Treatment For Fibromyalgia is much like treatments for any and all diseases. often starts with the management of symptoms. With this disorder, the symptoms create a string of tender points along the body. Coupling this with extreme fatigue and an inability to sleep and you have a concoction for the drastically poor quality of life riddled with pain and discomfort.
The prevalence of Treatment For Fibromyalgia goes up as a person ages, yet 80-90% of all cases are women. The symptoms are known to worsen with persistence as it progresses and it is worsened by the weather, illness, and stress. One cannabinoid profile that is well suited for this disorder patients has been identified as CBD. It is suggested patients obtain CBD-rich medicine. Synergistically coupling a CBD-rich oil with one that contains Low THC, there is additional relief provided to patients.
According to a report conducted by the National Pain Foundation and National Pain Report, medical cannabis has been rated as one of the most effective treatments in reducing pain from Fibromyalgia. Many of the 1,300 fibromyalgia patients who responded to the survey said they had tried all 3 of the FDA-approved drugs. One patient explained there were far more negative side effects to the FDA-approved drugs than there were positive attributes.
When asked about the effectiveness of Cymbalta (Duloxetine), 60% of those who tried the medication stated that it did not work for them, whilst 8% reported it to be very effective. 32% reported Cymbalta helped slightly. Of those in the study who tried Pfizer’s Lyrica (Pregabalin) a whopping 61% reported that there was no relief. 10% reported Lyrica to be very effective whilst 29% said it helped slightly.
Rating Forest Laboratories’ Savella (Milnacipran), 68% of those trailing the drug stated that it didn’t work. 10% reported that it was very effective and 22% reported slight relief.
Comparing the study findings against those who had tried medical cannabis for their this disorder symptoms 62% said it was very effective. Another 33% said it helped slightly whilst only 5% reported no relief.
When asked about the effectiveness of Cymbalta (Duloxetine), 60% of those who tried the medication stated that it did not work for them, whilst 8% reported it to be very effective. 32% reported Cymbalta helped slightly. Of those in the study who tried Pfizer’s Lyrica (Pregabalin) a whopping 61% reported that there was no relief. 10% reported Lyrica to be very effective whilst 29% said it helped slightly.
Rating Forest Laboratories’ Savella (Milnacipran), 68% of those trailing the drug stated that it didn’t work. 10% reported that it was very effective and 22% reported slight relief.
Comparing the study findings against those who had tried medical cannabis for their this disorder symptoms 62% said it was very effective. Another 33% said it helped slightly whilst only 5% reported no relief.
Are you experiencing constant muscle pain and fatigue? There is a good chance that you are suffering from fibromyalgia. As many as 5 million Americans that are aged 18 or older are affected by it. Women are the primary targets of this chronic disease, affecting up to 90% of them, and it’s very hard to treat.
For many years, research has pointed to this pain and fatigue just being “in the patient’s head.” It’s been characterized as a psychosomatic disorder, which means that it’s caused by mental factors that attribute to a person’s imagination.
Many people complain about pain in their neck, shoulders, back, and legs. But no research has been able to pinpoint what is causing this pain. Until now! Recent research has finally determined that this pain is in fact not just an imagination, but actually caused by a sensory nerve in blood vessels found in the palms!
Scientists at Integrated Tissue Dynamics were responsible for the study. They found that the fibres that were supposed to be only responsible for the blood flow in the skin are also responsible for sensing touch and pain.
In order to be sure about their findings, the team conducted a second study to see if they could locate any pathology in the blood vessels that could also contribute. After analyzing skin samples they collected from women who suffered from fibromyalgia, they discovered that there was a large increase in sensory fibres at certain sites within blood vessels of the skin.
These nerves are part of the arteriole-venule shunts, which are responsible for heat regulation in our body by controlling the blood flow in our blood vessels. In warm conditions, the shunts shut down which forces blood into the skin surface so it can be released.
In cold conditions, the shunts open up and allow the veins to conserve heat, thus our hands and feet become cold.
The lead scientist on the study, Dr. Albrecht, explains that this excess sensory innovation may be because of painful hands that fibromyalgia patients experience.
“Since the sensory fibres are responsible for opening the shunts, they would become particularly active during cold conditions, which are very bothersome times for fibromyalgia patients.”
The research team also came to another conclusion; they explain that our hands and feet usually contain more blood than they needed, so they’re used as reservoirs for blood which can be delivered throughout the body. Because of the pathology that occurs in these shuts, the blood flow is usually mismanaged.
President of Integrated Tissue Dynamics, Dr. Rice, elaborated on their findings, “The pathology discovered among these shunts in the hands could be interfering with blood flow to the muscles throughout the body. This mismanaged blood flow could be the root cause of muscle pain and achiness and the sense of fatigue that fibromyalgia patients experience.”
These findings are a step in the right direction for those suffering from fibromyalgia; it offers a proper treatment instead of the usual painkillers and antidepressants.
So if you’re suffering from fibromyalgia, or know someone that is, it’s good to finally know that you’re not crazy, and you can certainly be sure that fibromyalgia is real!
Causes ofFibromyalgia: Doctors are not completely sure of what actually causes a person to get fibromyalgia, a variety of factors may work together.
Genetics: In most cases, fibromyalgia runs in the family, so there could be a certain genetic mutation that can cause you to be more susceptible to the disorder.
Physical or Emotional Trauma: Fibromyalgia can sometimes be triggered by physical trauma, like a severe car accident. Psychological stress can also be a triggering factor as well.
Just because there is a new breakthrough that has discovered what might cause the pain for fibromyalgia patients, doesn’t mean that they should stop doing certain things that keep it from acting up. You need to continue taking care of yourself and layout a program that helps with that.
You should first try and reduce the amount of stress in your life. This could mean putting some time aside to just relax. Getting enough sleep is another key point. Since fatigue is one of the main characteristics, getting enough sleep is essential. Also, you should try and exercise regularly. It may hurt at first but it will eventually reduce the pain significantly.
The company cites the unique properties of the gum for Fibromyalgia Pain Relief, allowing equal parts CBD and THC to be digested directly in the mouth. According to Dr. George E. Anastassoy, MD, DDS, MBA, chief executive officer of AXIM Biotechnology, by bypassing the liver, MedChewRx gives: The gum for Fibromyalgia Pain Relief contains 5mg of CBD and 5mg of THC, both of which deliver potent therapeutic capabilities.
Professor John Zajicek notes that by chewing, rather than breathing or ingesting, some side effects are reported, and the medicine displays a lack of the “peak” associated with more traditional cannabis medicine. Professor Zajicek runs the trials for AXIM testing the Fibromyalgia Pain Relief gum for spasticity of MS. He also states that chewing gum is more socially acceptable than smoking or ingestion.
Benefits of chewing by itself: According to the company, the act of chewing delivers benefits of its own, compounded by cannabinoids. Chewing itself provides “neuroprotective and neurostimulator benefits” on the mind. Chewing relieves stress, stimulates the cardiovascular system, and helps with loss of cognition due to aging.
The benefits they ascribe to the act of chewing are all benefits of cannabis itself on a greater scale. But by attributing them to mastication, they gain more validity. Why? Because everyday people who don’t understand cannabis simply can’t wrap their heads around the fact that it is a unique medicine with many benefits.
A reality check: Apparently, AXIM owns the patent on chewing gum for Fibromyalgia Pain Relief as a delivery method for cannabinoids and already have one CBD-only product, Can chew gum, marketed as a dietary supplement and sold everywhere CBD products can sit on shelves. AXIM also started trials for a patent-pending CBG topical for eczema and psoriasis.
In addition, there are even oral care and cosmetics in their arsenal. Medical Marijuana, Inc. owns about 46% of AXIM and plans on many more cannabis-related products. They are the Swiss Army knife of cannabis companies, with their hands in everything from international markets to security services. If only it were so simple for the little guys.
We still don’t know what causes fibromyalgia. But we often treat it with a class of drugs that are usually used to treat disorders like seizures. While these drugs can help manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia, they can also cause a range of side effects, including dyskinesia.
Dyskinesia is a condition that causes frequent, uncontrollable movements of the limbs. And it can become very difficult to manage if you suffer from it for a long time. So what exactly is dyskinesia, what’s the link to fibromyalgia, and what can you do to treat it?
Tardive dyskinesia, or TD, is a common side effect of drugs used to treat seizures. One in particular that we should look at when it comes to fibromyalgia is Gabapentin. Gabapentin works by calming the interaction between nerves in the brain. This is effective for treating seizures which are caused by rapid-firing interactions between these nerves. But it’s also frequently used to treat fibromyalgia.
Gabapentin can work to manage many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Interestingly, in addition to the pain, it’s often prescribed to treat some of the chronic itchings that come along with fibromyalgia. It’s a symptom we don’t often think of when it comes to fibromyalgia, but chronic itching can be one of the worst elements of the condition if you suffer from it.
Because chronic itching seems to be the result of interactions between the nerves, Gabapentin can help to treat the itching.
But it can also lead to dyskinesia. Dyskinesia is basically an uncontrollable tendency to jerk your legs or arms. But it can also include other less obvious things like a tendency to purse or smack your lips together. The condition is usually worse when you have been resting, which can make the sleep issues caused by fibromyalgia even worse. But in addition, TD can cause you to jerk your head, blink your eyes, or even stick out your tongue without really realizing that you are doing it.
It’s believed that TD is caused by low levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Low levels of dopamine are actually quite common in people with fibromyalgia, though we don’t know why. But TD seems to be more of a side effect of medications used to treat fibromyalgia than a complication of fibromyalgia itself.
The most likely reason that someone would develop TD is if they’ve been taking a drug like an SSRI or anti-seizure medication for at least three months. And we know that the majority of people who suffer from both TD and fibromyalgia tend to be olderwomen.
So, people who have fibromyalgia currently being treated with these kinds of drugs have an elevated risk of developing it. And there are many anecdotal accounts of people who have developed it as a result of their fibromyalgia medication. If you’re interested, you can likely ask around within the fibromyalgia community and find people who have had a similar experience.
The best way to cure TD is to simply stop taking the medications that cause it. Of course, this isn’t always an option. Many people depend on those medications to keep their fibromyalgia symptoms in check. And you should never stop taking a medication on your own without first consulting a doctor.
If you think you’re suffering from TD, you can go to a doctor for a test. The doctor will determine if you’re suffering from involuntary movements. They may decide that it is the result of your medication, or it’s possible that you’re suffering from another condition that causes involuntary movements. There are a number of these conditions including cerebral palsy, brain tumors, or Parkinson’s disease. Going to a doctor is a good way to eliminate some of these other possibilities.
There’s no medication that’s currently approved by the FDA to treat TD, but some psychiatric drugs might help. Others have reported success with treating the condition with dietary supplements like Gingko, but the scientific evidence for this is somewhat limited.
If the TD is really debilitating, you may have to judge with your doctor whether the benefits you get from the medication are worth the side effects. It’s an unfortunate position to be in, but we don’t really have any other good alternatives at the moment.
So, let us know. Do you suffer from TD? Is it related to your fibromyalgia medication? How did you decide what you needed to do? Did any supplements help you? Tell us in the comments.
Achalasia is a rare disease. So rare in fact, that you may never have heard of it. But for people who suffer from the condition, it’s very real and often extremely painful. And it actually has a fair amount of relevance for people with fibromyalgia.
That’s because people with fibromyalgia often deal with persistent heartburn. and achalasia can mimic many of the symptoms of that condition. So it’s possible that if you have fibromyalgia and you’re dealing with frequent chest pains, you may actually have achalasia. And learning to recognize the signs can help prevent misdiagnoses and help you get effective treatment.
So, what is Achalasia? Why is it a concern for people with fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?
Achalasia is a condition where the muscles in the lower esophagus lose the ability to relax and contract. The ability of the esophagus to relax and contract is important in the process of digestion. When you swallow food, the esophagus expands to allow it to pass into the stomach. When you have achalasia, this normal process stops functioning correctly. And food can essentially get stuck in the esophagus. Obviously, this is often quite painful.
We don’t fully understand what causes the condition, but it probably has something to do with damage to the nerves that control the muscles in the esophagus.
The condition leads to a number of uncomfortable symptoms. There’s the obvious difficulty swallowing food or liquids. And when food gets trapped in the esophagus, your body may naturally regurgitate it. If this regurgitation occurs when you are lying down, the food may actually travel into the lungs, which can be dangerous.
And achalasia can also lead to sharp chest pains with no clear cause. This pain is a little different from heartburn, but people with the condition can have heartburn as well. That fact can sometimes make it difficult to diagnose the condition.
Achalasia is quite rare, but heartburn is very common. So, if you’re experiencing pain in the chest, a doctor will likely assume that you’re suffering from acid reflux. Luckily, there are a few tests that can determine if you have Achalasia. The doctor can take X-rays of the esophagus to look for contractions, or use an endoscopy tube to visually examine the esophagus.
People with fibromyalgia also have a higher risk of heartburn, which means that you may experience symptoms similar to achalasia.
Having fibromyalgia makes you more likely to develop heartburn. The most likely explanation for this link is that having fibromyalgia makes it difficult to exercise. A condition that causes chronic fatigue and constant pain obviously makes getting regular cardio a challenge.
As a result, people with fibromyalgia often struggle with obesity. Those extra pounds put pressure on the stomach and esophagus, which can lead to acid reflux. Acid reflux causes chronic chest pain, which can sometimes be quite sharp. And these symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from achalasia.
If you’re experiencing chest pain, it’s always a good idea to see a doctor. It may even be a symptom of a more serious condition like heart problems.
Your treatment will depend on which condition you have. If you have achalasia, there are a few options. Your doctor may perform a procedure where a balloon is inserted into the esophagus and inflated, forcing it to open. This procedure may need to be repeated several times if the condition reoccurs.
In addition, the doctor can inject muscle relaxants directly into the esophagus. This procedure may also need to be repeated regularly for best results.
There are also more permanent surgical procedures. The most common procedure is called a Heller myotomy and involves cutting away a portion of the esophagus, expanding the space for food to pass through. But this procedure can increase your risk of developing acid reflux. So, it may need to be combined with a procedure where a portion of the stomach is wrapped around the lower part of the esophagus, tightening the muscles to prevent reflux.
If you’re just suffering from acid reflux, your best bet is to lose weight. Losing just a few pounds can significantly improve your symptoms. But there are also a number of effective medications that reduce the amount of stomach acid you produce. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the best treatment program for you.
So, do you suffer from heartburn? Do you think it’s related to your fibromyalgia? Have you ever had achalasia? What did you do to treat it? Let us know in the comments.
Fibromyalgia (FMS) is not just about chronic pain and fatigue, although if you spoke to the majority of general practitioners, you would think those were the only symptoms people get. FMS is a complex, multifactorial condition and is a condition of exclusion. In other words, many, many conditions have to be excluded before a diagnosis can be made. It can, and in my case, it has, affected almost every system of my body from my skin and gastrointestinal tract to joints and muscles and not forgetting my brain. It has had a catastrophic effect on my career, which I loved. It has devastated my social life and family life will never be the same again.
This may all sound defeatist but the best thing I have done is to accept and adapt to the changes in my life. With this in mind, I have come up with a list of rules for myself. I haven’t just made them up from thin air, they have really just evolved organically over the years.
Living with FMS is tricky because it is such a complex condition. As well as living with this condition, I have researched it a lot! It’s difficult to understand, it’s difficult to explain and it’s difficult to describe.
There’s a famous saying, “If you can’t explain it to a 6-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”
If I can’t explain it, describe it and much less understand it, how can I expect other people to? Be patient with people — they will say things that hurt, they will expect more from you than you can achieve. They may think you are lazy and you will have to keep explaining yourself, but most of all, chances are they just want you to get better. They don’t understand it, because you don’t fully understand it yourself. I find the best way is to just be honest. Tell them if you can’t do something but also what you can do. Tell them when you are having a bad day or a flare-up, but also when your day is “good.” Tell them your symptoms, even on a good day, but don’t expect them to understand until you do!
You have a chronic illness, it is not going to get better or go away. You may be lucky enough to have a recession, but the majority of us don’t. Learn to live with it, learn to manage it. Become self-aware and understand your symptoms. You may not fully understand the condition, but get to know the symptoms you have before a flare–up, for instance. I know if I get swollen glands, a fever, and a loss of appetite, there will be a flare-up in the next 48 hours. Most importantly, plan your day around your symptoms. I tend to have more energy after a shower in the morning. I generally need a nap in the middle of the day and my pain is at its worst in the evenings. This is my pattern generally, but I have to accept changes as they come and new symptoms as they arise. This is normal for me now. It’s all part of living with a chronic illness.
Not only do I have fibromyalgia, I also have migraines, cluster headaches, and vertigo. I try not to keep them separate from each other. Treat yourself as a whole and not as a list of conditions. Your symptoms are part of you whether they come from one condition or another.
Adjust your measuring stick. If you can’t do something like you used to, make what you can do your new standard and be proud of it. I know, if I tried to do a five-mile hike with the dog, not only would I be wiped out, the dog probably would, too. But, if we go for our 20-minute stroll in the park and we both feel good, even on a bad day. It may sound trivial to some, but every day, I am proud of myself for getting up and doing that walk. Don’t beat yourself up if you can no longer do the things you once used to.
Think about the boom and bust theory. We all do this, without realizing or without intention. On a good day, you do everything you can because you don’t know when your next good day will be. Then, the next day you are in pain and severely fatigued, so you do nothing in order to recover and hope for another good day soon. The theory is, do less on good days and more on bad days. The idea is to become time-focused instead of task-focused. In other words, set a time for activity instead of just your normal full task.
Life is not perfect. Sometimes you can plan and pace yourself meticulously but there will always be something that disrupts your life. Don’t let it faze you. Crap happens to everyone. We just have to accept what happens and expect that there will be bad days and flare-ups, it’s just part of having the condition. Make sure you have a well-equipped flare-up box. This should always be part of the plan.
You can’t do it alone, you have to ask for help. This is one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned. You may think it’s a sign of weakness in asking for help, and that it has always been quicker and easier to just do it yourself. Unfortunately, this may no longer be the case. Asking is now obligatory. Accepting help can be equally difficult but it’s time for someone else to take the strain. Life with FMS is not easy. It isn’t often that people will ask you if you need help, so when they do, be gracious. Your loved ones will not want to see you struggling, they will want to help, so let them and show gratitude with a smile and a thank you. That’s all they want in return.
I don’t mean go to bed and let it take over your life. I just think we shouldn’t be afraid to let people know we have a condition that impacts our life. Life is difficult enough without making it harder by ignoring issues that can bite. You should be able to tell others that there are things you can and cannot do because of the symptoms you have.
Over the years, various medications have undergone evaluation for use in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Those medications include muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), sedatives, and tricylic antidepressants.
Tricylic antidepressants actually have some history in the treatment of fibromyalgia. In fact, several of these antidepressants are used in the treatment of the condition. Nortriptyline, doxepin, and amitriptyline are all used in the treatment of fibromyalgia. When used for fibromyalgia, in particular, it has been demonstrated in studies to be the most efficient antidepressant for treating the condition.
Amitriptyline is, as mentioned, a type of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) used for treating clinical depression. As a result, it’s considered the most common TCA used around the world.
The antidepressant was originally developed by Merck and was first synthesized in 1960. It was later approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April 1961.
This medication works as an inhibitor of the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine. The medication’s mechanism of action acts strongly on the serotonin transporter, while it causes a moderate effect on the norepinephrine transporter. It doesn’t do anything to affect the dopamine transporter, however.
Amitriptyline is used for several medical conditions, including its FDA-approved use for major depressive disorder. That doesn’t stop other medical resources from claiming it plays a role in assisting recovery from other similar conditions.
Amitriptyline is even said to act more efficiently than other antidepressants when treating disorders. Interestingly enough, it is actually passed over for other newer antidepressants, since it is known to cause side effects and can get very toxic if consumed to overdose.
Various medications are used to treat symptoms of fibromyalgia. The most common medications include painkillers, sleeping pills, and various antidepressants. Antidepressants are said to help treat fibromyalgia symptoms originating from the dysfunction of the brain’s regular functions.
Antidepressants, especially tricylic antidepressants, have been used in the treatment of fibromyalgia for years. Tricylic antidepressants are actually some of the oldest antidepressants on the market and have been utilized in fibromyalgia treatments for years.
Tricylic antidepressants like amitriptyline work by boosting the levels of the brain’s chemicals or neurotransmitters. When the levels of neurotransmitters are boosted, it prevents the brain from succumbing to impairment in its natural function. These antidepressants mainly boost the neurochemicals serotonin and norepinephrine. After taking these antidepressants, people with chronic pain typically feel much better, since they are known to have lower levels of those aforementioned neurotransmitters present in their brain.
Tricylic antidepressants also play a role in helping relax pain-ridden muscles. It also boosts the body’s natural painkiller, also known as endorphins. Even though these medications have positive results for conditions like fibromyalgia, they have various side effects that might make them hard to take on a regular basis.
Interestingly enough, the tricylic antidepressants that are prescribed for fibromyalgia include duloxetine, milnacipran and venlafaxine. Both duloxetine and milnacipran are already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for fibromyalgia treatment.
Venlafaxine has less research and, therefore, evidence supporting it as an effective treatment. Other antidepressants that have been studied and proposed as potential fibromyalgia treatments include citalopram, paroxetine, and fluoxetine.
Amitriptyline falls in the category of relative untested tricylic antidepressants without further support as a fibromyalgia treatment. Though, it hasn’t stopped researchers from studying it and its potential as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia.
Studies on Amitriptyline
Antidepressants have been used to treat chronic pain disorders for years. Even though that’s true, only a limited amount of studies exist covering how tricylic antidepressants help people treat their fibromyalgia symptoms.
According to information collected about fibromyalgia and antidepressants, antidepressants like tricyclic antidepressants ‘produced mild to moderate improvements in [fibromyalgia] symptoms.’ In controlled studies, it was found that as much as ‘one-third to half of the monitored patients responded to medication-based treatment.
There was one study that had tested the effects of amitriptyline and fluoxetine on patients with fibromyalgia. Patients in that study were given 25 mg of amitriptyline, while others were given 20 mg of fluoxetine.
As a result, the patients found that either medication helped reduce their fibromyalgia symptoms. Patients who took both medications found that the combination was actually ‘twice as effective than just taking one medication alone.
The dosages used for amitriptyline for fibromyalgia are much lower than the usual doses for treating depression. In most cases, the dosage can be started at as low as 10 mg each day, taken 2 to 3 hours before going to sleep. This allows the patient to take advantage of the medication’s sedative effects without experiencing those same effects when awake.
Another study of amitriptyline followed 70 different patients with the condition with fibromyalgia. The study’s main purpose evaluated the effectiveness of a regular 50 mg dose for fibromyalgia.
The results of the study revealed some interesting data. The patients who had received the regular 50 mg dose for fibromyalgia saw a ‘significant improvement in their sleep quality, morning stiffness, and pain thresholds.’ The ‘tender point score’ taken at the time didn’t improve.
Newer studies concerning the drug for fibromyalgia patients follow the newest iteration of fibromyalgia criteria. A complication of data from other studies about the medication found that ‘amitriptyline for fibromyalgia can continue to be used for [neuropathic pain] treatment, but most patients won’t achieve enough pain relief.’
Various studies collected in the complication lasted as long as 6 weeks (on average). They also tested anywhere from 15 to as many as 100 participants, with four of the studies hosting over 100 participants. Each study administered doses between 15 mg to 125 mg.
Some studies gradually increased the dose during selected intervals of the study trial. Overall, no concrete evidence was found to support amitriptyline as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia. Some studies did find that it may play a role in reducing some neuropathic pain, such as the pain associated with fibromyalgia.
Cannabis, also known by many other names, is a derivative of the Cannabis plant that is popularly used as a psychoactive drug and medication. This controversial drug, which many would know it as weed or marijuana, has taken a bad rap due to it being exploited for recreational purposes. However, apart from being the star of a party, Cannabis has many medical purposes including treating fibromyalgia.
This refers to cannabis in the form of medication, rather than for recreational purposes. It is said to be useful in treating several diseases and medical problems, ranging from nausea resulting from chemotherapy to glaucoma’s high ocular pressure. Cannabis contains a wide variety of chemicals that has many applications. Fibromyalgia is one medical condition that it has proved to be highly effective in.
The Cannabis plant contains a wide variety of compounds that can affect both the brain and the rest of the body. The body is affected by a category of compounds termed cannabinoids that bind and interact with the brain’s cannabinoid receptors. Of them, the most well-known cannabinoid is THC, which is responsible for cannabis’ classic effects, among the 85 other cannabinoids in this plant.
Where fibromyalgia is concerned, however, THC is the most important cannabinoid as it binds with the brain’s cannabinoid receptors that help to relieve the pain associated with fibromyalgia. THC also helps the patient relax and get over their feeling of exhaustion.
Patients use a vaporizer in order to heat cannabis to the point of vaporization of the active ingredients of the plant. This provides the same effect and relief as smoking cannabis but eliminates the risks of smoking. Hence, medical cannabis is a more controlled and low-risk treatment as compared to its recreational form.
Cannabis helps fibromyalgia patients by helping ease muscle stiffness and pain. For this, a strong variant of cannabis is recommended. However, it should be used with care and in controlled dosage as prescribed by a doctor as it could cause side effects like heavy drowsiness. Researchers on patients with fibromyalgia found that those who took cannabis were significantly better in mind and body than those who did not take it. They also found that it relieved fibromyalgia patients of pain to the extent of 50%.
Looking at the map above, it is obvious that not all of us are fortunate to live in a medical marijuana legalized state. However, the good news for those who reside in places that do not legalize the use of medical marijuana is, a synthetic medical marijuana pill, Nabilone, was found to work successfully in reducing the pain and anxiety of fibromyalgia comparably. Well, the bad news is, in areas where medical marijuana is legal, many find that it is more economical and effective than Nabilone.
This will be the first Christmas that Tammi Hale spends without her husband Doug in over 30 years.
The 53-year old Vermont man, who suffered chronic pain from interstitial cystitis, committed suicide in October after his doctor abruptly cut him off from opioid pain medication.
“His primary care provider kept trying to wean him off his opioid therapy, which worked at higher doses,” says Tammi. “My husband ran out (of medication) early a few times, so the doctor cut him off completely one day. Six weeks later he took his life as no medical establishment would treat his chronic pain.”
We’re telling Doug Hale’s story, as we have those of other pain patients who’ve committed suicide because their deaths have been ignored or lost in the public debate over the nation’s so-called opioid epidemic. Patients who were safely taking high doses of opioids for years are suddenly being cut off or tapered to lower doses. Some are being abandoned by their doctors.
“I believe it will get worse with time. The docs are simply more interested in not risking their licenses than in treating chronic pain,” Tammi wrote to Pain News Network in a series of emails about her husband’s death.
Depression and suicidal thoughts are common for many people living with chronic pain and illness. According to a recent surveyof over a thousand pain patients, nearly half have contemplated suicide.
But the problem appears to have grown worse as physicians comply with the “voluntary” prescribing guidelines released in March by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which have been adopted as law in several states. Many doctors now fear prosecution and loss of their medical licenses if they overprescribe opioids. Some have chosen not to prescribe them at all.
While federal and state authorities track the number of drug overdose deaths, no one seems to be following the number of patients who are dying by suicide or from cascading medical problems caused by untreated chronic pain. Some in the pain community call this “passive genocide.” Tammi Hale compares it to the Holocaust.
“The Nazis eliminated the sick and the weak first, right? Makes you wonder,” she says. “I realize my comments are harsh, but I believe the public needs to be aware of the dangers any one of us could be facing with this silent epidemic.”
Doctor Insisted on Weaning
Doug Hale began facing a life with intractable chronic pain in 1999 after a surgery left him with interstitial cystitis, a painful inflammation of the bladder. According to his wife, Doug tried physical therapy, antidepressants, epidurals, nerve blocks, TENS, cognitive behavioral therapy, and several different medications before finally turning to opioids for pain relief. High doses of methadone and oxycodone for breakthrough pain were found to be effective.
But a few years ago, Doug’s primary care provider (PCP) started urging him to wean to a lower dose.
“The PCP insisted on weaning. Although Doug clearly had documented malabsorption issues, the PCP persisted on weaning. The pressure to wean was unbelievable,” says Tammi.
“It came to a head in May of 2016. The PCP gave Doug one month to wean completely from 120mg/day of methadone and 20 mg/day of oxy. We knew this was impossible.”
Tammi says Doug checked himself into a 7-day detox program, where he was weaned to 40 mg of methadone a day. The doctor agreed to prescribe that amount, but it was not enough to relieve Doug’s pain. He started taking extra doses.
“He ran out a week early in late August. The PCP abandoned Doug, stating ‘I’m not going to risk my license for you. The methadone clinic can deal with you.’”
But the methadone clinic refused to treat Doug because they saw him as a chronic pain patient, not as an addict. “Had he turned to street drugs they could have treated him, but because he didn’t break the rules they couldn’t help,” Tammi explained.
Doug tried to detox at home, which Tammi calls a “brutal” experience. On October 10th, after being turned down by other healthcare providers, Doug went to his former doctor one last time to beg for help and was refused. The doctor said again that he didn’t want to risk his license.
“Doug left the office still thrashing in pain and despondent,” Tammi recalls. “The next day, my dear, sweet thoughtful husband of 32 years; a father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, well-loved by many, dragged a chair to a remote spot in our back yard. A spot we could not see from the house, the road, or by the neighbors.
“He shot himself in the head to escape his pain. He made sure we could still live in our home and not be plagued by gruesome memories. I just wish the medical establishment had an ounce of the compassion that he did.”
“Can’t take the chronic pain anymore. No one except my wife has helped me. The doctors are mostly puppets trying to lower expenses.”— Doug Hale
“Can’t take the chronic pain anymore. No one except my wife has helped me,” Doug wrote in a suicide note. “The doctors are mostly puppets trying to lower expenses, and (do not accept) any responsibility. Besides people will die and doctors have seen it all. So why help me.”
“Doug did make vague references about suicide during the summer due to the desperation and pain. He was just such a tough guy, he survived so much that my reaction, and others after the fact, was no. Not Doug. He’s like the bionic man. Too much of a warrior to give up,” said Tammi.
“At his memorial, so many people commented on what an inspiration he was to them. To graciously bear the path of pain and his never-give-up attitude made them reevaluate their own daily issues. I guess you could say his legacy was love and to never quit.”
Tammi consulted with a medical malpractice attorney after Doug’s death, who told her the chances of winning a lawsuit against the doctor were slim. The cost of legal action would have also been prohibitive, after so many years of dealing with Doug’s medical expenses.
Tammi and Doug may never get their day in court, but she is determined to share his story in the hope that patients, doctors, and regulators learn from it.
“My promise to him was to share with others. He was thrown away like a piece of trash, but his life and the life of all humans are precious. All patients deserve to be treated respectfully,” she wrote. “Hopefully some changes will come in time before the holocaust grows too much larger.”
In the past few months, we have seen Lady Gaga open up more than ever about her journey with chronic pain, with her Netflix documentary “Gaga: Five Foot Two” offering us a look behind the curtain at how difficult it can be to find treatments that work and face the uncertainty and unpredictability of life with chronic illness.
But after confirming her fibromyalgia diagnosis in September and canceling several performances and tour dates due to chronic pain, Lady Gaga is back in action.
As a long-time fan of Gaga, it has been so exciting to see her almost-daily updates on Instagram and Twitter. Not only is she back on the road for her Joanne World Tour, but in the past few weeks, she has also managed to join all five former living presidents for a hurricane relief concert, partner with former Vice President Joe Biden to advocate for sexual assault survivors, become a brand ambassador for Tudor, oh – and get engaged to CAA talent agent Christian Carino. All of which she does wearing high fashion and a smile on her face.
There’s no doubt Lady Gaga is a captivating performer. Even just looking at photos of her, I am in such awe of her style, beauty, and poise.
And yet, simply watching her jet around the country to attend various events with important people and put on high-energy, kickass performances makes me tired.
As someone with an autoimmune disease, my energy tanks are constantly low, even after a restful weekend or long vacation. I don’t think I could make it through a single day in Gaga’s shoes. Her schedule seems like it would be hectic, exhausting, and stressful for someone in peak health, let alone someone with a chronic illness.
While I love following Gaga on social media to see what she’ll pull out of her sleeve next, it can also be difficult to watch someone with a similarly taxing health condition accomplish so much more than I believe I ever could.
Lady Gaga puts on incredible performances every other night, and I barely have enough energy after work to heat up leftovers for dinner.
Lady Gaga travels all over the country to meet and work with some of the most important people alive right now, and I’m in too much pain to walk my dog around the block.
So the thoughts go. It’s all too easy to look at snapshots of a celebrity’s life and think, wow, I must be really lazy or unmotivated because I could never achieve that.
This comparison game is dangerous, but it becomes especially tricky with celebrities like Lady Gaga or Selena Gomez who have been open about their chronic illness battles. I generally don’t lose sleep comparing myself to celebrities; I know they lead very different lives with access to far more money and resources than I have. But then, when they are open and vulnerable about health difficulties, it creates common ground between us. Watching Gaga’s documentary, I felt like I was connecting with another human being over similar struggles.
It’s those moments of relatability and understanding that make it hard to see Gaga go back to being a performer and superstar. In my experience, a bad flare-up usually isn’t followed by such a demanding and intensive schedule.
But, while those of us with chronic illness know the end of a flare-up doesn’t equate to being “healthy” or “back to normal,” for those who aren’t familiar with fibromyalgia or chronic pain, Gaga’s dynamic return may give the impression that her health issues have been totally resolved and that it’s possible for anyone to simply “bounce back” after devoting some time to their health.
Whether you’re a chronic warrior struggling with Lady Gaga’s return or a fan being introduced to the “chronic life” for the first time through Gaga, here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Gaga is likely not “cured.” If Lady Gaga is feeling better and has found treatments that work for her, that is fantastic and I am thrilled for her. I sincerely wish she wouldn’t have to ever deal with chronic pain again, but unfortunately, that is just not a common reality of fibromyalgia. As those with chronic illness know, these conditions are lifelong and unpredictable.
2. Celebrities tend to have far more access to money and resources than most chronic warriors do. It is likely that Gaga has been able to find enough relief to continue performing in part because of her fame and access to the best doctors. She is probably able to afford treatment options or medical equipment that many of us cannot, and she may also have access to luxuries such as a private chef, personal trainers, massage therapists, etc. that help keep up with her health as well as her busy schedule.
3. Even within the chronic illness community, we are all different and have varying abilities. Just because one person with fibromyalgia is able to do X, Y, Z doesn’t mean another person with fibromyalgia can also do X, Y, Z. (Maybe they can do A, B, C instead!) Just because Lady Gaga performed at the Super Bowl doesn’t mean everyone with fibro can leap off the roof of a football stadium (or have a job, go to school, or any other activity society thinks they “should” be able to do) if they just “put their mind to it.” People are unique, and so are their conditions and abilities.
4. Your accomplishments are just as amazing as Lady Gaga’s. Maybe you were able to take a shower today, or talk on the phone with a loved one, or keep yourself hydrated. Comparing yourself with someone else – healthy or sick – is silly, because they are a totally different person with totally different life experiences. There’s no good that can come from thinking about what you can’t do. Focus on what you can do, no matter how small it may seem, and celebrate that. If you’re doing the best you can, I’m proud of you – and I think Gaga would be too.
Although Lady Gaga seems to have recovered from her recent flare-up, I hope she continues to be honest about her chronic pain journey and serves as a voice and an advocate for the community. And I hope people recognize that Gaga is just one person with fibromyalgia, and what’s possible for her may not be possible for someone else. For now, I will try to resist the comparison trap and continue to cheer her on, one chronic warrior to another.
