EXPERT ADVICE ON FIBROMYALGIA

EXPERT ADVICE ON FIBROMYALGIA
(From “You” magazine, 13th May 2007)

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition affecting about five percent of the population, mostly women of childbearing age. The outstanding feature is pain, especially soreness or stiffness of the muscles, tendons and ligaments. The type and intensity of the pain can vary enormously and can occur anywhere in the body. It may be widespread or it can be limited to just one area. Women typically experience more generalised pain, whereas men tend to develop symptoms in one region, such as the shoulders.

Although not life threatening, fibromyalgia can be debilitating and distressing. Symptoms typically begin in one’s teens or twenty’s and may come and go in cycles.

They include:

Pain: mostly deep, muscular aching that burns, throbs or stabs. Pain and stiffness are often worse in the mornings.

Fatigue: feeling drained of energy and unable to concentrate; this can vary from mild to incapacitating.

Sleep Disorders: disturbed sleep patterns cause sufferers to wake up feeling exhausted.

Chemical Sensitivity: about half of all sufferers experience sensitivity to smells, foods, medications, noise and bright lights.

Chronic Headaches: affect about half of all patients.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: 40 to 70 percent experience diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating and wind.

Other Common Symptoms: are dizziness or lightheadedness, menstrual cramping, jaw pain and numbness or tingling sensations.

With fibromyalgia it is important to separate the cause from the “triggering event”.
A study published last year (2006) by rheumatologist Dr. Daniel Clauw from the University of Michigan showed that patients with fibromyalgia found any touch or pressure to be painful. This may be down to certain chemical and/or hormonal imbalances: Sufferers have higher than normal levels of “Substance P”, a neurotransmitter carrying pain signals to the brain, and lower than normal levels of “Serotonin” and “Noradrenalin”, which moderate pain.

Fibromyalgia tends to run in families, and researchers have now identified genes that may be involved in the supersensitivity.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome, as it is known, is usually triggered by events such as a viral infection, emotional stress, injury or exposure to some drugs or chemicals (e.g. fumes of volatile solvents).

Many doctors refuse to believe that fibromyalgia is a real disease, especially since patients often look well, and objective tests are found to be normal. Also, the list of symptoms can be common to many conditions and can also be stress related, both of which make diagnosis difficult.

Suggested ways to Manage Fibromyalgia:

1. One of the most effective remedies is to take regular, moderate, physical activity for at least 30 minutes each day. Muscle pain may increase during exercise, but usually goes within 30 minutes. Stretching and low impact aerobic activity are best (e.g. swimming, walking, yoga, stationary bikes or elliptical trainers). If your symptoms are linked to ME, exercise may be counterproductive, so check with your GP.

2. The Feldenkrais Method, which features gentle movement exercises, helps correct poor posture or habits that may be contributing to pain (feldonkrais.co.uk)

3. Correct any sleeping disorder This is critical for reducing pain and improving energy and mode. Try the herbal sedative “Valerian” to help you to come off sleeping pills. Your GP may possibly refer you to a sleep specialist.

4.Use Relaxation Techniques.Studies show that sufferers benefit greatly from meditation, yoga and breath work.

5.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can teach you ways of coping with symptoms and stress. Your GP can refer you, although there may be a waiting list.

6. Acupuncture or Light Swedish Massage can temporarily relieve pain and stiffness, and thus help towards recovery in the longer term.

7. Follow an Anti-inflammatory diet, eating ginger and turmeric regularly, or taking supplements containing them. Try a daily anti-oxidant multivitamin mineral, plus 250mg of magnesium and 500-700mg of calcium daily to help relax and maintain healthy nerves and muscles.