Fibromalgia

[Nicodemus]

Just wondered if any of you Lit Medical people had any insight, info, experience with fibromalgia. My s/o suffers from it and is having a really rough time right now. I am trying to get any and all new info I can to help out.

Thanks for any help, info, or websites.

Nic,

 

[thumbs2_ca]

damn it sucks.

I will send you some web sites etc. I am on my way out the door right now going to work.
My SO has been sufferering through that for the last 3 years and it has kept her from working.

 

[RhumbRunner13]

Here you go, Nic

More info than you can possibly want...

my.webmd.com

RhumbRunner

Good luck

 

[Nicodemus]

Thanks, any and all info is appreciated.

 

[DustyWolfe]

I've suffered from the pains of FMS for many years, I can help you out if you like and offer some insight and hints on things you can do. It's a liveable disease fortunately, but very painful and exhausting. There are things that can be done to ease the pain and treat symptoms. I've found that Vioxx does wonders for my pain levels, as well as a hot bath and trying not to get stressed out. Stress makes everything worse. As far as immune system, taking vitamins and echinacea is a really smart idea.

 

[Gingersnap]

Some get great results from accupressure and accupuncture treatments. Just look in the local phone book there are usually support groups for family and friends of those with the disease.

 

[lilfrk]

I've had fibromyalgia for almost 10 years. It's a wicked thing to live with. It's a lot of trial and error to find a Doctor and a treatment that works.

Here's some links that you can start with. If you need anymore info please feel free to PM or e-mail me. I'll help anyway I can. I wish you both luck.


http://my.webmd.com/condition_center/fms?z=3074_00000_1008_00_05


http://fibrohugs.com/

 

[SexySlut2]

I don't have any info, but I do want to say thanks to the people who posted some links. My mom has been living with it for 8 years now.

 

[dreamer]

My mom as well as been dealing with it for a decade or so. Unfortunately other problems have kinda pushed it into the background of late.

My two cents are take advantage of the days when she's feeling pretty good, and be there to comfort when she's not. It's such a complicated disease with so many different treatments. Good luck finding a Dr that has a positive and aggressive approach.

 

[Nicodemus]

Thank you all for the time you have taken to look in on this and answer. I really appreciate it......it is complicated in that we have had relationship issues and ending our marrige is a very sore topic between us......

Despite that I am trying to give what ever help I can since this makes spliting up a secondary issue. She is suffering alot and right now worring about her health and work and all that so....

Anyway, thanks again to all that have repsonded. I will be looking into the leads you have given.

Nic,

 

[LMT]

Declaration of the 1992 World Congress on Moyfascial Pain and Fibromyalgia Synrome.

“Fibromyalgia is a painful, non-articular disorder... it is the most common cause of chronic widespread musclo-skeletal pain. It is typically associated with persistent fatigue, non-refreshing sleep, and generalized stiffness. Women are affected some 10 to 20 times more often than men.

Fibromyalgis is often part of a wider syndrome encompassing” headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder, dysmenorrhea, cold sensitivity, Ryaud’s phenomenon, restless legs, atypical patterns of numbness and tingling, exercise intolerance.

A varying proportion of fibromyalgia patients experience significant depression or anxiety which may contribute to the severity of symptoms result from having chronic pain. Typically symptoms are worse during periods of cold or damp weather, at the beginning / end of the day, and during periods of emotional stress.”


From Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary

“Fibromyalgia [“ + Gr. Mys, muscle +algos, pain]. Chronic pain in muscles and soft tissues surrounding joints. Efforts to classify this condition have resulted in the American College of Rheuatology criteria for classification of fibromyalgia:

1. History of widespread pain.
Definition: Pain is considered widespread when all the following are present – pain in the left side of the body, pain in the right side of the body, pain above the waist, and pain below the waist. In addition, axial skeletal pain (cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine, or low back) must be present. In this definition, shoulder and buttock pain is considered as pain for each involved side. ‘Low back’ pain is considered lower segment pain.

2. Pain in 11 of 18 tender point sites on digital palpation
Definition: On digital palpation, pain must be present in at least 11 of the following 18 tender point sites:
· Occiput [base of the skull]
· Lower Cervical
· Trapezius
· Supraspinatus [located just above the scapula, below the Trapezius muscle]
· Second rib
· Lateral epicondyle [outside of the elbows]
· Gluteal
· Greator Trochanter [the bony promince on the femur closest to the hip joint]
· Medial Knee [inside of the knees]

Digital palpation should be performed with approximate force of 4 kg. For a tender point to be considered ‘positive,’ the subject must state that the palpation was painful. ‘Tender’ is not to be considered ‘painful.’

TREAT: A variety of therapeutic approaches have been tried. Essential to the management of this condition are reassurance, elimination of the contributing factors, physical therapy with the objective restoration of normal neuromuscular function, institution of a cardiovascular fitness program, and appropriate medications for sleep disturbances. Anti-inflammatory agents including corticosteroids, have not been useful in the experience of some investigators.”

Essentially FMS is an ideopathatic syndrome [the pathology is not understood]; therefore there are no tests that are conclusive in the diagnosis of the disorder. Other disorders with similar symptoms must first be ruled out, such as: Anemia, Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, carcinoma, dysglycemias, MS, and infections.

The current theory in some of the more current medical literature is that the dysfunction is located in central nervous system [hypothalamic – pituitary – adrenal] causing an over stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system [which is responsible for the fight or flight response]. Here is a link to one of the more current articles on the subject from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics. Hope this helps.