Soak In a Warm Bath

Soaking in a warm bath, hot tub, or sauna or standing under a warm shower will serve two purposes. First, it will help you to relax tense muscles, reduce pain, and move more easily. Second, some studies show that the warm, moist heat may raise levels of endorphins and decrease levels of stress hormones. There may be an additional benefit as well. Healthcare professionals that specialize in sleep disorders have found that a warm bath before bedtime can help sleep be more restful.

FM Information

Definition:

Fibromyalgia (fie-bro-my-al-jia) is a chronic musculoskeletal syndrome characterized by pain, achiness, tenderness, and stiffness in the muscle tissue, ligaments, and tendons. It most frequently affects the neck, shoulders, chest, legs, and lower back. Pain is generally accompanied by sleep disorders, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, and depression. Many of its symptoms are similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, and temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).

Common Name: Fibrositis

What Are the Symptoms?

There are many symptoms and everyone that has fibromyalgia will not experience the same symptoms. Pain is the most prominent symptom. Other symptoms are morning stiffness, frequent urination, fatigue, tingling sensations in the hands, arms, feet and face; sleep disturbances, migraine headaches, abdominal pain, anxiety, bloating, and alternate periods of diarrhea and constipation. Symptoms can occur anywhere between 20-55 years of age.

How Many People Have Fibromyalgia? 

Fibromyalgia is more common than most people realize. As many as 3% to 6% of all people have fibromyalgia. It is less common in older adults, and more women have it than men.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, fibromyalgia affects 3 to 6 million Americans. It primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, but children, the elderly, and men can also be affected.

Statistics

- About 10 to 25 percent of patients with Lyme disease develop fibromyalgia. 
- About half of patients with fibromyalgia report that their symptoms began suddenly during or after a flu-like illness. 
- 14 to 23 percent of patients with fibromyalgia report that their symptoms began following a physical injury or trauma such as surgery. 
- Fibromyalgia is the second most common diagnosis in rheumatology clinics. 
- Seven to ten million Americans suffer from Fibromyalgia. 
- It affects women much more than men in an approximate ratio of 20:1. 
- Fibromyalgia affects about 6 million Americans. 
- It is estimated that approximately 3-6% of the U.S. population has Fibromyalgia

Treatment

There is no proven prevention for this disorder. Maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits is believed to help prevent most illness. Likewise do good sleep habits and stress coping skills. If, despite your best efforts, you develop the symptoms of Fibromyalgia, contact your health-care provider. The only way you can adequately treat any illness symptoms is by pinpointing as best is possible what is causing those symptoms. That includes ruling out other conditions that can mimic the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.

How is it treated?

The most successful treatment for fibromyalgia is a healthy diet and balanced exercise and rest.

1) Medication to improve deep sleep. 
2) Regular sleep hours and an adequate amount of sleep. 
3) Daily gentle aerobic exercise and stretching. 
4) Avoidance of over exertion and stress. 
5) Treatment of any coexisting sleep disorders. 
6) Patient education

Medication by itself is of little value in treating fibromyalgia. Successful treatment demands the patient's active involvement in treatment as well as lifestyle changes. Each of the six parts of treatment above is important. If any one is omitted, the chance of significant improvement is considerably reduced

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is commonly diagnosed only after other diseases with similar symptoms are ruled out. There are no laboratory tests available: no changes in muscle tissue have shown on any type of imaging procedure. Diagnosis depends on self-reported symptoms, and a physical examination showing multiple tender points at specific locations.

H1N1 (Swine Flu) & Vaccines With Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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Men & Fibromyalgia Survey

The Men’s Health Network, has posted a Men & Fibromyalgia Survey on its website.

Click here to take the quiz.

Learn To Say No

Failing to set personal limits or not saying "no" to too many demands will put you in overload. That will add to your already elevated stress level. To help yourself say "no" to a persuasive friend think through the situation before you answer. Check your calendar, and weigh the alternatives. Involve family members or friends in the discussion about what to do. Would another commitment stop you from getting the rest, exercise, and relaxation you need to feel well? Would it interfere with the priorities that are high on your list? The desire to help others is commendable. But being all things to all people may be hindering your healing and making you feel resentful, tired, and depressed. It's important to take a firm stand, say "no," and mean it.

Delayed Food Sensitivities and Fibromyalgia

I thought this was quite interesting.

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Minimize Stress In Your Life

There's speculation that stress may play an important role in triggering fibromyalgia symptoms. In fact, many people with fibromyalgia tell of feeling anxious, nervous, and panicked around the time when fibromyalgia symptoms flare. Some experts find that when fibromyalgia patients reduce stress in their lives, they also experience a reduction in depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Sleep becomes more restful and their minds relax. Because they feel more in control, the symptoms that were once immobilizing subside, and quality of life improves.

Men Are Also fibromyalgia Patients

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The chronic pain syndrome fibromyalgia, which most often occurs in women, can also affect men -- not only as patients, but as caregivers, U.S. researchers say.

"Although 10 percent to 20 percent of fibromyalgia patients are males, few scientific studies have been done in this population," Lynne Matallana of the National Fibromyalgia Association says in a statement.

The National Fibromyalgia Association and the American Pain Foundation are joining with the Men's Health Network in conducting an online survey.

"This survey will help us understand what men know, or more importantly don't know, about fibromyalgia, its symptoms, and a man's willingness to discuss any pain, discomfort, fatigue and other signs of the condition with his physician," Scott Williams of Men's Health Network says.

"Fibromyalgia has a reputation of affecting more women than men, but I am certain that the disease is far more prevalent in men than is reported in the data," Will Rowe of American Pain Foundation says. "It's a perfect disease to stay under the radar for men since men are saddled with the harmful belief that pain is something to endure and not report."

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Will Neurontin Work as Well as Lyrica for Fibromyalgia?

Expert Bryan Arling's advice on Cymbalta, Savella, and other treatment options for fibromyalgia

By Bryan Arling, M.D.

Posted August 19, 2009

Lyrica is prescribed for fibromyalgia, but its cost is excessive. Will Neurontin deliver the same relief? 

Bryan Arling, M.D.: Lyrica (pregabalin) blocks calcium channels in the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. It is used to control seizures and also painful peripheral neuropathy such as that seen in some diabetics, some people after an outbreak of shingles (also known as post-herpetic neuralgia), or in nerve compression syndromes such as spinal stenosis and herniated lumbar discs. It has been found to be helpful in a significant percentage of people with fibromyalgia. Neurontin (gabapentin) is structurally similar to Lyrica and has a similar mechanism of action. Both are structurally related to the neural transmitter GABA, but neither drug seems to affect GABA uptake, release, or degradation. Both drugs can cause sleepiness, so it is good to start with a relatively low dose and gradually build up therapeutic levels. Likewise, one should taper off both drugs over a week or two to prevent seizures or other withdrawal symptoms.

I feel that it is essential that all patients thought to have fibromyalgia have their vitamin D3-25 levels checked. A significant number of these patients will be found to be vitamin D deficient, and many of their aches and pains will improve if they take 2,000 to 4,000 units of vitamin D3 a day.

Returning to an exercise program is one of the most helpful things that fibromyalgia patients can do. They need to start with very light exercise for just a few minutes and then gradually increase the intensity and duration of their exercise as their body allows them to do so. Additionally, one should do everything possible to optimize good sleep habits because symptoms often improve when the quality and duration of sleep improve.

Two other drugs have received FDA approval in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Cymbalta (duloxetine) and the just-released drug Savella (milnacipran) block the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin and hence are known as SNRIs, for serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. There are other SNRIs available that may have benefits in fibromyalgia and may be less expensive. This would be an off-label use, and patients should find physicians who have used these other SNRIs in fibromyalgia patients.

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