Read about the benefits of a spa day for fibromyalgia patients. I always love to book a spa day with my mum. Not only is it an enjoyable day out but it...
Float your Aches,Pains,tiredness and stress away! Floatation, (recognized as floatation or floating therapy as well), consists of floating on a very dense salt water combination in a flotation container. The water is 30-cm deep and is extremely saturated with Epsom salts, allowing you to float with ease. The tank is kept at a constant comfortable […]
WELCOME to our first Fibromyalgia link up for 2021. We are so pleased you are here at Fibro Friday to help spread awareness of this chronic pain condition. By sharing information about fibromyalgia you are helping more people learn about it. This is one strategy to raise the level of familiarity with fibromyalgia which will lead to quality health care and public health services.
Many people have experienced this trigger point pain at some time in their life and many, like those with fibromyalgia and other muscle disorders such as myositis, live with this pain everyday. Trigger points are caused by a muscle reflex that misfires. Sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse. These sensitive areas are called trigger points. A trigger point in a muscle can cause strain and pain throughout the muscle. When this pain persists and worsens, doctors call it myofascial pain syndrome. ~ MAYO CLINIC Myofascial pain has been defined as a regional pain syndrome with: (1) the Trigger Point,(TP) a localized area of deep muscle tenderness or hyperirritability, and (2) a predictable, zone of deep aching pain, which may be located in the immediate region of or remote from the TP, may be quite extensive and is worsened by palpation of the TP. The video, below, shows how to identify trigger points on yourself and shows how they radiate in your body to other areas. Dr Jonathan Kuttner, a pain specialist, discusses trigger point pain in this video. According to research this myofascial pain may develop into fibromyalgia in some people. Some doctors believe myofascial pain syndrome may play a role in starting this process. The common important feature to both conditions is muscle pain along with the taut or rope like bands in the muscles Personally I have found great success in relaxing my muscles and reducing pain and highly recommend this myofascial pain release. Non pharmacological therapies for MPS and FMS: Due to lack of definitive etiological elucidation and treatment of FMS many alternative approaches have been advocated by pain therapists. The popular approaches have been mentioned below: i) Choosing correct chair, mattress, and posture to sit or sleep. ii) Back braces can be used to stabilize the vertebral column or support fatigued muscles. iii) Traction devices can be used carefully as a temporary pain relief method. iv) Mechanical massage: Regular massage by the devices available can penetrate deeply through a tapping or percussion action dispersing lactic acid in the soft tissue causing improvement in circulation and relaxation of knotted muscles. v) Whole body vibration with traditional exercise programme for six weeks was also found to reduce pain and fatigue score. vi) Chiropractic management combined with aerobic exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture and spa therapy also have strong evidences in their favour. vii) Yoga: Regular yogic breathing practices, muscle stretching and progressive deep relaxation by “shavasana” are known to have positive effect on FMS. viii) Ischaemic acupressure or ‘Shiatsu’: In this technique the clinician applies thumb pressure (TP) in a particular manner for 1 minute. In next minute the pressure is increased suddenly aggravating pain and a sensation of “giving away” is felt underneath the thumb in muscle as the pressure is released gradually. ix) Hot and cold therapies: – Cold and hot packs: Ice packs can reduce inflammation and pain if applied within 72 hrs of an injury. Ice should not be applied in a single area for more than 20 mins owing to ‘reverse reaction’ phenomenon. – Hot packs are effective if applied after third day of injury. Moist heat is believed to be better in pain and inflammation improvement. – Whirlpool and Jacuzzi jet massaging therapy are also examples of moist heat treatment. – ‘Waon’ (soothing warmth) therapy employs far infrared ray dry sauna bath at 60° C for 15 min followed by transferring the patients to a room at 26° C covered with blanket for 30 min. Such 2-5 cycles in a week have significant effects on pain reduction. x) Electrical stimulation: Such devices also prove effective but under medical supervision. Often called “dry needling” the technique of electrical stimulation by a needle passed in to TP has been successfully demonstrated to relieve shoulder and cervical myofascial pain as well as improve microcirculation. xi) Ultrasound therapy: Sound waves from ultrasound machine are transmitted through sound conducting gel to the tissues. The ultrasound waves break down scar tissue, relax muscle and improve local circulation. xii) Laser therapy: Short period application of infrared low level 904 nm Ga-As laser therapy have been found to be effective in pain relief and functional ability but its benefit when combined with muscle stretching physiotherapy has been questioned. Have you tried any of these therapies?SOURCES Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome - A Dilemma: H. C. Chandola and Arunangshu Chakraborty Mayo Clinic: Understanding myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia Practical Pain Management: Fibromyalgia & Myofascial Pain Syndromes Myofascial Pain, Fibromyalgia or Fibrositis? Pearce J.M.S. THIS POST WAS LINKED UP AT FIBRO FRIDAY WEEK 7
There was a site that had this and I had linked to it on Tumblr but it is gone. So I had to hunt down someone who found my post and posted the whole thing
Read about the benefits of a spa day for fibromyalgia patients. I always love to book a spa day with my mum. Not only is it an enjoyable day out but it...
Read more about infrared saunas, their benefits, and what a session is like. Also, one person's experience with infrared saunas and heat sensitvity.
I wanted to provide you with a checklist for fibromyalgia symptoms because my wife suffers from this disease. Fibromyalgia symptoms...
Are you experiencing brain fog, strange tingling and body aches? These may be signs of fibromyalgia. Read to learn more about this condition.
I wanted to provide you with a checklist for fibromyalgia symptoms because my wife suffers from this disease. Fibromyalgia symptoms...
Travelling can be very difficult for people who are suffering from Fibromyalgia. For me, plane travel, in particular, is incredibly draining and leaves me feeling awful. Life With Chronic Illness Is Challenging At times, even car travel can be challenging. However, as someone who really enjoys the experience of travelling and exploring new places, not […]
In this video, guest yoga teacher Rachel Marie White is sharing three tips to help you safely begin yoga if you’re living with fibromyalgia.
If you have one of many illnesses causing chronic pain, you are ‘painfully’ (forgive the pun) familiar with trying to not be in pain. Maybe you’ve considered trying massage but are too afraid of causing a flare. Or it’s been recommended to you, but you dread the thought of someone … Does A Massage Hurt If I Have Fibromyalgia – The Try Files Read More »
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How are myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia related - or are they? How to treat myofascial pain syndrome and why doing so may help your fibromyalgia pain.
Many people with fibromyalgia may also experience Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). It is a chronic pain disorder that effects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles).
I wanted to provide you with a checklist for fibromyalgia symptoms because my wife suffers from this disease. Fibromyalgia symptoms...
Lady Gaga has fibromyalgia and shows fans what it's like living with the painful condition Fibromyalgia in her new Netflix documentary.
Study shows that fibromyalgia may be neurological. More studies find that fibromyalgia is likely not a rheumatic disorder but a neurological one.
As a matter of fact, the pain in the form of the Allodynia is the pain that is associated with the skin. It has been considered to be the rate sort of the pain, which is engendered owing to the stuff which usually doesn’t result in pain.
The answer might surprise you! The name does not fit the illness and fibromyaliga is NOT solely a pain symptom. We'll bust some myths for you.
If you're living with fibromyalgia, you know that every day is a new challenge. On the outside, you may look healthy and as if you're living well. But in reality, you might be suffering from severe pain, chronic fatigue, and emotional anguish. There's so much to think about – from managing your symptoms to finding ways to cope to simply getting through the day. I've put together this list of 12 essential tips for living with fibromyalgia. I hope these tips will help make your life a little bit e
Living with fibromyalgia is far from easy. In part two of this seven part series, I share how we pay with pain.
If your body temperature is routinely below 97.0F (36.1C) you need to read this. The ultimate body coldness is seen in death. When obse...
These are what our chronic illness community uses to soothe pain and stay warm during the winter.
I remember crying in my mom's arms inside our darkly-lit kitchen. "I just want to sleep." I sobbed. "I just want to sto...
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This article covers five potent natural ways you can use to tackle fibromyalgia. One of the primary way is to modify lifestyle.
Are you trying too hard to get better? In this post, I discuss why this could actually be working against you and the problems it can create.Learn why it's important to remain relaxed as you recover from Fibromyalgia and CFS.
Does this sound anything like your case? When you get exposed to fibromyalgia triggers such as stress, do you experience fluctuating symptoms?
Long COVID and fibromyalgia are conditions with many symptoms and a lot of them overlap. In this post I share what you need to know and give some resources
I have fibromyalgia and have lost over 50 pounds without exercising regularly, sticking to a strict diet or starving myself.
Trigger point therapy can be highly effective in reducing muscular pain and stiffness for those with fibromyalgia. Painful muscles often contain nodules
Learn about Fibromyalgia Natural Treatment options. Researchers have connected neck and jaw problems. Why this is important for fast relief & maximum recovery?
Are you finding it hard to sleep due to chronic pain? Here are some useful tips to help you sleep despite having chronic pain.
Can you relate?
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are found in so many other illnesses. That's why diagnosis is problematic. Here are 14 reasons why it may NOT be Fibromyalgia... Fibromyalgia has many, varied and fluctuating symptoms. It should be considered when a patient describes a history of widespread pain, with no evident cause, that lasts three months or more. As well as this chronic musculoskeletal pain, whichaffects the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons they have fatigue and sleep problems and stiffness. These symptoms are usually accompanied by a number of other conditions such as sensitivity to chemicals, irritable bowel or restless legs and depression or anxiety. The symptoms can often start, or worsen, during a period of severe psychosocial or physical stress. Fibromyalgia presents a unique medical problem: Its symptoms are so common, that it is both underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. Because there are no blood tests or scans to easily diagnose it, many physicians have trouble detecting the disorder. It can NOT be easily confirmed or ruled out with a simple blood test. It can't be seen on an X-ray or MRI. Instead, fibromyalgia appears to be linked to changes in how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals. Because there is no test for fibromyalgia, your doctor must rely solely on your group of symptoms to make a diagnosis and rule out other conditions. The key symptoms of fibromyalgia are also commonly found in many other illnesses, and a thorough examination and investigation needs to be undertaken in order to ensure there is not another pathological cause for the symptoms – particularly if there are any ‘red flags’ in the patient’s history suggestive of another serious pathology (Table 1). Table 1. Red flags Older age at new symptom onset Weight loss Night pain Focal pain Fever or sweats Neurological features History of malignancy Doctors need to rule out: arthritis lupus multiple sclerosis chronic fatigue syndrome polymyalgia rheumatica hypothyroidism depression polymyositis hyperparathyroidism adrenal insufficiency myasthenia gravis cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease So if a doctor asks you about your mood, or skin rashes, or sends you for a blood test of your antibodies or an MRI they are just doing their job. They are ruling out these 14 conditions which have similar symptoms to Fibromyalgia. It is important to do so because these 14 conditions have specific treatments. Symptoms NOT usually found in Fibromyalgia include: arthritis: swelling and redness, loss of motion in joints lupus: butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose, anemia, abnormal blood clotting multiple sclerosis: brain lesions on an MRI chronic fatigue syndrome: profound fatigue that is more intense than pain, sore thoat polymyalgia rheumatica: average age of onset is 70, elevated levels of inflammatory proteins in blood. hypothyroidism: thyroid autoantibodies are common depression: polymyositis: muscle weakness in proximal muscles: upper arms, thighs. hyperparathyroidism: presence of hypercalcemia adrenal insufficiency: severe exhaustion, not typically associated with chronic widespread pain. myasthenia gravis: neurologic signs characteristic of specific disease. cushing’s syndrome: characteristic facial and skin signs of Cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome: dry eyes and dry mouth, presence of anti bodies specific to Sjogren's Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease Getting a Diagnosis I suggest that you keep a diary of your symptoms. This should make it easier to talk to your doctor or specialist. Especially if you have memory problems, writing things down will provide the doctor with the information that they need to make a correct diagnosis. When you go to a consultation go with: a list of questions a list of current medications a brief medical history including your parents main conditions a list of your symptoms When writing the list of your symptoms try and remember what were your first symptoms and what year they started and then the next symptoms and the year etc. as many doctors ask these questions. More clues for fibromyalgia diagnosis (from MayoClinic) People who have fibromyalgia also often wake up tired, even after they've slept continuously for more than eight hours. Brief periods of physical or mental exertion may leave them exhausted. They may also have problems with short-term memory and the ability to concentrate. If you have these problems, your doctor may ask you to rank how severely they affect your day-to-day activities. Fibromyalgia often coexists with other health problems, so your doctor may also ask if you experience: Irritable bowel syndrome Headaches Jaw pain Anxiety or depression Frequent or painful urination Remember that all ongoing pain should be evaluated. I am saying this because after a while of not getting a diagnosis you may start to question whether the pain is all in your head. Lee Good has 20+ years of experience helping people with chronic illness to understand research information and is recognized as a leader in patient advocacy. She is the WEGO winner, 2018/19 for building the best patient community around Fibromyalgia and editor at Fibro Blogger Directory, which is a community of fibromyalgia bloggers. RESOURCES: Fibromyalgia: Understand the diagnosis process MayoClinic Diagnostic challenges: Australian Family Physician Musculoskeletal Pain: Cleveland Clinic
Spas and Hot Tubs for Fibromyalgia Relief From Hot Tub Works The Hot Tub has probably gotten a pretty bad rap over the years. While rap stars sing about them as a partying accoutrement, and news stories talk about diseases...
Two months ago I had continuous back pain. I bought a red light, my pain was erased, and I saw many more positive results. These are the details of my objective experiment with the lights that changed my life.
Alternative therapies for chronic pain Since I’ve been suffering from chronic pain, following a spontaneous spinal fracture five years ago, I have tried many alternative remedies and therap…
Psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia are different conditions with similar traits that include chronic pain and swelling. Learn the contrasting differences.
When chronic pain drags you down, you're desperate for relief. Here are 6 ways to put out the fire, without medication or a doctor's office visit.
