Fibromyalgia


COMBINATION OF CONVENTIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS CAN LEAD TO SATISFYING AND LASTING RECOVERY FROM FIBROMYALGIA

Introduction

Fibromyalgia is the most common disease affecting the joints after osteoarthritis.

  • Still, it is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood.
  • Fibromyalgia can cause signs and feelings similar to osteoarthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis. Some experts include it in this group of arthritis and related disorders.
  • But the pain of bursitis or tendinitis is localized to a specific area. The feelings of pain and stiffness with fibromyalgia are widespread.

What is the impact of Fibromyalgia in one’s  quality of life?

According to CDC, Fibromyalgia is a disorder of unknown etiology (or cause) characterized by widespread pain, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbance, fatigue and often psychological distress. People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms; such as,

  • Morning stiffness
  • Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
  • Headaches, including migraines
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called “fibro fog”)
  • Painful menstrual periods and other pain syndromes
  • People with fibromyalgia react strongly (abnormal pain perception processing) to things that other people would not find painful.

According to Dr. Teitelbaum, an expert on Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia or Fibromyalgia syndrome (abbreviated FM or FMS respectively ), is characterized by muscle pain. The painful muscles can be all over the body, or may be painful only at specific spots in the body. These painful areas can remain consistent or be transient. FM pain is caused by a shortening, or tightening of the muscles. These muscles need restorative sleep and optimal nutrition, among other things, in order to relax and heal (see the SHINE approach To CFS and Fibromyalgia Treatment). Since CFS/FM sufferers rarely achieve restorative (stage 3 and 4) sleep, these muscles stay knotted and painful. For most sufferers, FM and CFS are the same illness. However, some people have fatigue without pain, and others have pain without fatigue.

The impact of having Fibromyalgia on people’s lives is noteworthy. The impact comes from the tremendous physical and psychological strains that come with FMS. Those strains can lead to loss of work hours, reduced income, and even loss of a job. Consequently, Fibromyalgia can lead to depression and social isolation. Sadly many are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and if diagnosed are inadequately treated.

  • In many cases consulting with holistic practitioners or resorting to alternative treamtments may be needed to achieve complete recovery from fatigue. The following is an excerpt from Dr. Teitelbaum’s CFS/FMS Treatment Protocol to demonstrate how holistic practitioners may treat differently.

“Thyroid supplementation - several studies show that thyroid therapies can be very helpful in CFIDS/FMS - even if your blood tests are normal. This treatment is, however, very controversial - even though it’s usually very safe. All treatments (even aspirin) can cause problems in some people though. ” Read more

This author can certainly relate to what people  who are afflicted with Fibromyalgia have had to endure.

Why the title Up Close and Personal? “I see it up close in my patients and I deal with it on a personal basis every day,” says Dr. Pellegrino, himself an FM sufferer. “I understand Fibromyalgia.”

Dr. Pellegrino - an MD who is also board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry) - has devoted his life to treating FM patients. Known as a welcoming and encouraging physician, he is also among the most experienced and up-to-date. In Up Close and Personal, his 10th book on the subject, he has distilled the lessons learned treating more than 15,000 patients in 20 years of private practice at the Ohio Rehab Center. The simple philosophy: “To find whatever works.”

Recognized by Fibromyalgia sufferers for understanding what they are going through, Dr. Pellegrino is a welcoming and encouraging presence for everyone with this condition and this quality comes through very clearly in his writing. It’s as if each person reading his book is having a private consultation with Dr. Pellegrino about their shared disease. He opens his book by saying: ‘I have Fibromyalgia. I am also a Fibromyalgia survivor.

How common is Fibromyalgia?

  • According to Center For Disease Control or CDC, an estimated 5 million adults were reported to have Fibromyalgia in 2005. The women with Fibromyalgia far outnumbered the men by a ratio of 7 to 1.
  • More recently it was estimated that more than 12 million Americans have Fibromyalgia. Most of them are women ranging in age from 25 to 60. Notably, women are 10 times more likely to get this disease than men.
  • Most people are diagnosed during middle age and prevalence of Fibromyalgia increases with age.
  • Fibromyalgia may often co-exist (up to 25-65%) with other rheumatic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

What causes Fibromyalgia?

  • Causes and/or risk factors for fibromyalgia are unknown, but some things have been loosely associated with the onset of the illness
    • Genetic predisposition
    • Stressful or traumatic events, such as car accidents,
    • post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    • Repetitive injuries
    • Illness (e.g. viral infections)
    • Certain diseases
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or SLE,
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA,
      • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CSF

What are the primary  symptoms  of Fibromyalgia? Read more….

What are the  other Symptoms Fibromyalgia  and what other illnesses or conditions co-exist with it? What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome ? Read more…

What Treatment Plan Works For Fibromyalgia? Read more…

Interested in DVD about Fibromyalgia Issues? Click here to find out more.

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The information in this website is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Inspire.Equip.Achieve., LLC cannot be held liable for decisions made by the visitors based on what they read here. OvercomeFatigue.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Read more…


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