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New PSA to show scientific link to Fibromyalgia

The 60-second PSA reveals recent scientific findings attributing fibromyalgia (FM) to a problem of the central nervous system, involving the brain and the spinal cord.

Using functional MRI scans, researchers have discovered that people with FM have increased activity in the areas of the brain dealing with pain, resulting in an abnormal response and a hyper-sensitivity to painful stimulus. This information is important because it gives legitimacy to an illness previously believed by many in the medical profession to be a psychosomatic condition. The NFA hopes to change that attitude with the PSA and continues to raise funds to increase the distribution of “The Science Behind Fibromyalgia” campaign.
                            Source: National Fibromyalgia Association, www.fmaware.org

New FM Research Shows Several Neurologic Correlations

Fibromyalgia isn't all in your head, new research suggests.

In a study, researchers found that people with fibromyalgia were more likely than those without the chronic pain condition to have poor balance, tingling and weakness in the arms and legs, and other "neurologic" signs and symptoms.

Fibromyalgia, a debilitating pain syndrome that affects 2 to 4 percent of the population, is characterized by chronic pain, fatigue and difficulty sleeping. It's a somewhat mysterious condition with no clear-cut cause. Many people with fibromyalgia have faced the question of whether the condition is real.

The new findings, reported in the latest issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism, support a growing body of literature suggesting that the condition is real and also support the possibility that a "neuroanatomical" cause may underlie fibromyalgia.

Dr. Nathaniel F. Watson, of the University of Washington Medicine Sleep Institute at Harborview, Seattle, and colleagues studied 166 people with fibromyalgia and 66 pain-free controls.

All of them were examined by a neurologist who was unaware of their disease status. All study participants also completed a standard questionnaire on neurologic symptoms.

In 27 of 29 neurological categories tested, significantly more neurologic symptoms were seen in the fibromyalgia group than in the control group, Watson and colleagues found.

The greatest differences were found for light sensitivity, or "photophobia," seen in 70 percent of fibromyalgia patients but in only 6 percent of pain-free controls; poor balance, which plagued 63 percent of fibromyalgia patients but only 4 percent of controls; and weakness and tingling in the arms or legs, seen in more than half of fibromyalgia patients but in only around 4 percent of controls.

In addition, those with fibromyalgia had greater dysfunction than controls in certain nerves in the brain. They also had more "sensory" problems, motor abnormalities and gait problems.

Within the fibromyalgia group, there were significant correlations between several neurologic signs and symptoms. For example, numbness in any part of the body or tingling in the arms or legs correlated with neurologic test findings. Poor balance, poor coordination and weakness in the arms or legs also correlated with objective findings on neurologic tests.

These observations, Watson told Reuters Health, underscore the need for "careful neurological examinations in all fibromyalgia patients, particularly those with neurological complaints."

Watson cautioned that this study does not confirm a neuroanatomical basis for fibromyalgia and that much more work is necessary before this can be known with certainty.

SOURCE: Arthritis and Rheumatism, September 2009.                                            
                                Source: National Fibromyalgia Association, www.fmaware.org

Skin Complaints in Fibromyalgia

From rashes to break outs, skin complaints associated with fibromyalgia are numerous. While most of these skin problems are not health threats, they can be very annoying. If you suffer from fibromyalgia and notice that you are having skin problems, consult with your health care provider. He may be able to provide you with appropriate treatment.

Skin Problems
Pretty much all of us have suffered from some type of skin complaint at some point in our lives. Many of us were acne sufferers as teenagers and everyone suffers from dry or itchy skin at one time or another. Though skin problems can be difficult to treat and very frustrating, most of the time we can deal with them.

However, fibromyalgia sufferers seem to battle an unfair share of skin problems. In fact, it is thought that between 70% and 80% of people with fibromyalgia suffer from skin problems associated with their illness. On top of these skin problems, these complaints often make fibromyalgia symptoms even worse. Dry itchy skin can make sleeping difficult, and increase pain and fatigue. Skin problems can also make it hard to choose clothes to wear, to eat certain foods, or just carry on with daily life.

Types of Skin Complaints Seen in Fibromyalgia
There are a number of different types of skin problems that manifest themselves in fibromyalgia. Many of them occur alongside one another or become chronic problems.

Dry Skin: Many fibromyalgia sufferers are plagued with chronically dry cracked skin. This dry flaky skin can appear anywhere on the body, but it particularly affects the hands and fingers. Sometimes this dry skin will begin to peel and cause pain and discomfort.

Itchy Skin: Itchy skin is usually one of the most common skin complaints among fibromyalgia patients. Many people are plagued with itchy skin rashes all over the body. Sometimes, over-scratching of the skin can lead to the development of sores or infection.

Mottled Skin: The skin of fibromyalgia sufferers often begins to change color, appearance, or tone. Dark spots can appear all over the body, particularly on the inside of the forearms and thighs. Exposure to the sun can darken these spots or causes them to become red and swollen.

Tender Skin: A lot of fibromyalgia sufferers report that their skin actually hurts when it is touched. Referred to as allodynia, this sensitive skin can cause numerous problems, from redness and swelling, to bruising and scarring. This tender skin often prevents fibromyalgia sufferers from participating in daily life.

Rashes: A rash often develops on the body as a result of dry skin and itching. These skin rashes appear as raised bumps on the skin, and can often be scaly to the touch.

Causes of Skin Problems
The causes of skin problems in fibromyalgia are still a mystery to doctors, scientists, and researchers. No one is really sure why the skin is so badly affected by the illness.

Tender skin (allodynia) may be a direct result of a dysfunction in the brain’s central nervous system. Fibromyalgia prevents the brain from reading pain signals correctly, and this may cause the skin to feel sore or tender to the touch.

Itchiness may also be a result of pain signals being misunderstood by the brain. Receptors under the skin are responsible for sending messages about what we are feeling to the brain. Sometimes these receptors don’t know how to interpret certain sensory messages and, as a result, our skin feels itchy. Fibromyalgia sufferers may feel more itchy than usual because of the fact that there are already existing problems with the brain’s ability to interpret pain signals.

Skin discoloration may be the result of an overactive pituitary gland in the brain. The pituitary gland is responsible for producing melanocyte-stimulating hormone. This hormone produces melanin in the body, which creates pigment in the eyes, skin, and hair. For some reason, there appears to be too much melanin in the skin of fibromyalgia sufferers.

Treatment for Skin Problems
There are numerous treatments available to help ease the side effects associated with many of the skin disorders caused by fibromyalgia. You should speak with your health care provider about your symptoms in order to find the treatment that’s right for you.

  • heavy creams and moisturizers are good for relieving dry, cracked skin. After taking a warm bath, these creams should be applied generously to all affected areas.
  • prescription creams containing corticosteroids are available for particularly troublesome dry skin
  • mottled skin can be treated using bleaching creams or ultraviolet light therapies        

Warning- Skin issues may also be indicative of a reaction to various pain medications. Please consult your doctor if symptoms continue.         

                                 Source: Fibromyalgia Symptoms; www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org

Antidepressants and the Treatment of Pain
Individuals with fibromyalgia may wonder why antidepressants are sometimes used to treat their pain, especially if they are not depressed. In addition to depression, antidepressants have been shown to be an effective treatment option for other disorders, including chronic pain, sleep disorders and anxiety disorders. In fact, research from the University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne in Switzerland, which analyzed studies on pain and antidepressants published from 1991 to March 2008, showed that antidepressants are an essential part of the therapeutic strategy when treating chronic pain.

For instance, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline—prescribed at a lower dose than when used to treat depression—have been shown to have a powerful impact on pain symptoms as well as disordered sleep problems. Not all antidepressants are effective for FM symptoms, however; serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac have not proven effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia pain.

Two medications used to treat depression have even been FDA-approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Cymbalta and Savella, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, are thought to be effective in treating fibromyalgia because of the norepinephrine component. (Though many people have experienced symptom relief through use of these medications, their effectiveness varies from person to person, just like any other treatment option.)

When a healthcare provider prescribes a medication to treat a condition other than the one that medication is designed (or approved) for, that is called “off-label prescribing.” This is a common, medically accepted practice, as in the case of people with fibromyalgia who do not have depression—but have been prescribed an antidepressant. So if your doctor broaches the subject of antidepressants (other than Cymbalta and Savella) with you, listen to the reason why. He may not be assuming that you have depression, but may in fact be offering you an off-label treatment option.
                                   Source- National Fibromaylgia Association, www.fmaware.org

Thyroid and FMS

"Your thyroid is normal according to the tests," says the doctor. People are often relieved to hear this news. But as a fibromyalgia patient, you may have second thoughts because you continue to feel run down and weak despite lots of extra sleep.

Patients with fibromyalgia are more prone to have an underactive thyroid, even when test results come back in the “normal” range. The thyroid is a gland in your neck that helps set your metabolism. If your thyroid is not active enough, you could feel exhausted, be gaining weight despite a reduced appetite, and have a hard time dealing with cold temperatures, among other symptoms.
                          Source- Fibromyalgia Network, www.fmnetnews.com

L-Carnitine Use for Energy Production

L-carnitine transports fatty acids and toxic compounds out of the body to prevent their accumulation in the heart, liver, and muscles. In addition, it increases the effectiveness of anti-oxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C. Studies have shown that after six months of taking the supplement, patients saw a decrease in physical and mental fatigue, better cognitive function, a decrease in body fat mass, and an increase in muscle mass.
                        Source- Vitamin World supplemental report
 
New Congressional Bills to Benefit FMS Patients
Funding Allocated for Fibromyalgia Research: The Omnibus Appropriations Acts, 2009 (H.R. 1105) has been approved by congress and the president. The appropriations bill, which became public law on March 11, 2009, includes language specific to the funding of scientific research for fibromyalgia.
     
Pain Care Policy: The House of Representatives passed the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 on March 30 (H.R. 756). Designed to improve pain management and address the barriers to patients’ access to pain care, the bill has been introduced to the Senate and referred to a committee (S. 660).
                              Source- National Fibromyalgia Association, www.fmaware.org
 
Use of Natural Supplements for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia
      from seminar by Dr Steve Willen, Fibromyalgia Solutions Center of the Triad
      1. Fibromyalgia patients show depletion in seratonin, the "emotional" chemical in the brain.
            a) Normal seratonin levels (high) give the ability to go to sleep within 30 minutes of going to bed and few interruptions in that sleep- low seratonin results in difficulty going
               sleep and problems with frequent interruptions in that sleep.
            b) Normal seratonin levels create a high pain threshold- low seratonin results in a low pain threshold.
            c) Normal seratonin levels result in good digestive processes- low seratonin creates a myriad of digestive issues.
      2. SSRI's and SSNRI's (i.e. Paxil, Zoloft, Cymbalta, etc) are re-uptake inhibitors, meaning they will use what seratonin is existing within the body at the time of beginning the
         prescription and "recycle" it to mimic normal seratonin levels.
      3. The ideal situation is to restore the depleted seratonin to the body which can be done by taking 5HTP, an amino acid that restores the natural seratonin to the body thus
         thus helping the sleep, pain, bowel, and emotional issues caused by the depletion of the seratonin that results from the fibromyalgia.
      4. Fibromyalgia patients also show weakening in the adrenal glands- the stress coping glands- that release hormones during restful sleep  to allow the body to adequately
         deal with stress.
            a) Weakened adrenal glands will cause an overall lack of energy and dizziness when standing.
            b) Naturally restoring these hormones through supplements will help to replenish what the adrenal glands are unable to produce.
            c) To test the effectiveness of the adrenal glands, you can use the Ragland Test- lie down and take a resting blood pressure, stand and immediately retake the blood
               pressure. If the adrenal glands are normal, the systolic (top) number will increase upon standing. Fibromyalgia patients or any others with conditions weakening the
               adrenal glands will show no change in the systolic number upon standing.
            d) Eat foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids or use an Omega-3 supplement to help replenish what is lost from weakened adrenal glands.
      5. Other natural supplements can assist with the treatment of the pain associated with fibromyalgia.
            a) High doses of magnesium help with relaxation of the muscles.
            b) Malic acid is a natural anti-inflammatory.
      As with any medical intervention, natural or otherwise, all treatment should be supervised by a doctor. DO NOT stop taking prescription medications without
      consulting with your doctor and DO NOT stop medications suddenly and all at once.
                     Source- Dr Steve Willen, D.C., Fibromyalgia Solutions Center of the Triad
 
 
New Medication Guidelines
While patients are rightfully concerned about not receiving adequate pain relief, physicians harbor fears about drug abuse, safety issues, and government oversight. New clinical guidelines for the use of chronic opioid therapy in chronic non-cancer pain patients, developed by consensus of the American Pain Society and the American Academy of Pain Medicine, may ease both patient and physician concerns.
Read the highlights of what these new guidelines mean to you in the Latest News Section of our website.
                     Source- Fiibromyalgia Network; www.fmnetnews.com
 
Diagnosis Checklist- what to do when you have a diagnosis of a life-changing illness
     1. Bring support
     2. Don't forget to breathe
     3. Find a health advocate
     4. Get a second opinion
     5. Become an expert on your illness
                     Source: The Oprah Winfrey Show- Dr Mehmet Oz
 
Relieving Morning Stiffness
You’ll be happy to know that what is causing your morning stiffness can be avoided or corrected. Here are 10 easy things you can do to make a big difference in your life.
  1. Be sure to get ample deep sleep so your body can repair and recharge.  Forget about those troubles or conversations or tasks that need addressing; they can be handled tomorrow. Also, be sure to sleep either on your side or on your back, as stomach sleeping causes unnecessary stress on the low back and spine.
  2. If your room is drafty, seal the windows or door. If it is cold, try a space heater or use extra blankets to prevent that cold or dampness from stiffening your body.
  3. Do some easy stretches while lying in bed, then sitting up in bed, such as bending to the front and sides. This will stretch and loosen the muscles and help flush them with more blood.
  4. Take a hot shower. This serves as a means to induce sweating, promotes blood circulation, and releases muscle spasms. Simply stand under the warm water and relax.
  5. After you are warmed up from the shower, do some gentle knee bends. You can hold on to something for balance if needed. These movements exercise almost 90 percent of the skeletal muscles. Find a counter, table, or chair and use your hands for support.  Exhale and squat as low as you can go, then inhale and stand up again. Do 10 of these to get the morning blood flowing and keep the creaky joints silent.
  6. Drink the best water you can find. Often the tap water in our cities is not the freshest or safest. Even cities like Los Angeles have traces of psychiatric medicines and estrogen-like compounds in their tap water and these toxins can build up in your system over time, causing pain.  It is advisable to drink either bottled water or reverse osmosis filtered water.
  7. Eat healthier. Cut down on simple carbohydrates and start reading labels to avoid consuming more toxins. Simply eliminate all foods with artificial color, enriched white flour, and artificial flavors/sweeteners (high fructose corn syrup, crystalline fructose and aspartame). If you don’t know what it is, or have difficulty pronouncing it, avoid ingesting it.
  8. Learn some coping mechanisms and stress-management techniques so that you’re not lying awake all night thinking about your problems. Learning how to deal with toxic people in your life will both allow you to sleep better and reduce the stress-induced muscle spasms that cause pain.
  9. Get some regular exercise. The idea is to go out and do some something physical with your body. Even a simple routine of 10,000 steps a day (buy a pedometer!) will greatly improve your health.
  10. Be the fashion police! You want to dress appropriately for these cold months, and you might do well to sleep in flannel pajamas or sweats. Remember, cold air causes muscles and joints to stiffen.
Following these simple steps with a little dedication, along with making some minor lifestyle changes and improvements to your living environment, can help you overcome morning stiffness in no time.
                      Source- National Fibromyalgia Association; www.fmaware.org 
 
New Drug for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia
 
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Jan. 14, approved Savella as the first drug specifically for the treatment of fibromyalgia ... and not just the pain. The Fibromyalgia Network has been referring to Savella as its study name “milnacipran” in Fibromyalgia Network Journal articles since 2004. While two other medications have been given FDA approval for treating fibromyalgia pain, they were already available on the U.S. market for other medical uses.
                     Source- Fibromyalgia Network; www.fmnetnews.com
 
Fibromyalgia and Muscle Cramps

Are muscle cramps interfering with your lifestyle? Doesn’t it seem unfair that leg cramps jolt you out of sleep while your bed partner is snoozing soundly? You probably wonder if your muscle spasms are related to your fibromyalgia.

You are not alone. Studies show that patients with fibromyalgia are more susceptible to painful muscle cramps. One researcher demonstrated that the presence of pain will increase the likelihood that a muscle will cramp. But many of these awful experiences can be prevented by following simple self-help activities throughout the day. In addition, complementary treatments or medications can alleviate your cramping symptoms. Two researchers discuss their recommendations in the current issue of the Fibromyalgia Network Journal.
                      Source- Fibromyalgia Network; www.fmnetnews.com
 
Fibromyalgia Linked to Brain Chemical
 
Research funded by the American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association (AFSA) brings scientists closer to understanding what is happening in the brains of people with fibromyalgia. Lead investigator Patrick Wood, M.D., found an essential brain substance was significantly lower in the hippocampus region in a group of fibromyalgia patients, compared to age-matched healthy controls.
                      Source- Fibromyalgia Network; www.fmnetnews.com