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This section covers Fibromyalia and aims to look at how its been a
largely ignored condition up until the late 80's and early 90's along
with reasons for the condition and it's more commonly experienced
symptoms.
Fibromyalia
causes widespread muscle pain, is first documented medically in reports that
are over 150 years old. It was once regarded as one of the Pain world’s more
difficult puzzles. Even today evidence seems to point to a lot of doctors not
being able to understand it therefore have trouble treating it effectively. In
fact as a condition it was largely ignored until the late 1980’s.
Thankfully
though one of the major underlying causes of Fibromyalia has been discovered
and is being fully researched: Namely, the fact that the bodies serotonin
levels seem to be partly to blame for the condition. Serotonin is a chemical
the body naturally produces to naturally relieve pain. When patients have
received treatment to increase their body’s production of serotonin, many of
them have reported excellent results in the reduction of their pain.
This does
not change the fact thought that it is a very serious condition. 20% of
patients who have Fibromyalia are disabled with it, and a further 30% find it
necessary to quit their jobs and find a less physical or strenuous form of work
instead. It usually starts between the ages of 20 and 50, and is most commonly
found in women rather than men. A particularly common time for women to start
experiencing Fibromyalia is during the early part of their menopause. However
that said about the age of the average Fibromyalia patient, it is starting to
become common place in teenagers too or in early childhood with this age
bracket accounting for 20% of Fibromyalia patients.
The
condition has three criteria to diagnose it as Fibromyalia. Until the criteria
for diagnosis was developed in America in the early 1990’s Fibromyalia
was frequently misdiagnosed which of course made treatment of it variable at
best.
The three diagnostic criteria for Fibromyalia
are:
1.
The
pain must be on both side of the body, above and below the waist
2.
The
pain must be present for at least 3 months
3.
There
must be pain in 11 of 18 localised “tender points”.
Associated Symptoms of Fibromyalia
·
Insomnia
·
Headaches
·
IBS
– Irritable Bowel Syndrome
·
Painful
Periods/Menstruation
·
Poor
circulation in the extremities
·
TMJ
Pain (Temporomandibular joint of the jaw)
·
Restless
legs
·
Irritable
Bladder Syndrome
·
Cognitive
difficulties (concentration and short term memory problems)
·
A
feeling of swelling or/and tingling
·
Anxiety
and Depression
·
Dryness
of the eyes and mouth
·
Lack
of muscle Strength
Treatments of Fibromyalia
·
Nutritional
Therapy
·
Physical
Therapy
·
Medication
to increase serotonin production in the body
·
Relaxation
techniques
Your doctor
will be able to advise you on which therapies are suitable for your
Fibromyalia. Or if after reading this chapter you think that your pain might
be Fibromyalia, please do go and see your doctor who will be able to confirm
or dismiss this possibility for you.
Note:
As always, I am not a doctor, just a pain-patient like you. I have no medical
qualifications and all information on this page has been garnered from research
online or from pain books. You must consult your doctor before reacting to
anything featured on this site. Thanks.
Update: November 23rd 2005
Website member "Kathy_from_England" has posted a long detailed post
about this subject on the message board and its well worth a read.
http://chronicpainsupport.ostomyland.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2
Written by: Jason D.
Webmaster and Chronic Neuropathic Pain Sufferer
www.chronicpainsupport.info
www.ostomysupport.info
Source: The Pain Cure - D S Khalsa Copyright © by Chronic Pain Support All Right Reserved.
Published on: 2005-11-04
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