks, injections, or electrical stimulator devices to treat the neurological aspect of pain.
    • Physician and nurse monitoring: Ensuring patients are using medications properly, that comorbid conditions are also well-managed, and more.

    Margolis said a key aspect of a multidisciplinary approach is that the patient is at the center of the program, playing an active role in their own care, as opposed to simply receiving treatment. “We’re trying to give patients tools in their toolbox so they can learn to self-manage their pain,” she said.

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    Research shows results

    Lamer said most patients in a multidisciplinary approach experience improved function, mental health and management of pain in their busy lives. And there’s research to prove it, he said, including at least one study that followed patients for as long as 13 years who experienced long-term benefits.

    More research by Shirley Ryan Ability Lab Pain Management Center and the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago showed patients experienced improvement in pain, pain-related anxiety, ability to cope, and depression, among others.

    Margolis said that while many people can benefit from a multidisciplinary pain management approach, patients with widespread pain conditions like complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia are likely to experience the greatest benefit. “Any kind of chronic pain condition that’s really affecting the patient’s lifestyle is where we excel,” she said. Emphasis on the mind-body connection and mindfulness plays a significant role in a patient’s success.

    Ready to take action?

    If you’re looking for a multidisciplinary pain management program, ask at your nearest large medical center. If there isn’t one in your immediate area, reach out to reputable programs and ask if they can recommend a provider in your area.

    The American Chronic Pain Association offers an extensive overview of pain management programs.

    The Alliance for Balanced Pain Management offers resources for patients seeking to understand their treatment options.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

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    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

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  • Why I’m Talking About My Chronic Pain and Why You Should Too

    As a physical therapist, my job is to assist my patients to move better, get stronger, and most often to reduce their pain. This is an important, gratifying, and yet often challenging profession. This is in part due to my own daily chronic pain that is primarily in my low back and tailbone. I have been in some level of pain constantly for the past ten years.

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    While there are times that I share my experience with my patients, I usually smile, persevere and act as if everything is fine. I think many others with chronic pain can relate to this alternate persona—the brave mask so many chronic pain warriors put on daily.

    This is one of the tricky things about living with chronic pain. Most of the time I just want to feel normal. I want to go about my day-to-day tasks as if everything was not a monumental challenge and a huge energy expense. I want to pretend that my chronic pain has not affected my job satisfaction, my relationships and my feelings of self-worth.

    There are other times when I want to scream. I want to wear a sign across my chest that says, “Please be gentle with me, I have chronic pain.” I want everyone around me know what I’m going through, why I am the way I am. I want my struggles heard, to know that it’s not easy. It is not pity I seek, but rather compassionate recognition of the daily challenges of living with chronic pain.

    I’m often afraid to talk about my struggles with chronic pain. This would mean ripping up the mask––that brave face that I have worked so hard to maintain. My hope is that if I am true and open about my experiences more, a few people might feel less alone. A few people may push aside the fear of stigmatization and feel comfortable to be open and honest about what they are going through.

    Early in my clinical training, a patient taught me an important lesson. She told me to never tell someone, “I know how you feel.” Her statement took me aback, but her explanation has really stuck with me. It is true. I could never really know what someone is feeling. It is impossible to know just from their explanations, my own examination and my pre-conceived beliefs and education.

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    I cannot innately tell how past experiences have affected someone. I cannot exactly grasp the psychological impacts that their illness or pain has had on them. I do not know all other aspects of their life that this has affected. I can’t ever fully understand what someone else is going through, but I can listen. I can respect someone’s experience and I can do my best to validate their concerns. I can call on my past experiences of others discrediting my own feelings and I can work hard to not allow this to happen to another person—at least when they are working with me.

    I learned that opening up about my pain did lead to judgment from a few—one family member told someone that I write about my chronic pain, as a way to complain and vent. Many more have provided support and encouragement. I also learned that ignoring your pain and suffering in silence does not make it go away. I have found that by acknowledging my pain it encourages me to seek more treatment and work harder toward finding relief.

    Most importantly, talking about my pain has allowed me to maintain the healthy human connection that we all crave and need so badly in this life. It is so much easier to genuinely connect with the people in your life when you are raw and honest. It is never easy, but eventually you will have to take the mask off and let the person see the real you.

    I hope that you will find that by talking about your experiences with chronic pain and acknowledging its presence will lessen the power it has over your life. By ignoring my pain, I felt helpless. I let my chronic pain determine what kind of day I was going to have, how long a relationship could last, and how many hours I could stand to work in a week.

    While the process is ongoing, I am happy to be taking steps to regain control and be honest about my experiences. I am in far less discomfort than I used to be and now I have something even more important—the hope that one day I might actually be pain-free.

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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

  • Smart Steps for Healthy Feet

    Are your feet something you think about only when they hurt? Simple steps can protect them from common problems, some of which are hard to get rid of.

    READ: The Ways to Treat Your Feet Right

    The first step is to wear shoes, such as water slip-ons, in moist environments like indoor swimming pools and communal showers at the gym. Damp areas allow bacteria and viruses to thrive, and walking barefoot makes you more susceptible to common infections like nail fungus, athlete’s foot and warts.

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    You don’t have to give up style, but skip shoes that don’t feel comfortable from the moment you try them on. Calluses, corns, blisters and irritations can all result from or get worse from shoes that pinch and don’t fit well. It’s a mistake to expect that the shoes will “give” and feel better over time.

    Choose hosiery with care. That means buying socks and tights made from breathable fabrics. It’s not always possible to wear cotton, so if your feet get sweaty when you wear hosiery made of synthetics like nylon, take these steps: Carefully wash and dry feet when you get home, hand-wash the hosiery every night and let shoes dry out before you wear them again — you may need to wait 48 hours.

    A pedicure might be a great treat for your feet, but beware of harmful practices, both at salons and at home. It’s OK to gently slough off dead skin cells with a pumice stone after soaking your feet, but tools with razor blades are dangerous.

    Cutting cuticles is also unsafe. Gently push them back with an orange wood stick. To prevent ingrown toenails, clip straight across, not in a curve. The edges should be just a few millimeters shy of the toe tips. Use an emery board to smooth any ragged spots straight across.

    If you’re concerned about any changes in your feet, promptly contact your doctor or a podiatrist for an evaluation.

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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

  • Managing Fibromyalgia

    Managing Fibromyalgia

    Q:

    In addition to medication, how can I manage my fibromyalgia?

    A:

    Medications may be necessary to manage your fibromyalgia, but there also are a number of day-to-day strategies for coping with the disease. Your psychological outlook is important, with studies finding benefits from cognitive therapy for women with fibromyalgia. Specifically, studies find, negative thinking increases stress and affects your perception of pain, so learning to minimize and control these thoughts can improve your symptoms.

    The key is not so much to “think positively,” but to “think non-negatively.” So when negative thoughts occur, ask yourself: “Does this thought benefit me in any way—does it improve the way I feel, advance my goals or improve a relationship?” There are many strategies for dealing with negative thoughts, and you may want to see a psychiatrist experienced in treating fibromyalgia patients to help you learn some techniques. A fibromyalgia support group also can help provide insight, advice and support.

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    If you’re having trouble sleeping, try avoiding naps and caffeine and go to bed at a consistent time.

    When pain is bothering you, adjust your activities accordingly. There are also a variety of alternative and lifestyle approaches that may help you deal with symptoms of pain. However, be aware that there is limited scientific evidence to support these approaches at this time.

    • Massage therapy can be very effective short-term. For the best results, look for a licensed massage therapist who has worked with fibromyalgia patients before.
    • Moist heat supplied by warm towels, hot packs, a hot bath or a shower can be used at home for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day to relieve symptoms.
    • Cold supplied by a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel helps reduce pain when used for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Don’t do this, however, if you have Raynaud’s phenomenon.
    • Hydrotherapy (water therapy) can reduce pain during exercise and help you improve endurance and conditioning. Exercising in a large pool may be easier because water has a buoying effect. Some people also find relief from the heat and movement provided by a whirlpool.
    • Relaxation techniques help reduce pain and anxiety. These include meditation and guided imagery. Check with local recreation centers and hospitals for courses.
    • Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment that is often used for pain relief. A qualified acupuncturist places very thin needles in certain parts of your body. Some researchers believe that the needles may stimulate deep sensory nerves that tell the brain to release natural painkillers (endorphins). However, the well-controlled studies examining acupuncture as a treatment for fibromyalgia symptoms did not find acupuncture to be more effective than a placebo treatment for fibromyalgia, so it is difficult to know for sure if the practice produces any specific benefits. Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but pressure is applied to the sites instead of needles.
    • Biofeedback is a form of therapy used to train your mind to understand and, to a degree, control your own physiological responses. An electronic device provides information about a body function (such as heart rate) so you learn to consciously control that function. For instance, it can help you learn to relax your muscles.

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    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

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    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

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  • Health Tip: Symptoms That May Indicate Fibromyalgia

    Fibromyalgia is characterized by body aches and pains, and “tender points” that are painful to the touch.

    The chronicillness.co website mentions these other typical symptoms of fibromyalgia:

    • Having difficulty sleeping.
    • Feeling stiff in the morning.
    • Having frequent headaches.
    • Feeling sensitive to temperature, bright lights or loud sounds.
    • Having pain during menstruation.
    • Having a tingling sensation or numbness in the feet and hands.
    • Having trouble with memory and cognitive thinking.

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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 Impact of Fibromyalgia: New Survey Findings

    The Impact of Fibromyalgia: New Survey Findings

    Results from Women Expressing Fibromyalgia’s Effects on their Everyday Lives (WE FEEL), illuminate the private, prolonged, and often agonizing, physical and emotional struggles that women with fibromyalgia face. The survey also reveals constructive, concrete ways to help ease suffering, including an earlier diagnosis and access to information and support.

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    Key Findings

    • Fibromyalgia is a significant burden on patients
      • Most patients (85%) consider fibromyalgia a burden on their lives.
      • Nearly all (86%) rate their symptoms as moderate to severe.
    • Many patients face skepticism
      • Sixty-four percent are concerned that their fibromyalgia is not being taken seriously.
      • Nearly four in five (79%) said they look for fibromyalgia healthcare professionals (HCPs) who will “take their symptoms seriously”.
    • Most patients suffer undiagnosed for years
      • Seven in ten (71%) do not seek help until their symptoms become intolerable.
      • For more than half (54%), diagnosis took a year or more; for one in four (23%), it took at least five years.
      • Patients whose diagnoses take longer are more likely to report severe symptoms (68%), compared to those diagnosed in less than a year (42%).
      • The perceived top barriers to proper diagnosis include HCPs not recognizing symptoms as fibromyalgia (50%) and the patient’s own lack of knowledge about the condition (48%).
    • Earlier diagnosis can lessen the impact of fibromyalgia
      • Nine in ten (91%) feel relieved when they can finally connect a condition with their symptoms.
      • Patients diagnosed in less than a year are less likely to experience daily life challenges.
      • Nearly half (48%) of those who were diagnosed after five years or more stopped exercising compared to one third (33%) of those who were diagnosed in less than one year.
    • Fibromyalgia negatively impacts career and housework
      • Nearly half (47%) said their work or career has been negatively affected.
      • Two-thirds (67%) said they can no longer keep up with household chores because of fibromyalgia.

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    • Fibromyalgia challenges relationships and limits intimacy
      • Two in five (42%) spend less quality time with their friends, while one in three (29%) spends less quality time with their family.
      • Nearly one-third (31%) said fibromyalgia has affected their ability to experience intimacy.
    • Patients often lack adequate support and resources
      • While more than four in 10 women (43%) said they rely most often on their spouse or significant other, only about a quarter (27%) said that person fully understands how fibromyalgia affects them.
      • A greater level of support was offered by spouses (43%), followed by children (33%), and friends (28%) when learning of a loved one’s diagnosis.
      • Only one of four (25%) said that they have the tools and resources available to help them manage their fibromyalgia.
    • Both treatment and support from loved ones were helpful in improving fibromyalgia symptoms and day-to-day life
      • Four in ten (42%) patients who take prescription medication report taking FDA-approved medication. Among those, 92% rank drug therapy as a successful treatment option in improving fibromyalgia symptoms.
      • Respondents said exercise (46%) and alternative therapies (43%), such as massage, meditation, and chiropractic care were also factors in improving their fibromyalgia symptoms.
      • Lifestyle changes were also helpful for nearly half (51%) of patients in improving fibromyalgia symptoms.
      • A greater number (56%) of those who received more support from their spouse reported that treatment had a positive impact on their day-to-day life compared to those who received the same amount of support or less (47%).
      • Nearly two-thirds (61%) of those who received more support from their children reported that treatment has improved their day-to-day life compared to those who received the same amount of support or less (48%).

    *Methodology: Fielded by Harris Interactive | 508 respondents in 48 states | 48 questions; 20 minutes | ±4.4% margin of error

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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