Dear Fibromyalgia

Tag: fibromyalgia warriors

Celebrate the resilience of Fibromyalgia warriors, sharing stories of strength, tips for managing symptoms, and resources for support and empowerment.

  • Does Pilates for sciatica actually help relieve pain?

    The sciatic nerve is the longest single nerve in the body. It runs from the spinal cord through the buttocks where it branches off to both legs and ends below each knee. When inflammation or irritation of this nerve occurs, it causes a painful condition known as sciatica. Because the sciatic nerve controls feeling in the legs, this kind of pain can create additional, long-term problems. Sciatica pain occurs in up to 10% of the population, most often affecting patients between the ages of 25 and 45. Pilates for sciatica is one therapy many have used to find pain relief. While it won’t work for everyone, some do find benefits from this practice. Here’s how.

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

    What causes sciatica pain? 

    Sciatica is any type of pain that stems from the irritation or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This can be caused by repetitive movements, poor posture, or lifestyle factors.

    A slipped or herniated disc can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve. Chronic lower back pain is linked to this kind of pain. A pinched nerve will also create pain radiating down the leg like sciatica.

    A number of different physiological events can trigger sciatica. A fall or injury that affects the spine and presses on the nerve can be one possible cause. However, most of the time a specific injury isn’t involved. In these cases, the irritation or pinching of the nerve due to the body’s natural aging effects lead to sciatica.

    Symptoms of sciatica pain

    The tell-tale symptoms of sciatica include:

    • Pain in the lower back, buttocks, and down the legs
    • A shooting, burning, or throbbing pain
    • Tingling and numbness in the legs and feet

    Pain will also usually increase when patients are sitting for a long period of time. However, it is important to note that increased pain over time may indicate a problem with the nerve itself.

    If you are experiencing these symptoms, it may be helpful to seek the advice of a doctor or pain specialist who can suggest a variety of treatments to stop or alleviate the pain. Your individual treatment will depend on the severity of your pain and the specific cause. One noninvasive option is pilates for sciatica pain.

    How does pilates for sciatica work? 

    Pilates offers similar flexibility and stress-reducing benefits as yoga. However, because the exercises are done at a relatively quick pace, with a greater emphasis on strength, Pilates offers superior fat-burning and muscle-building capabilities. For tension and pain related to sciatica, these exercises can provide pain relief.

    You’ll perform most Pilates exercises seated or reclining, instead of standing. These exercises frequently focus on the core, chiseling your physique as you move through the practice. As an example, a typical Pilates workout might include exercises such as laying on your back while lifting your legs straight into the air for a low-impact abdominal workout. Another exercise involves moving into tabletop position, with hands and feet on the floor, before lifting alternate legs straight for more core work.

    While pilates for sciatica can help you find pain relief, always talk to your doctor before trying any new routines. Certain exercises may actually exacerbate or increase your pain. Therefore, it’s important to work closely with your doctor. Also, find a trusted Pilates teacher and talk to them about your condition. They can suggest exercise modifications during the workout as needed. This interview with Brent Anderson, phd, discusses some of the common poses to avoid if you suffer from sciatica pain.

    The history of Pilates

    Joe Pilates designed the Pilates system. He originally taught self-defense to detectives at England’s Scotland Yard in the years leading up to World War I. During the war, Pilates, a German, was taken as an enemy alien by the English. While held in camp, he taught other internees the exercise system.

    Pilates’ students were sometimes patients lying sick in hospital beds. Pilates would rig equipment to hospital beds, allowing the patients to exercise despite their immobility. This influence can be seen in the Pilates reformer machine, which resembles a hospital bed. Resistance bands and other equipment secured to the frame increase the potential for building muscle and strength.

    When Pilates moved to the U.S. in 1926, he took his exercise system with him, although it didn’t gain widespread popularity until the media began covering it in the late 1980s.

    Today, 8.5 million people practice Pilates, and the industry grew more than 5% from 2008 to 2013, according to market research firm IBIS World.

    What does a Pilates workout look like? 

    Pilates’ premise involves building strength from the inside out, with strong abdominal and back muscles leading to overall physical strength. That’s why it can be so effective for a condition like sciatica. Pilates for sciatica helps build up the deep muscles that can help provide support to the sciatic nerve.

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

    Nearly all Pilates movements focus on building the core—the muscles throughout the abdomen, those supporting the spine, and others involved with supporting the center of the body. Classes are either mat-based or conducted on special pieces of equipment. They also frequently involve the use of resistance bands, marking another departure from yoga.

    Although many Pilates exercises can be challenging, modifications are available to suit people at all levels of fitness. As workouts progress and strength builds, you naturally progress to stronger movements with fewer modifications. Having a strong core makes your entire body feel strong.

    Pilates for sciatica workouts 

    Some example postures you could use for Pilates for sciatica are included in the following video from Pilatesology.

    Another example is from Marquis Pilates and Fitness.

    Other common sciatica pain treatments

    The goal with sciatica treatment is to decrease pain and increase mobility. There are multiple ways to achieve this objective beyond Pilates for sciatica. Talk to your pain doctor about your best options. Some are more invasive or may require treatment with drugs to reduce the inflammation and irritation of the sciatic nerve. Some patients find relief with better nutrition. Therapeutic massage can also help manage your pain.

    Additional treatments include:

    The right treatment for you will depend on a number of factors. Before deciding which option to pursue, talk to your doctor for an official diagnosis.

    Acupuncture

    Acupuncture is a technique developed over centuries of Chinese medicine. Trained acupuncturists insert small needles in the skin at various trigger points. These trigger points access the body’s natural energy flow, also called chi. Acupuncture is also often coupled with relaxation and meditation techniques that incorporate the mind, body, and spirit. Individuals with symptoms of sciatica have experienced relief with acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture is non-invasive, with minimal risks for patients.

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

    Physical therapy

    A trained physical therapist can help patients dealing with the effects of sciatica with exercises design to relieve the pain. A therapist will help you work through exercises that strengthen the muscles of the lower back, help you stretch the area, and alleviate some of the pressure on the sciatic nerve. Typically physical therapy has a component of at-home exercises as well to keep up the level of recovery. Your length of treatment will often depend on the cause of your sciatica pain and how well you keep up with the exercises between physical therapy visits.

    Yoga

    Another alternative treatment for sciatica pain may be yoga. It’s similar to Pilates for sciatica, but is a deeply meditative practice. It practice involves a series of specific stretching exercises designed not only to increase your body’s flexibility but also calm your energy and promote relaxation. The physical exercise coupled with the mindfulness of yoga can help many patients better handle the effects of conditions such as sciatica. However, if yoga causes more pain than it alleviates you may want to speak with your doctor about different treatment options.

    Epidural steroid injections

    For more disruptive sciatica pain, some patients consider an epidural steroid injection. This treatment is designed to inject medication into the affected area of the body to reduce inflammation and help restore the body’s natural balance. However, most experts currently believe this is just a short-term fix and that patients will need to seek longer-term treatments along with comprehensive lifestyle changes to find the most relief from sciatica pain.

    Chiropractic care

    A chiropractor manipulates the human body to realign the musculoskeletal system. They can provide relief from a variety of conditions. Chiropractic care helps the body through its own natural healing process and does not involve any drugs. The manipulation of the spine can free its movements and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve alleviating the painful effects of the condition.

    Sciatica is often made worse by remaining stationary. Most specialists encourage you to move to alleviate the pain and strengthen the muscles around the area. In the case of a herniated or slipped disc, you may need additional specialized treatments that will address those specific conditions. These treatments help relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve to reduce pain.

    Find relief

    Because of the intense pain caused by sciatica, your doctor will likely create a comprehensive treatment plan that uses medical interventions alongside lifestyle changes or exercise regimens, like Pilates for sciatica. Especially at the onset of the pain, seek treatments that are less invasive. This may prove to have better long-term effects than drugs or surgical interventions.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Why fibromyalgia tender points are important for diagnosis

    Fibromyalgia is a neurological disorder that affects approximately 12 million people in the U.S. This chronic disorder causes aches and pains in the body that are severe enough to impact normal activity and disrupt sleep. A person with fibromyalgia may feel pain in the muscles, tissues, joints, and tendons in different areas of the body. Along with these physical symptoms, people suffering from fibromyalgia also experience mental issues as a result of fibromyalgia, including depression and anxiety. Fibromyalgia can also cause deep fatigue and exhaustion, even with very little activity. Even with so many people suffering from fibromyalgia, it remains a difficult disorder to diagnose. One of the most valuable tools for diagnosis was defining fibromyalgia tender points.

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

    The history of a fibromyalgia diagnosis

    Fibromyalgia is a term that has only been used in the last few decades to describe a condition of widespread pain throughout the body that also includes fatigue, poor sleep quality, and mood issues. It is possible, however, that mentions of a fibromyalgia diagnosis date all the way back to the 1600s.

    Fibromyalgia has had many names throughout the years including:

    Since physicians could not find any evidence of inflammation, these names were replaced with fibromyalgia in 1976. This translates from its Greek roots into “pain in the muscles and tissue.” While a fibromyalgia diagnosis is still difficult to establish today, there have been many recent advances. Research has led to promising tools and guidelines to help pain doctors and patients alike. One of the earliest was the fibromyalgia tender points scale.

    Understanding fibromyalgia

    Fibromyalgia affects about 4% of the U.S. population (~ ten million people) and is predominately found in women.

    Fibromyalgia is not a condition of exclusion, but its symptoms are common in many other illnesses. To make things more complicated, fibro symptoms can appear on their own or in tandem with another disorder. Identifying the cause of each can be problematic. This situation is exacerbated since fibro is a waxing and waning condition, making patterns more difficult to recognize even with thorough tracking.

    Although researchers agree that there is a neurological component to the disease, many previously believed that it was all in a person’s head. Some studies have pointed to risk factors such as a genetic predisposition to feeling pain more intensely. Other evidence connects the development of fibromyalgia to a stressful or traumatic event, repetitive injury, or other disease. Sometimes fibromyalgia has no clear cause or trigger and develops on its own.

    Women are three times more likely to develop fibromyalgia as men, and people with certain illnesses already present may have an increased risk. Autoimmune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid or spinal arthritis sufferers develop fibromyalgia at a higher rate than those without these conditions.

    There is no simple, scientifically-supported test to identify if someone has fibromyalgia. According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, it takes the average person five years to be diagnosed with fibro and this is generally after extensive other treatments have occurred. Misdiagnosis can still occur, but there are far more developed and data backed approaches that physicians use today.

    Fibromyalgia diagnosis – developing the modern view

    In 1981, the first clinical study was published that confirmed that symptoms and tender points of fibromyalgia could be found in the body. This study also established the first data-driven criteria for this condition.

    In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) created the first set of guidelines to help diagnose fibromyalgia. These guidelines set forth the following formal criteria for a fibromyalgia diagnosis in a research context:

    • The patient must have a history of widespread pain lasting more than three months
    • This pain must affect both sides of the body and be present above and below the waist
    • Of the 18 tender points designated on the human body, at least 11 of them must be in pain

    Before these guidelines were released, a fibromyalgia diagnosis was completely subjective and many were skeptical that the disorder even existed. Even with these new guidelines, fibromyalgia is a condition that can come and go, so using the fibromyalgia tender points criteria can be misleading or change from day-to-day.

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

    Fibromyalgia tender points 

    Although most of the population has a spot or two on their body that may be more sensitive than others, people with fibromyalgia often experience excruciating tenderness in very specific locations that are spread across their body. Tenderness is generally mirrored on both sides of the body and is located at nine specific places on the body.

    The nine fibromyalgia tender points locations are as follows:

    • Low cervical region: Front neck area just below the chin near the C5-C7 vertebrae
    • Second rib: Front chest area below the collarbone about 2 inches from the shoulder joint
    • Occiput: Back of the neck at the base of the skull
    • Trapezius muscle: Back shoulder area where this large muscle drapes over the top of the shoulder
    • Supraspinatus muscle: Shoulder blade area just at the top of the shoulder blade
    • Lateral epicondyle: Elbow area in the inside of the arm crease
    • Gluteal: Rear end at upper outer quadrant of the buttocks
    • Greater trochanter: Rear hip in the back
    • Knee: Knee area on the inside where the fat pad sits

    These nine areas are also sometimes called fibromyalgia tender spots. Because fibromyalgia cannot be diagnosed with a lab test, counting fibromyalgia tender points and taking a detailed patient history were often the best ways to get a clear diagnosis. Scroll to the infographic at the end of this post to see these.

    You can also see these in the following video.

    The Symptom Intensity Scale 

    To build on the fibromyalgia tender points scale, the Symptom Intensity Scale was developed using survey results from nearly 12,800 patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or fibromyalgia. These patients located pain in 38 anatomic areas of their body and then also completed a fatigue visual analogue scale. The fatigue analog scale requires a patient to mark their level of fatigue on a ten-centimeter line on the day they identified their pain symptoms.

    In 2006, Frederick Wolfe and Johannes J. Rasker completed an evaluation of 25,417 patients using the Symptom Intensity Scale and found that it was the best and clearest diagnostic tool for fibromyalgia. They also found that higher Scale scores indicated increases in hospitalization, disability, serious medical issues, and death.

    Because of this relationship, the Scale can be used to measure overall health and also predict outcomes for patients with a number of diseases. It uncovers “hidden” illness that accompanies the presenting illness, such as depression or anxiety in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

    Updated 2010 criteria 

    While the fibromyalgia tender points are still helpful, they’re not the only path to diagnosis for medical professionals. In 2010, the American College of Rheumatology published another set of criteria for fibromyalgia. It eliminated the fibromyalgia tender points count and replaced it with the widespread pain index (WPI) and symptom severity scale (SS).

    The WPI calculates if a person has experienced pain in the last two weeks in 19 separate general body areas. Each body area is assigned a one if there is pain or a zero if there is no pain and these are added together to reach a score between 0 and 19.

    The SS measures the severity of the person’s fatigue, sleep quality, cognitive symptoms, and somatic symptoms. Each of these four categories is given a score of 0 – 3 and added together for a total possible score of 12.

    Using these new scales, the ACR changed the diagnosis guidelines to:

    • WPI ≥ 7 and SS ≥ 5 OR WPI 3–6 and SS ≥ 9
    • Symptoms have been persistent for at least three months
    • There is no other disorder that could explain the pain

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

    Getting a fibromyalgia diagnosis

    Physicians must rely on a patient’s communicated symptoms to make a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Therefore, the first thing a doctor will do is conduct a thorough physical examination of the muscles and joints. After doing this, she or he will then discuss any symptoms a patient is currently having.

    Some of main symptoms of fibro include:

    • Pain: Constant full body pain with pain at the fibromyalgia tender points
    • Unrefreshing sleep: Even after an uninterrupted eight hours
    • Fatigue: Chronic fatigue or exhaustion after strenuous activity
    • Memory loss: Short-term memory problems coupled with bouts of confusion and inability to concentrate
    • Increased pain sensitivity: Hyperalgesia or allodynia
    • Depression

    Fibromyalgia often is present with other health issues, so a doctor will likely ask about other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, restless leg syndrome, frequent urination, and anxiety.

    Since fibro can occur with other illnesses, the next step is to start eliminating more serious medical conditions that could be causing your symptoms. The doctor will run tests on your blood, thyroid, and vitamin D levels. Other tests that could be required are X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Finally, a biopsy and a physiological exam could be necessary to rule out any suspected mental health issues.

    Helping along the diagnosis process

    Since fibromyalgia is mainly based off the symptoms that patients share, there are some smart things you can do if you believe you are suffering from fibromyalgia. These tips could save you time, money, and lots of frustration. And, they can help get you back on the path to being healthy and happy faster.

    • Make sure to communicate any mental or physical trauma that has occurred to you. A major event like this is sometimes associated with the development of fibro symptoms.
    • Keep a pain diary that includes the location of your pain, how it feels, severity, and the length of time it lasts. This can be a perfect tool to parse out fibro from other health issues.
    • Choose the right doctor. The stigma around fibromyalgia is fading as more research comes out, but some physicians will be reluctant to diagnose it. Make sure you go to a doctor who is specialized in pain management and has the experience to help you find the right diagnosis.

    Finding fibromyalgia treatments

    Treatment of fibromyalgia is best approached as a team, with doctors, physical therapists, and other alternative practitioners working together to treat the physical and mental symptoms.

    Some treatments include:

    • Dietary changes to eliminate anything that causes inflammation or triggers a pain response (e.g., sugar and red meat)
    • Changes to exercise plans, including exercises for days when pain is present, and exercise that includes meditation
    • Prescription medicines as needed
    • Sleep counseling to develop proper sleep habits to combat fatigue
    • Changes to work schedules to accommodate good and bad days

    Families also play an important role in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Suffering from an “invisible” but chronic illness such as fibromyalgia can be socially isolating. It is important that the family members are supportive of treatment and are understanding when their loved one needs to rest.

    The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is sponsoring more research on fibromyalgia to better understand this disease, specifically in relation to diagnosis, causes, and better treatments.

    To get a fibromyalgia diagnosis, click here to find a certified pain specialist in your area. They have dedicated experience working with fibromyalgia patients and will use the latest diagnostic guidelines to help you diagnose your condition.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Fibromyalgia research looks ahead to 3 emerging treatments

    Notoriously difficult to diagnose, fibromyalgia causes very real pain to those affected by it despite remaining a mystery in many other ways. A musculoskeletal disorder, it’s characterized by a lowered pain threshold and extra sensitivity to situations that would cause an unaffected person no pain at all. Fibromyalgia research is constantly looking for emerging therapies that could help a patient reduce their pain. Here’s three of the latest.

    Fibromyalgia research tackles causes

    Although fibromyalgia affects roughly 2 to 4 percent of the U.S. population (about 9.5 million people), its exact cause remains unknown. Maybe a single cause is so hard to pin down because the development of fibromyalgia has been linked to a number of different factors, some combination of which could be the culprit.

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

    Researchers believe that any of the following may contribute to a person’s risk for developing fibromyalgia:

    • Genetics
    • Psychological and emotional factors
    • Illness
    • Trauma
    • Neurobiology
    • Environmental factors

    For example, a genetic mutation might make someone more likely to develop the disorder, while others argue that fibromyalgia can be triggered by an infection or sickness. And some experts link the onset of the disorder to physical or emotional trauma, as patients who present with fibromyalgia have often also been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

    One thing’s for sure: Fibromyalgia affects more women than men, with nine women diagnosed for every one man. This may be a result of certain reproductive hormones present in women, but nothing can be decisively said as to why women are at a higher risk than men.

    Why fibromyalgia hurts

    The cause may be unclear, but the pain is easier to explain. Once the condition presents itself, fibromyalgia pain results from an unusually high amount of certain chemicals in the brain that are responsible for triggering pain signals. This is also called a neurochemical imbalance.

    At the same time, although we don’t completely understand why, pain receptors in the brain become extra sensitive to pain, causing contact that would otherwise not be uncomfortable to be very painful for a person suffering from fibromyalgia.

    These pain symptoms can be accompanied by a range of other problems, including:

    You can find out more about fibromyalgia in the following video.

    Diagnosing fibromyalgia

    Unfortunately, there is no chemical test available to directly confirm a person is afflicted with fibromyalgia. Instead, a doctor must use a number of other methods to make a diagnosis.

    Initially the doctor will observe the patient’s pain symptoms. According to the American College of Rheumatology, fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain endured for a minimum of three months. The term “widespread” means the pain should be present on both sides of the body as well as on both the upper and lower body.

    The ACR also describes fibromyalgia as tenderness or pain felt at specific places on the body, including the shoulders, the upper chest, the elbows, the hips and the knees. There are a total of 18 of these specific points listed by the ACR, and a person must experience pain in at least 11 of these for the condition to be considered fibromyalgia.

    But the surest way a doctor can determine a patient suffers from fibromyalgia is actually to rule out every other possible condition — a process which can be involved and lengthy. Patients shouldn’t be discouraged at the sometimes long process, however, as it means the doctors and medical staff are being as thorough as possible.

    Developing fibromyalgia treatments

    Treatment plans for fibromyalgia can be complex. Since there’s no cure for the condition itself, treatment must instead focus on the symptoms, on any coexisting conditions, and on any underlying medical problems that could have triggered or aggravated the fibromyalgia in the first place. We’ll discuss some of these more common treatment plans, before discussing the emerging treatments that fibromyalgia research is focusing on.

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

    Medication

    Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids) like ibuprofen or naproxen might be recommended to alleviate some discomfort, or the doctor may prescribe something a little stronger, for example, tramadol. In some cases, anti-seizure drugs can be prescribed to effectively reduce fibromyalgia pain symptoms.

    The combination of medications a doctor prescribes will ultimately depend on the patient’s exact symptoms, since these are rarely identical from patient to patient. Every person’s case is unique, with different triggers, different levels of pain, and different conditions or symptoms occurring simultaneously. For example, an antidepressant might also be necessary to fight lethargy, or a relaxant may be required to initiate sleep.

    Lifestyle changes

    Usually doctors will also inform the patient of lifestyle changes he or she can make at home to help with treatment. These include:

    • Getting adequate amounts of sleep
    • Committing to a regular exercise routine
    • Eating a healthy diet
    • Limiting intake of caffeine, nicotine and other stimulants

    Due to fear of their symptoms and the associated pain and discomfort, people who suffer from fibromyalgia can be inclined to withdraw from society and become inactive. Doctors recommend against this, however, as those patients who remain as active as possible — without overdoing it — on a consistent basis, seem to have the best success with managing their symptoms and leading normal lives.

    Many people also benefit from therapy sessions, in which they can not only discuss with a professional counselor the impact fibromyalgia has had on their lives, but also explore strategies for overall stress reduction on a day-to-day basis. This type of training can be crucial for giving patients the confidence to keep living their lives to the fullest potential, without the concern of being limited by their condition.

    Emerging treatments based on new fibromyalgia research

    Fibromyalgia frequently doesn’t respond well to traditional medications, but the good news is that many people find alternative remedies helpful. Therapies like oxygen chamber therapy, low-level laser therapy, and transdermal magnesium are hitting the market, giving fibromyalgia patients new options for managing pain and improving quality of life.

    Oxygen chamber therapy in particular has researchers making grand promises—promises not just of pain relief, but of the possibility to reverse fibromyalgia. The treatment is still early in the study stage. However, researchers understand more about fibromyalgia every day, and this increasingly deep knowledge could one day result in a cure.

    1. Oxygen chamber therapy heralds promise to reduce fibromyalgia pain

    This treatment, which involves breathing in pure oxygen from a tube or while sitting in a pressurized room—hence the term “chamber”—has shown promise for helping people with fibromyalgia.

    Officially known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the treatment been used for some time to help scuba divers heal from decompression sickness, which is when gasses in the blood form bubbles as divers move toward low pressure. The treatment also works for slow-healing wounds related to diabetes or serious infections, according to Mayo Clinic.

    Enhanced functioning

    Research from Rice University has also found the treatment offers hope for fibromyalgia patients. Scientists evaluated 48 women with fibromyalgia who underwent oxygen chamber therapy for two months and found that 100% of them experienced some form of benefit.

    An increasing body of clinical evidence shows that fibromyalgia develops from abnormalities in the nervous system and brain pathways, many of them related to pain processing. Rice researchers found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhanced functioning in these faulty areas.

    Fibromyalgia affects about five million people, most of them women. Researcher Eshel Ben-Jacob says:

    “Symptoms for about 70% of the women who took part have to do with the interpretation of pain in their brains… They’re the ones who showed the most improvement with hyperbaric oxygen treatment. We found significant changes in their brain activity.”

    In the study, participants underwent 40 treatments, each lasting 90 minutes, for five days each week over the course of two months. During treatment sessions, patients breathe in oxygen that’s pressurized three times higher than normal air. The highly pressurized nature allows lungs to absorb greater quantities of oxygen, which then gets absorbed systemically by the body.

    Pain reduction

    Fibromyalgia patients receiving oxygen chamber therapy also experienced a dramatic reduction in pain. The body thrives off this pure oxygen and is better able to heal, fight off bacteria, or in the case of fibromyalgia patients, process pain. Many patients who participated in the study were able to decrease the amount of medications they were taking or, in some cases, stop taking pills all together.

    Researchers said oxygen chamber therapy actually reversed fibromyalgia, targeting the condition’s source, while all the pills did was ease pain, and not heal the underlying condition. Researcher Shai Efrati says:

    “The results are of significant importance since, unlike the current treatments offered for fibromyalgia patients, (oxygen chamber therapy) is not aiming for just symptomatic improvement…(It’s) aiming for the actual cause—the brain pathology responsible for the syndrome. It means that brain repair, including even neuronal regeneration, is possible even for chronic, long-lasting pain syndromes, and we can and should aim for that in any future treatment development.”

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

    These promises aren’t as grandiose as they may seem: Efrati says 70% of the research participants no longer had diagnosable criteria for fibromyalgia at the end of the study.

    Oxygen chamber therapy currently has federal approval for use in 14 conditions, including serious infections and burns, but not yet for fibromyalgia, according to webmd.

    Unfortunately, until future studies prove the benefit on a wide scale and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the treatment, insurance plans won’t cover the treatments, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars because so many are needed.

    We’ll be sure to keep you up to date as this exciting area of fibromyalgia research develops.

    2. Fibromyalgia research focuses on non-invasive low-level light laser therapy 

    With laser therapy, lasers shoot through soft tissue, and the light of the beam raises the temperature. Data is so far mixed on whether the technology works, but fibromyalgia research does show benefits that are promising. Scientists aren’t sure how the treatment works, but are working to learn more.

    One possible theory that explains how low-level light laser therapy works involves a process known as photo bio stimulation. This idea holds that when the energy of the laser penetrates the tissue, it creates adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), which helps produce cellular energy.

    Benefits of photo bio stimulation include:

    • Reduced pain and swelling
    • Improved circulation
    • Enhanced delivery of life-supporting materials like water, oxygen, and other nutrients

    Research results for this therapy have been mixed, but several have shown promise. More research is needed to better quantify the potential for this therapy to treat pain from fibromyalgia.

    Other names for low-level laser therapy are cold laser therapy, low-energy laser therapy, low-intensity laser, and monochromatic infrared light energy (MIRE) therapy.

    3. Transdermal magnesium shows promise for fibromyalgia pain 

    Magnesium is an important nutrient for optimal body functioning, however many people don’t ingest enough of mineral. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and anxiety may all be symptoms of a deficiency.

    People often take magnesium in pill form, but transdermal magnesium involves applying magnesium directly to the skin. One way of doing this involves rubbing oil directly on the skin, where it can easily be absorbed and distributed throughout the entire body. Another option is to take a bath with Epsom salt, which is magnesium sulfate.

    Gels and patches are also available, however rubbing oil on the body and taking baths have relaxation and other therapeutic benefits, and are wonderful ways to receive healthy amounts of magnesium.

    Only a few small trials of fibromyalgia research have found transdermal magnesium has a large benefit, but the anecdotal evidence is vast. Plus, with magnesium deficiencies so common, transdermal magnesium is a good health practice to have.

    Finding relief

    While fibromyalgia research continues to pave the way for new and innovative treatments, patients should first make sure they have an accurate diagnosis. You can work closely with a pain doctor to find out if you have fibromyalgia. They can also help you learn more about complementary and advanced treatments for reducing your pain.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • How to relieve shoulder pain at night

    Shoulder pain at night is a very common issue among chronic pain sufferers. The shoulder is one of the most vulnerable joints as it has such a wide range of motion, which opens it up to various injuries and problems. So, why are you experiencing shoulder pain at night and what can you do to find relief? We discuss five treatment options ranging from shoulder stretches to chiropractic to interventional procedures.

    Issues associated with shoulder pain at night

    On top of the pain, most people with shoulder pain at night sleep poorly, which a completely different set of problems has associated with it. These can include:

    Sleeplessness can become a vicious cycle of decreasing sleep and increased pain, which will only make your condition worse.

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

    Causes of shoulder pain when night

    Although many shoulder disorders can cause pain, the most common cause of shoulder pain at night comes from rotator cuff tendinitis. It usually is caused by irritation of the shoulder tendons leading to inflammation and pain. This condition can be caused by many things, including:

    Rotator cuff tendinitis is known to affect millions of people in the U.S. each year and is a major cause of shoulder pain when sleeping.

    Some of the other causes of shoulder pain at night are:

    Why exactly does the pain increase at night even though it might be fine during the day?

    Why do I have shoulder pain at night only? 

    While this nighttime shoulder pain cannot always be explained, a lot of the pain comes down to:

    • Being still at night
    • Unrelieved tension and stress from the day
    • The sleeping position you choose
    • Your mattress

    During the day, the shoulder is being actively used while you are in a vertical position. The tendons engage and are pulled downward by gravity, which allows space to be made in the muscle groups in the shoulder. This additional space allows for an increase in blood flow and oxygen that alleviates the stiffness and pain that would be present otherwise.

    When you lay down to rest or sleep at night, you are generally in a horizontal position. This removes the effect of gravity and allows the shoulder muscles to relax. The lack of movement and the relaxation of the muscles allows the fluids in your joints to settle and decreases the flow of blood, allowing the joint to become inflamed. People also tend to lie on their shoulder while sleeping, which can compress the joint even further, and thereby worsening the inflammation.

    How-to relieve shoulder pain at night

    If your shoulder pain is worse at night, there are ways to ease your pain.

    1. Find a better sleeping position 

    The first course of action to relieve shoulder pain at night is to find a good sleeping position for you. Tossing and turning at night is normal for most people, but can agitate your shoulder if you land on it wrong. Sleeping on the opposite shoulder can help avoid this pain, but try not to sleep on your back.

    If the pain persists, you can always trying wrapping your arm or wearing a sling to assist in preventing movement during sleep. Sleeping with a pillow under your knees can help alleviate any associated back pain.

    2. Stick to a sleep schedule 

    Along with fixing your position while sleeping, always make sure to try to stick to a sleeping schedule. Good sleep hygiene can make all the difference in your sleeping patterns. Having a consistent bedtime ritual that helps wind you down at the end of the day can do wonders in terms of reducing stress and tension, and improving sleep length and quality.

    Try something relaxing before bed like a shower and make sure you fall asleep in a dark room with no electronics. Medication can also help you sleep, but be cautious of how often you use them. Constantly requiring sleep aids can be a major sign of a problem and the more you use over-the-counter drugs, the more you will need to be effective. In addition, if you’re using other medications, they may react poorly with the sleep aids.

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

    3. Perform stretches for shoulder pain at night 

    Exercising a few hours before bed can also be useful as it will increase blood flow throughout the whole body. This can alleviate pain, but also relax you enough to ease sleeping troubles. Try something low impact like a brisk walk or a bike ride, and then allow your body to cool down again before going to bed.

    Further, certain shoulder stretches can help you reduce the tension and stress that has built up during the day. Not only are shoulder stretches an easy option, but they take only a few minutes at night. Stretching has huge health benefits like increasing flexibility, range of motion, and blood flow. Another big plus is that they are simple to do in your own home and require no special equipment. Before you go to bed, try these seven shoulder stretches to alleviate some tension and reduce your stress.

    Shoulder stretch basics

    If you start to feel pain at any time during a stretch, stop immediately. Stretching should be done to the point of mild strain. If you experience pain, you are going too hard and could injure yourself. This is especially true if the pain is sharp or sudden. It is a good idea for chronic pain sufferers to consult a pain doctor before starting too strenuous of a stretching routine as overexertion could exacerbate certain conditions.

    For best results, always warm your muscles up a little before stretching. For the following stretches, it is best to do each for approximately 30 seconds to one minute for maximum effect. Also, make sure you are steadily breathing in and out in a controlled manner.

    Chin retractions

    This is a quick stretch that is great if you spend way too much time staring at a computer monitor. Slowly extend your neck outward, making sure your keep your chin parallel with the floor. Then, pull it back in to a neutral position that is straight with your spine, slightly tucking the chin in. Repeat.

    Eagle arms

    Sit in a cross-legged position on the ground. Extend your arms in front of you and place your left elbow in the crook of the right arm. Now, bend your elbows back so your hands are touching. Hook one hand over the other so that your palms are facing each other.

    For this stretch, you should keep your palms together, elbows lifted in a 90 degree angle, and your hands in front of your face. Try to keep your shoulders relaxed and down. You should feel a powerful stretch in your shoulder blades as well as the lower part of your neck. After this, change arms by placing your right elbow in the crook of your left arm and repeating.

    Cow-face pose

    Take your right arm and reach over your shoulder aiming to lay your palm in-between your shoulder blades. Then take your left arm and reach up your back (not over the shoulder) also placing the hand between the shoulder blades. Try to interlock your hands and pull slightly.

    If you are having trouble interlocking your hands, you can modify this stretch. Keep a towel or something similar in your top hand, and then grasp it with your bottom hand instead of clasping the hands together. Gently pull with each arm to feel your shoulders start to open up.

    Standing wall stretch

    While standing tall, reach out and place both of your hands on a wall. Walk your feet back until the arms are straight, but don’t let your arms reach too far above your head. Make sure you keep the shoulder blades open and relaxed downwards during the whole stretch. Also, avoid pushing against the wall and don’t allow your shoulders to press up and into your neck.

    Shoulder blade stretch

    Start by spreading your feet, so they are shoulder-width apart. Raise your arms above your head as far as possible and bring your palms together. Now, simply twist your waist by bringing one shoulder forward and simultaneously pulling the opposite shoulder back. Hold this stretch and then switch sides.

    Half-dragon fly

    This stretch begins by lying face down on your stomach. First, place your right hand palm down on the floor like you are starting a pushup. Next, lift your chest slightly and slide your left arm under your chest. Finally, square your chest with the floor and lower on top of your arm. Hold this position and then switch your arms.

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

    If you want a deeper stretch in this position, you can move on to the full dragonfly. This is accomplished by lying on your stomach face-down. Crisscross both arms near the collar bones and straighten your arms out as far as possible. Then, allow your body to drape onto your arms.

    Triangle

    Stand your feet hip-width apart. Turn your right foot forward. Turn the left foot so it is perpendicular with the right and raise both arms to shoulder level straight out from the body. Stretch your right arm up and forward, pulling your body up slightly. Then slowly lower the chest forward over the right leg until it is parallel with the ground. Place your hand on your thigh or calf, while avoiding placing it on the knee directly. Try to keep as little weight in your hand as possible, focusing on keeping yourself upright with your core instead. Extend the left arm completely upward towards the ceiling, if it feels comfortable. Finally, turn your head upwards towards the ceiling or down towards the ground for an additional neck stretch.

    4. Try yoga poses for neck pain

    Since shoulder pain at night is often related to neck pain, trying the following yoga poses for neck pain could also help relieve your pain. This video also demonstrates the triangle shoulder stretch.

    5. Talk to a pain doctor about interventional therapies 

    If these natural treatments don’t work to relieve your shoulder pain at night, it may be time to talk to a pain doctor. They can help diagnose the exact cause of your shoulder pain. If your pain isn’t due to an acute injury or fracture, they may suggest interventional treatments for chronic pain.

    These shoulder pain at night treatments include:

    • Physical therapy to increase flexibility and reduce pressure on your joint
    • Chiropractic care to increase mobility and loosen tension
    • A regimen of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
    • Regenerative medicine approaches, including PRP injections 
    • Joint injections that can relieve nerve irritation
    • Surgery, but only for the most severe cases of shoulder pain at night

    If more conservative treatments like chiropractic care or physical therapy haven’t worked, a joint injection provides a minimally-invasive treatment that doesn’t require surgery. You can learn more about this approach in the following video (while not a shoulder injection, it does showcase a knee joint injection using a similar approach).

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • The surprising impact of chronic pain, on family and money

    The surprising impact of chronic pain, on family and money

    Chronic pain is the number one cause of disability in the U.S. According to the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA), one in six people are living with chronic pain. The type of pain can vary with age. People in their 20s and 30s are most likely to suffer from headaches or chronic migraine. Adults in middle age tend to suffer from chronic back pain. The elderly often report pain as a result of arthritis or fracture. The percentage of people in each group does not change as the population ages, making chronic pain a fairly consistent condition. Whatever the demographic, however, the impact of chronic pain is skyrocketing, both on a person’s family life and money.

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

    The monetary impact of chronic pain

    Estimates of the cost of pain can vary widely, depending on what is being measured. A 2003 report from The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) put the annual monetary impact of chronic pain at $62.1 billion. A more recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report in 2011, “Relieving Pain in America,” puts the economic cost of chronic pain at an estimated $560-635 billion annually.

    The JAMA study only counted loss of productivity and did not measure all types of pain, but focused only on headache and some musculoskeletal pain. The IOM estimate looked at all types of economic costs, including loss of productivity, use of medical services, and other financial impacts.

    The impact of chronic pain on your work life

    According to the results of a National Health and Wellness survey, individuals who suffer from osteoarthritis were less likely to be employed and highly likely to be on disability.  The costs of disability payments are spread among taxpayers, and were included in the IOM report as well.

    Missing work due to pain or being perceived as unemployable due to pain can be devastating financially to individual families and society as a whole. This perception can be difficult to change, as chronic pain is generally an “invisible” illness. Common misperceptions of those suffering chronic pain include the following.

    • They are unreliable: Because chronic pain sufferers have good days and bad days, employers may see this as a trait that could impact their productivity. In fact, chronic pain sufferers may be even more reliable. They know their jobs rest on doing what they say they will do, even in the face of pain.
    • They are less productive: Employers may view chronic pain sufferers as less able to perform the functions of their jobs due to pain. In fact, efficiency and effectiveness are the order of the day when chronic pain sufferers are feeling good. They can be even more productive than their coworkers.
    • They use pain as an excuse: Other workers may believe that chronic pain sufferers use their bad days as an excuse to get out of work. In fact, there is zero evidence of this as a characteristic of chronic pain sufferers. Indeed, most are ready and willing to move forward and take on responsibilities and work that gives them purpose and direction. Pain is a medical condition, not an excuse.

    Although there are moments when chronic pain can interfere with an individual’s ability to work, a team-based treatment plan can help. Individuals can develop coping strategies that allow them to continue to be productive. An important part of managing the impact of chronic pain is also understanding more about a person’s condition and utilizing creative scheduling to work around bad days.

    The social and family impact of chronic pain

    The impact of chronic pain is more than dollars and cents. Beyond the dollar signs, the cost of chronic pain is personal and rising. People with chronic pain are more likely to be depressed to the point of attempting suicide, and there are social costs as well. Christopher L. Edwards, phd, assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine, writes:

    “The social costs are incalculable. How do you estimate the value of lost self-worth? How do you estimate the loss of family, friends, and a sense of accomplishment?”

    Approximately 100 million people in the U.S. live with chronic pain, but how many families are living through their pain with them? Caregivers of chronic pain patients experience many special challenges. People suffering from chronic pain may feel isolated and ostracized. Their families may not understand, and tensions in the home may compound the issue. The pressure can be extraordinary, and the impact of chronic pain in the family can be deeply felt. Here are just a few of the tasks and challenges the families of chronic pain patients face.

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

    They are responsible for daily care

    For some patients, this may be driving to appointments and coordinating care. For others, this can be caring for the patient physically, including lifting and moving the family member from bed to bathroom to anywhere else they need to go. Other daily tasks can include shopping for and preparing meals that may be specifically tailored to the patient. It could also be reminding the patient to complete any exercises or activities.

    These tasks may be done lovingly, but both patient and caregiver can feel resentful and angry at times. The stress of these simple daily tasks can mount up and be overwhelming.  Often, the caregiver is also responsible for other family members, including children who may not understand why they have to wait or not get undivided attention.

    They are responsible for dealing with insurance and doctors

    Although the patient may be in closest communication with his or her doctor, often the caregiver is responsible for talking to insurance companies and coordinating care across a team of doctors. Advocating for a patient who may be unable to advocate for themselves at times is an important job. There is a tremendous amount of paperwork associated with a chronic illness, and the caregiver needs to be organized and thorough when analyzing benefits statements and bills.

    They are sometimes responsible for income

    There are chronic pain patients who are able to continue to work and contribute to the household income, but in many cases, the caregiver is also the breadwinner. Even if the pain patient is on disability, the family may need additional income, especially if there are children. Of all of the impacts of chronic pain in the family, this is arguably the most stressful one, affecting daily life in the most basic way. If the caregiver needs to drive the patient to appointments, the stress of missing work and income can be exacerbated.

    They are responsible for cheerleading, even when they don’t feel cheery

    Chronic pain patients can feel isolated, trapped in their pain. It can be difficult to see the beauty in life when simple movement is excruciating.

    Families of chronic pain patients experience this in another way in their sense of powerlessness. Those with a chronic pain in the family see a family member in pain and are unable to do anything concrete to relieve the pain. The only thing they can do is to be encouraging, patient, and kind. They can point out the things the family has to be grateful for, and they can look to the future. This can be a thankless task, and some days their family member in pain won’t want to hear any of it. The challenge is to be the cheerleader, even at the hardest times.

    What can you do?

    The impact of chronic pain cannot be overstated. It costs the U.S. billions of dollars each year. It’s also costly in terms of mental and social health, affecting families disproportionately. So how can all aspects of the cost of chronic pain be more effectively managed?

    1. Develop team-based treatment plans

    These can include not only prescription medication, if necessary, but also other holistic treatments. Having a team of healthcare providers that are able to utilize alternative treatments such as diet, meditation, and exercise can make all the difference in the successful management of chronic pain. Working with a pain specialist can help you accurately diagnose your pain and learn more about treatments that could work for you.

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

    2. Educate employers on chronic pain and help them utilize telecommute options

    An employee who is having a bad day may not be able to get into the office, but may still be able to work on projects at home. Offering this as an option can help keep patients with chronic pain in stable employment, which will do wonders for their mental and emotional health. Productive employment is one way to keep the costs of chronic pain down. It also keeps patients off disability and in the working world.

    3. Involve families more in your treatment

    Families feel the impact of chronic pain on a daily basis, but they may not understand it completely. This lack of understanding can be isolating for the chronic pain sufferer. It can increase the social impact of pain. A strong, supportive family or group of close friends is crucial to managing the mental and emotional impact of pain. Get them involved by talking to them about what you’re feeling.

    4. Encourage your family to get the self-care they need

    The challenges when there is chronic pain in the family are so extreme that some research suggests that the caregivers risk becoming patients themselves. In a 2014 study, researchers at the Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science found that “high burden” caregivers, those tasked with care giving for 21 or more hours per week, were highly likely to develop chronic pain themselves.

    Researchers interviewed 46 informal (non-professional, generally family members) caregivers and asked them to complete questionnaires. Over four weeks, 94% of caregivers reported pain in at least one part of their body. Amy Darragh, occupational therapist and lead researcher had this to say about the results:

    “Almost all of the caregivers who participated in our study said they experience significant musculoskeletal discomfort related to care giving activities, and that this discomfort can interfere with their ability to provide care, work and participate in life activities.”

    The researchers found that professional caregivers experienced some of the same injuries. But, since they had access to training and tools to help them with patients, they were less likely to be injured or to have that injury become chronic. Many times those with chronic pain in the family have to dive in with little or no training. This includes the proper way to lift a patient or to complete repetitive daily tasks. These physical issues don’t even measure the potential for mental disorders such as depression or anxiety.

    Darragh and her team have received grants to develop protocols for family and non-professional caregivers. Until those protocols are in place and used widely, family caregivers need to be careful and monitor themselves for signs of stress or injury. Taking any classes that may be available through doctors or hospitals can be helpful. You can also stayed informed about groups or respite caregivers who may be able to help when needed.

    5. Work hard to increase awareness of healthy lifestyles and living for all people

    Chronic pain can be a condition that develops as a result of traumatic injury or accident. But, it can also be as a result of any other disorder or condition that could be prevented by making healthy choices. Eating well and exercising regularly is good medicine for everyone. Encouraging people to get active and stay that way can lower the chances of developing chronic pain. Further, by talking more about your chronic pain, it becomes more normal in the world. Keep up-to-date with blogs like this one, or any of our favorite chronic pain bloggers, to learn tips for reducing the impact of chronic pain on your life.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Recent research that untangles pain

    Pain is an unavoidable fact of life, especially for those with a chronic pain condition. There are dozens of potential treatments for pain already, but researchers are always searching for a deeper understanding of pain to help them devise even better treatments.

    One group of researchers has found a way to cut off the communication of pain in the brain.

    At the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute, neuroscientist Gerald Zamponi, phd, and his team have found a way to shut off pain signals. Calcium channels in the brain and peripheral nervous system are part of the line of communications to transmit pain signals. Because of this, calcium channels have been a focus of pain research for quite a while. Zamponi and his team have found that by interfering with a specific enzyme’s communication with the calcium channels, the nerve impulses are interrupted.

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

    The researchers in this study are currently looking at more than 100,000 molecules. They’re trying to find one that will successfully stop the communication between the enzyme and the calcium channel, thereby stopping the pain signal. Two viable molecules have already been identified as painkillers in animals.

    If these researchers are able to isolate the correct molecule to create the same effect in humans, it could potentially be turned into a drug. A drug like this could provide a new pain-relief option for people who suffer from all sorts of pain conditions, such as arthritis or neuropathic pain.

    A better understanding of how different populations experience pain can help physicians manage their patients’ pain more effectively.

    A few factors that decrease an individual’s pain tolerance have been identified. These include:

    There are also a few odd factors that influence an individual’s ability to tolerate pain. For example, one study suggested that right-handed people were more tolerant of pain than left-handed people. Some research also suggests that natural redheads may be more sensitive to pain.

    Additionally, gender has an effect on pain sensations. More women report pain than men, and women are generally believed to be more sensitive to pain. It’s been assumed that women may be more tolerant of pain, as well, but a new study challenges this assumption.

    First it’s important to understand the difference between pain sensitivity and pain tolerance. Pain sensitivity refers to the pain threshold, or when an individual begins to perceive stimulation as painful. Pain tolerance is the level of pain an individual is able to tolerate.

    Researchers at Malaga University have found that there is no difference in pain tolerance between men and women. Rather, the characteristics of each individual determine his or her ability to tolerate pain. Resilience was identified as the most important factor in determining pain tolerance. People who are resilient are more likely to accept their pain. Accepting the pain, rather than focusing on it to the exclusion of everything else, allows individuals to focus on increasing their quality of life instead. Resilient people generally feel less pain, stay more active, and have a better overall mood.

    In addition to acceptance of pain and individual resilience, fear of pain was identified as a central variable in people’s pain experiences. People who are afraid of pain experience more anxiety and depression. This ties into the only difference identified between men’s and women’s pain experiences: in men, a fear of pain also related to a greater degree of pain.

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

    Another study has identified several specific genes that affect an individual’s pain tolerance.

    A group of researchers looked at 2,721 people who have been diagnosed with chronic pain. Participants rated their pain perception on a scale that was divided into low, moderate, and high pain groups. Researchers then checked the participants for specific genes, COMT, DRD2, DRD1, and OPRK1, and found the following statistics:

    • DRD1 variant was 33% more prevalent among the low pain group than the high pain group
    • COMT variant was 25% more prevalent among the moderate pain group than the high pain group
    • OPRK1 variant was 19% more prevalent among the moderate pain group than the high pain group
    • DRD2 variant was 25% more common among the high pain group than the moderate pain group

    According to Tobore Onojjighofia, MD, MPH, with Proove Biosciences and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, this research could have two major benefits for pain patients. First, finding out if an individual possesses these particular gene variants could provide his or her physician with a way to evaluate his or her perception of pain. This could help physicians manage patients’ pain according to each individual’s pain tolerance. In addition to this, the identification of genes that influence pain perception could play a role in developing new, targeted pain therapies.

    New brain imaging has identified a brain abnormality that may explain the overly sensitive response to stimuli in people with fibromyalgia.

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans provide detailed pictures of the body’s tissues. When an MRI scan is done on the brain, the result is series of images that allow physicians to visualize the anatomy of the brain. A functional MRI (fmri) maps the brain’s function by showing the amount of oxygen (and therefore the amount of oxygenated blood flow) in different areas of the brain. In other words, an MRI is similar to a very detailed snapshot, while an fmri is like a flipbook showing brain activity.

    A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology used fmri to study brain response to stimuli among people with fibromyalgia. The fmri showed reduced activation of certain areas of the brain, namely the primary and secondary visual and auditory areas. There was also increased activation in the sensory integration regions.

    These brain function abnormalities are responsible for the often painful hypersensitivity experienced by people with fibromyalgia. In fact, the researchers in this study believe these abnormalities might be part of the pathology, or key components, of fibromyalgia. This is significant because research in this area might eventually offer new neuro stimulation targets for fibromyalgia treatment.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • How we treat head pain

    How we treat head pain

    Nearly everyone will experience head pain at some point during their lives, but for some people, head pain can become chronic. Chronic migraines and headaches can range in severity from annoying to debilitating. Thankfully, a wide range of treatment options are available for head pain, providing lots of potential options to try when managing head pain.

    Oral medications are usually the first type of pain management attempted to treat head pain.

    The most common reason that people purchase over-the-counter pain medications is head pain. These medications are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids), like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. These over-the-counter pain medications often fall short when it comes to treating severe or chronic head pain. For instance, nsaids are considered most effective for people who suffer episodic migraines ten or less days per month.

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

    For more severe types of head pain, a physician may prescribe an opioid, such as oxycodone. Anticonvulsant drugs are also sometimes effective when treating head pain. Different medications may be indicated depending on the type of head pain being experienced. Explain what type of pain you’re experiencing as clearly as possible to your physician so he or she can prescribe the right medication.

    Oral medications generally provide short-term, as-needed pain relief. Some injected medications can provide short-term pain relief, as well. Sumatriptan in oral form is commonly used to treat migraines, but subcutaneous (injected) sumatriptan is used to provide short-term relief from cluster headaches.

    Other types of injected medications can potentially provide medium-term pain relief, or pain relief that’s not permanent but could last for several weeks to months.

    Nerve block injections can act both as pain management and as a diagnostic tool for head pain.

    These types of injections deliver medications directly to the inflamed nerves causing head pain. The injections will typically include a local anesthetic to block pain. Corticosteroids might also be included to reduce inflammation.

    The exact location of the injection will depend on which nerves are causing the head pain. To relieve chronic migraine or cluster headaches, for example, a nerve block injection will be applied to the trigeminal or occipital nerves.

    The physician will determine which nerve location is most likely to provide relief. If the injection is delivered to the nerve that’s causing the head pain, relief can occur fairly quickly and may last for weeks or months. If the injection is delivered to the incorrect nerve, it will have very little effect. In this way, the injection can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify exactly which nerve or nerves are to blame for the head pain.

    Once the nerves causing the head pain have been identified, other types of treatments can be applied directly to the nerves.

    Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can be used on nerves that have been identified as causing head pain, but it can also be used as a potential treatment for severe, persistent headaches that don’t respond to nerve block injections.

    During RFA, a local anesthetic is applied. Then thin probes are passed through the skin until they reach the targeted nerve or nerve group. The probes emit radiofrequency, or electrothermal impulses, on the nerve or nerve group. This selectively damages the nerve, causing the formation of a lesion, which blocks the pain signals that the nerve conducts.

    Another type of nerve therapy is spinal cord stimulation (SCS). During SCS, flexible, thin devices are implanted next to the spinal cord, close to the nerves causing the head pain. The devices are attached to external leads, which are attached to a control device that allows the patient to operate it. When the devices are activated, a mild electrical impulse is emitted. This impulse interrupts the pain signals being transmitted along the nerves. When head pain occurs, the patient can then control his or her own pain relief.

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

    Alternative and complementary therapies, used in conjunction with traditional therapies, may be effective in controlling head pain, too.

    Acupuncture originated in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves the insertion of small, sterile needles into strategic places on the body. This is believed to cause the body to release endorphins, increase blood circulation, and reduce inflammation. Acupuncture can be effective when used in conjunction with other pain management techniques. In fact, for some people, acupuncture is more effective than traditional pain management therapies.

    Chiropractic manipulation might also be an effective treatment for head pain. It involves the application of targeted force to correct the body’s spinal alignment. Massage therapy, which focuses on the release of muscle tension and stress, can potentially reduce head pain as well, especially when the myofascial muscles are massaged.

    Another technique called biofeedback might be particularly effective at teaching patients how to control their own head pain. Readings are taken of brain activity, muscle tension, and galvanic skin response, all of which are impacted by headache triggers like stress. People with head pain can then study these measurements to understand the physiological effects linked to their headaches. This understanding can then be applied toward relaxation techniques to enhance control over the physiological effects linked to head pain.

    Keeping a pain diary can also enhance understanding of the triggers behind head pain, as well as make it easier for a physician to decipher exactly which type of head pain is being experienced and how best to treat it.

    To track head pain with a migraine or headache diary, take note of all the factors surrounding the head pain, such as:

    Although tracking all of this information won’t necessarily reduce head pain, it can shed light on what causes the pain. For instance, it might suddenly become clear that headaches worsen after drinking caffeine, or that migraines occur more frequently after a short night’s sleep. This clearer understanding of what can lead to or worsen head pain can allow you to avoid the things that trigger head pain.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Chiropractic care during pregnancy

    The miracle of life, the anticipation of a beautiful baby, and that expectant-mother glow may make pregnancy a magical time of life, but it’s not all a bed of roses. There’s morning sickness, acne, swollen feet, fatigue, and all sorts of aches and pains to deal with. Your physician may be able to help with morning sickness, and a few well-deserved spa days and afternoon naps could help with acne and fatigue. For the sore back that comes from pregnancy, some chiropractic care might help you immensely.

    Chiropractic care while pregnant, if performed by a full-licensed chiropractor, is completely safe.

    There are no known contraindications to chiropractic care during pregnancy. In fact, chiropractors are trained to safely and effectively treat pregnant women. In fact, some researchers suggest that musculoskeletal pain management, such as chiropractic care, ought to become a standard part of obstetric care. Specialized techniques are used to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the abdomen. Also, specialized tables or equipment might be used. These are also to avoid putting undue pressure on the abdomen.

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

    However, few women receive the chiropractic care they need during pregnancy. One study found that 80% of women reported going without treatment for musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy. Also, pain in the first pregnancy has been linked to pain during subsequent pregnancies, so undergoing chiropractic treatment sooner rather than later might have seriously lasting benefits.

    The back aches, leg pain, and loss of balance during pregnancy can be minimized by chiropractic care.

    In preparation for birth, the ligaments in the pelvis lose their rigidity, which can lead to the pelvis becoming unstable. The growing uterus can push and pull the parts of the pelvis and hips into different positions. These changes can both affect pelvic balance and cause low back pain. In fact, thebump.com, a website devoted to all pregnancy-related topics, states:

    “Not only is it safe to visit a chiropractor during your pregnancy, it’s also highly beneficial… Getting regularly adjusted while pregnant is a great way to relieve the added stress on your spine that comes along with the weight gain.”

    In addition to helping you control low back pain, chiropractic adjustment during pregnancy can prevent sciatica. Sciatica is the inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the back of the legs and to the feet. When this nerve is inflamed or damaged, it causes radiating or shooting pain down the buttock, the back of the leg, and potentially all the way to the foot.

    Some medications that could help with the back and leg pain of pregnancy may be contraindicated during pregnancy. Your physician or OB/GYN should be able to provide medications that are completely safe to take while pregnant, but chiropractic care is a great drug-free pain management option for expectant mothers who prefer to use as few medications as possible. It’s still a good idea to discuss pain, medications, and chiropractic care with your physician or OB/GYN, though.

    Chiropractic care while pregnant might also facilitate better-quality sleep.

    Getting enough sleep is vitally important all the time, including during pregnancy. This is largely because once that new baby comes home, sleep will become a rare thing. However, sleep is important for other reasons, too. Researchers at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) compared the amount of sleep women got late in their pregnancies with their labor times and types of birth. It was found that women who got less than six hours of sleep per night during their final month of pregnancy averaged 29 hours of labor, compared to an average of 17.7 hours of labor for women who slept seven or more hours per night.

    Additionally, it was found that compared to women who reported poor sleep two or less nights per week about three weeks before delivery, women who reported poor sleep three to four nights per week were 4.2 times as likely to need a cesarean delivery. Women who reported poor sleep five or more nights per week were 5.3 times as likely to need a cesarean delivery.

    This means that it’s important to take the time to get a good night’s rest as often as possible while pregnant. If your back hurts, it’s hard to sleep; research has even shown that a pregnant woman’s quality of sleep is closely related to back pain. By undergoing chiropractic care during pregnancy, you can improve your sleep and, by extension, perhaps make sure that your labor experience is a little easier.

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

    There are additional ways that chiropractic care during pregnancy can help you have an easier birth.

    When a baby is breech, it’s positioned to come out feet- or bottom-first. The delivery for a breech baby has a higher risk of complications, and most medical professionals recommend a cesarean delivery rather than a vaginal birth. Several options exist to encourage the baby to move into a cephalic (or head-first) position before delivery, and one of these is the Webster Technique. This is a chiropractic adjustment that’s used to encourage the baby to move into the head-first position by correcting the musculoskeletal causes of intrauterine contracture.

    In 2002, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics published the results of a survey about the effectiveness of the Webster Technique. Chiropractors using the Webster Technique reported an 82% success rate at encouraging the baby to move into a cephalic position. This technique has the added benefit of being medication free, unlike some of the other potential ways to encourage a breech baby to move into a cephalic position.

    Chiropractic care while pregnant might also shorten labor time. Women who received chiropractic care during their first pregnancy will experience a labor time that is, on average, 25% shorter. During subsequent pregnancies with chiropractic care, the time spent in labor is reduced by 31% on average.

    There are several ways to find a chiropractor who can provide care during your pregnancy.

    Your OB/GYN or primary care physician might be able to provide recommendations. A local phone book or a quick online search might also yield results. While all chiropractors are trained to provide care to pregnant women, it’s always a good bet to find someone with experience treating pregnant women. Because of this, consider calling a few different chiropractic offices and enquiring about the practitioners’ experience with pregnant women.

    Additionally, online databases provide a quick, easy way to find chiropractors with specific specialties. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), for instance, includes a host of specialty options in its search criteria, including obstetrics and the Webster Technique. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) specializes in providing information about chiropractic care for children, but they also have a search available for Webster Certified Chiropractors.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • Does a pain diary work

    It has long been a common recommendation that chronic patients maintain a pain diary. The idea behind a pain diary is simple. Using either an electronic device or a paper journal, pain patients keep track of:

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

    The theory behind the recommendation is that doctors and patients can gain a better understanding of certain chronic pain syndromes than they might with simple patient reporting at a visit. Keeping track of pain levels allows a patient to give a more accurate reporting than trying to remember them on the day of the visit, especially if the patient is feeling particularly good or bad on the day they see the doctor. In theory, this allows doctors and patients to identify triggers and potentially avert painful episodes by changing behaviors.

    But there is evidence that pain diaries might actually be making pain worse.

    A small-scale study by the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry found that keeping a pain diary actually lengthened the time of recovery for study participants who were recovering from lower back sprains. For four weeks, 58 patients in the study were divided into two equal groups, one of which was asked to keep a pain diary, documenting pain levels, and one of which did not. When patients were re-assessed at the four-month mark, the differences in the two groups were clear.

    Robert Ferrari, a clinical professor in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry’s Department of Medicine and a practicing physician in several Edmonton medical clinics explains the results:

    “What we found is that the group who kept the pain diary — even though we didn’t ask them to keep an extensive diary, and even though many of them didn’t keep a complete diary — had a much worse outcome. The self-reported recovery rates were 52% in the group that kept a pain diary and 79% recovery at three months in the group that did not keep a pain diary. That’s a fairly profound effect. There aren’t many things we do to patients in terms of treatment that affect the recovery for a group by 25%.”

    These results are mirrored in study by Luis F. Buenaver, phd, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. This study included 214 patients suffering from jaw and face pain due to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). This condition can be acute or long-term but is very painful and can lead to sleep disturbances and other painful issues in the neck and upper back.

    Buenaver and his colleagues examined each patient and then distributed questionnaires to ascertain participants’ pain levels, quality of sleep, and emotional response to pain. They were trying to see if patients tended to dwell on pain or exaggerate it. Those patients who did dwell on the pain were unable to shift their focus away from it when winding down for sleep, their pain was rated as much more severe, and patients’ sleep was more disturbed than those patients who did not focus on their pain.

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

    So why do pain specialists continue to recommend keeping a pain diary when it seems as if it may make pain worse?

    A pain diary can be a remarkable communication tool for you and your doctor. If you are living with chronic pain that has yet to be diagnosed, keeping a pain diary can help identify triggers or things that make pain worse. Keeping a pain diary can also identify times of day that pain is most prevalent, and it may be helpful in seeking reasonable work accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

    There are many different ways to keep a pain diary. One of the easiest seems to be using apps for tracking chronic pain, widely available for free or a nominal fee for both iphones and Android operating systems. If you choose to keep a pain diary and want to make it positive and forward-thinking, try these four tips:

    1. Add gratitude: Make a list of five things you are grateful for at the end of every day.
    2. Don’t make pain the focus: Think of it more as a daily journal. When pain symptoms are tracked or specifics are added, circle them or highlight in another color for easy reference, but focus more on telling the whole story of the day.
    3. Think outside of the page: Frida Kahlo, a painter who lived her entire life in excruciating pain, often painted her experiences while lying down. Your pain diary doesn’t have to be just words. You can illustrate your day or create a collage. Add photographs or bits of flotsam from your day (e.g., a key you found on a walk, a ticket stub from a movie, or a note from your child).
    4. Make it totally you: You are not your chronic pain. Yes, pain is part of your daily experience, but it does not make up the entire person you are. Use your pain diary as a way to explore your inner self, not just document an experience from one to ten.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

  • How the brain experiences pain – brain experiences pHow the brain experiences pain

    Pain’s basic purpose is as a warning message for the body: that hurts, so stop it. When pain becomes chronic, though, it can seem utterly senseless, plaguing people for extended periods for no apparent reason. Researchers are constantly studying pain in hopes that a deeper understanding might lead to more effective prevention and treatment of pain.

    Research examines pain responses in infants

    Until recently, it was believed that babies didn’t experience pain in the same way as adults. Indeed, some people suggested that babies’ brains weren’t developed enough to experience pain, as explained in an article from the University of Oxford:

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

    “As recently as the 1980s it was common practice for babies to be given neuromuscular blocks but no pain relief medication during surgery. In 2014 a review of neonatal pain management practice in intensive care highlighted that although such infants

    However, the researchers who published this article reevaluated this thinking. Babies, aged between one and six days, were allowed to fall asleep inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. The babies were then prodded on the bottom of the foot with a retractable rod. This produced a sensation similar to being prodded by a pencil – not quite painful, but enough to produce visible results in the brain’s pain response areas. Adults were then put through the same test.

    Not only did the babies’ brains display a similar pain response as the adults’ brains, but the results suggested that babies actually have a lower pain threshold than adults. This means that a baby will experience a sensation as pain more quickly than an adult will. This research will likely have far-reaching and profound effects, since it will lead to more babies being given the proper pain relief medications before painful procedures.

    The emotional side of pain 

    Anyone who’s experienced long-lasting or severe pain knows that it can easily elicit an emotional response. Now science has proven this as well. Researchers at the TUM School of Medicine gave painful heat stimuli to participants’ hands. The stimuli varied in intensity. Participants were asked to rate their pain on a scale of one to a hundred.

    After a few minutes, the participants began to experience changes in pain, even when the pain stimulus remained unchanged. The pain sensation became detached from the pain stimulus. This suggests that the pain sensation changed from a perception process to a more emotional process. In fact, the researchers watched the brain activity in participants experiencing longer-lasting pain, and the emotional areas of the brain became active.

    These same researchers conducted another experiment that showed anticipation, as well as duration, can affect pain perception. Participants in this experiment were given painful laser pulses on two areas of the back of the hand. Then the participants rated how strongly they’d perceived the pain stimuli. Creams were then applied to both areas of the back of the hand. Neither cream had pain-relieving properties, but the participants were told that one of the creams had a pain–relieving effect.

    After this, the participants rated the stimuli as significantly lower on the area with the allegedly pain-reliving cream. Not only were the participants’ verbal ratings affected, but the second run of this experiment (using the two creams) triggered a different brain activity pattern.

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

    Pain relief may be related to emotions, too

    A study from Ohio State University examined the effects of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. College students viewed photos selected to elicit an emotion response. Each photo was rated on a scale of negative to positive, as well as on a scale of how much of an emotional response it elicited (no emotion to extreme emotion).

    The participants who had taken acetaminophen rated the photos less extremely, compared to participants who had taken placebos. In other words, acetaminophen caused positive photos to be seen in a less positive way, while negative photos were seen in a less negative way. The emotional response was dulled.

    A follow-up study was done, with an added element. Participants were asked to rate how much blue they saw in each photo, in case acetaminophen dulled all perception rather than dulling the emotions. The judgements of how much blue each photo had stayed constant, whether or not participants had taken acetaminophen. This suggests that the drug impacts pain and emotions, but not all perception, giving more credence to the idea that pain and emotion are closely linked.

    The effects of long-term pain on brain function

    York University researchers used eye-tracking technology to see how different people respond to “pain words,” such as ache, agony, distress, and pain. The eye-tracker measures eye-gaze patterns with extreme precision. Professor Joel Katz, Canada Research Chair in Health Psychology and co-author of this study, explained the results, stating:

    “We now know that people with and without chronic pain differ in terms of how, where and when they attend to pain-related words. This is a first step in identifying whether the attentional bias is involved in making pain more intense or more salient to the person in pain.”

    Additionally, scientists from the University of Berne have discovered a neuron modification in a specific area of the brain in mice with chronic pain. This, according to the researchers, is “pain memory.” The presence of this pain memory gave the mice more of an increased number of nerve impulses in these specific cells, which led to an increased pain perception. These researchers found a way to alter the modified pain memory cells in the mice. This makes them hopeful that, eventually, drugs might be developed to create the same change in humans, thereby lowering the increased pain–perception that results from chronic pain.

    As researchers and scientists study pain and its mechanisms, a deeper understanding of pain and its effects will, hopefully, lead to more effective pain management techniques in the future.

    https://fibromyalgia-6.creator-spring.com/
    https://www.teepublic.com/stores/fibromyalgia-store

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

    For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

    References:

    Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

    Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

    Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

    Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

    Fibromyalgia Stores

    Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store