Take These Patients Seriously!
Take These Patients Seriously!
An HSI member named Dave writes, “You talk about all kinds of things, but I have not seen anything on fibromyalgia. Any comments?”
I haven’t addressed fibromyalgia in the e-Alert in awhile, but here at HSI we have quite a few comments about fibromyalgia, beginning with one of the most frustrating aspects of this condition: Skepticism from the medical community.
Many doctors tell their fibromyalgia patients that their aches and pains are “all in your head.” As it turns out, those doctors are correct. But the point the doctors are missing is that the pain is real.
A secret in the brain
The typical symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) involve inflammation or pain in joints and muscles, often accompanied by fatigue. But such symptoms are impossible to measure, so FMS is often misdiagnosed as a form of arthritis, or the patient is told that their pain is imagined.
In the e-Alert “Get Real” (3/2/05), I told you about rheumatologist Daniel Clauw, M.D., of the University of Michigan, who used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the area of the brain that registers pain. The images revealed an increase of blood flow when FMS patients were given low-pressure stimulus. The identical stimulus showed no change in the brains of control group subjects.
The next step in Dr. Clauw’s research was reported in the December 2006 issue of Current Pain and Headache Reports. In a review of neurobiological studies that examined pain, brain activity, and genetics in FMS patients, Dr. Clauw and his University of Michigan colleague, Richard E. Harris, Ph.D., confirmed the presence of abnormalities within central brain structures in subjects with FMS. Genetic research supports the theory that inherited gene mutations are the most probable cause of FMS brain abnormalities.
In a University of Michigan press release, Dr. Harris stated: “It is time for us to move past the rhetoric about whether these conditions are real, and take these patients seriously.”
Where to turn
FMS treatment generally focuses on pain management measures that include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antidepressants. Less conventional treatments utilize aerobic exercise, massage therapy, and dietary adjustments. But FMS patients have even more alternatives, which I’ve covered in these e-Alerts.
“Get Real” (3/2/05) http://www.hsionline.com/ealerts/ea200503/ea20050302.html
Some years ago, doctors noticed that pregnant women with FMS often experienced temporary relief from their symptoms. The reason: relaxin, a naturally occurring hormone that becomes active during pregnancy. In addition to information about an oral form of relaxin (called Vitalaxin), this e-Alert also examines details about a botanical formula, shown to relieve the degenerative effects of FMS and lupus.
“Getting the Point” (9/8/05)http://www.hsionline.com/ealerts/ea200509/ea20050908.html Mayo Clinic researchers recruited 50 subjects with persistent FMS symptoms. Pain, fatigue, and anxiety were significantly relieved in subjects who received acupuncture.
“Easy Green” (9/27/04) http://www.hsionline.com/ealerts/ea200409/ea20040927.html Chlorella (a freshwater algae that contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids) stimulates immune system function and has been shown to improve pain, sleep, and anxiety in FMS patients.
E-Alert Week in Review (3/18/05) http://www.hsionline.com/ealerts/ea200503/ea20050318.html HSI members with FMS talk about natural therapies that have worked for them.
Exercise combined with proper nutrition and key dietary supplements are just three of the FMS treatment secrets covered in “The Fibromyalgia Relief Handbook” – an excellent reference tool for fibromyalgia patients. You can find more information at this link: http://www.isecureonline.com/reports/680SFIBRO/E6EAH4DZ/?o=1232984&u=277339 5&l=820186&g=360
If you have family or friends with fibromyalgia, please share this e-Alert and let them know that the age of fibromyalgia skepticism is finally coming to an end.
Sources:
“How do We know that the Pain in Fibromyalgia is Real?” Current Pain and Headache Reports, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 2006, current-reports.com
“The Pain from Fibromyalgia is Real, Researchers Say” Katie Gazella, University of Michigan press release, 11/28/06, med.umich.edu
