The standard pain scale doesn't really work when you live with chronic pain. There are better ways to express your pain.
Can you have both fibromyalgia + multiple sclerosis? Come read my story and get a few tips to help you on your own chronic illness journey!
Fibromyalgia eye problems can become chronic and be debilitating. Learn from Upper Cervical Awareness about Fibromyalgia eye pain and finding relief.
It's been over a decade since I developed full-blown, symptomatic fibromyalgia. I had no idea what I was dealing with, least of all any potential fibromyalgia cures.
These are my chronic illness must haves. Gadgets to make our lives with chronic pain and fatigue easier, from cleaning to self-care
Fibromyalgia vs Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Is It The Same Thing? Many experts agree that the symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome
Research links chronic illness, trauma and the nervous system to make sense of symtoms, explain how trauma and difficult life experiences can trigger onset and flares, and how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); adversity in birth, pregnancy and even earlier; multigenerational trauma and more shape health and risk for chronic illness. It's not psychological - It's about epigenetics, telomeres and physiology. Free surveys, ebooks & downloads
The memoirs, self-help books, and other books that helped chronic illness patients adjust, cope, and thrive.
So many Spoonies aren't talking about exercise intolerance and what it means to our daily lives. How do we live with it and do about it?
Researchers find that people with chronic fatigue syndrome have an altered gut microbiome, which may shed light on the cause of the elusive condition.
Study TMJ in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Millions of peoples are thought to be ill with from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), a condition that is frequently misdiagnosed or goes undiagnosed because many of its most broadly reported symptoms — severe headaches, facial pain, neck and shoulder uneasiness, jaw popping or sticking — either seem indistinct […]
As a lupus warrior that travels a lot, it's important to me share my journey and what has helped me. Here are 20 helpful tips for traveling with a chronic illness.
Here are 25 uplifiting affirmations for chronic illness and disability to care for your mental health and help cultivate a positive mindset.
A health protocol with an easily-remembered acronym includes botanical treatments and diet for fibromyalgia to reduce pain and...
Many with chronic illness or disability aren't able to work full-time. Here's how and why many 'easy' part-time jobs are difficult for them, too.
WebMD's slideshow helps you understand the symptoms of lupus, an autoimmune disorder that can affect the skin, joints, and organs.
What are the main fibromyalgia symptoms? Anyone living with fibromyalgia will tell you there are so many symptoms. In fact, before I was diagnosed I use to try to remember them all when I went to a new specialist by working through the parts of my body and listing all the symptoms in each part. For example head was scalp pain, blurry vision, tingling in lips and jaw pain and a feeling I could not relax my jaw. As you can see there are a lot of unrelated, unique symptoms and not every person will get all of these and they will not get them all at the same time as the symptoms fluctuate. So here I will be listing the main symptoms that most people get. 18 Tender Points of Fibromyalgia (scroll down for image with more detail) One unique thing about fibromyalgia is the 18 tender points on the body. These are specific locations, in the diagram above, that hurt when pressed. People who do not have fibro only feel pressure, not pain, when touched on these points. These are the main symptoms of Fibromyalgia: Widespread, chronic, muscle pain and tenderness (tender points) · pain in arms, legs, neck, shoulders, back, hips Often with: · Morning stiffness · Headache · Fatigue · Sleep disturbances including insomnia, inconsistent sleep patterns, unrefreshed sleep · Memory problems · Light sensitivity · Dizziness · Numbness/tingling in arms/legs Sometimes also: · Irritable bowel syndrome · Bladder control problems · Depression · Anxiety American College of Rheumatology (ACR) fibromyalgia tender points 1990 classification criteria If you are trying to get a diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FMS) you may want to see the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia. This was endorsed in 2010. Prior to this the tender points were used as a major diagnostic tool. Now that we have the 2010 criteria it does not mean that the tender points have magically gone away. They can still be used as a diagnostic tool but they are only part of what is needed. Here is an excerpt from the ACR. If you are looking for a more in-depth list I suggest you go to MORE INFORMATION ON SYMPTOMS OF FIBROMYALGIA Thanks for dropping in today and if you have just been diagnosed you may want to sign up for my coping tips for living with fibromyalgia. I have been living with fibro for 20 years and have found many helpful ideas to help you reduce the many symptoms you may have.
For doctors and patients to have a better understanding of how the disease progressing, what could be triggering symptoms/pain, and the impact it is having on the patient's life they both need to see the full story, not just one day or week of the patient's life.
When you struggle with pain and fatigue, how can you rebuild your fitness without hurting your health? Check out 5 online exercise programs for chronic illness.
What is fibromyalgia? See pictures explaining symptoms, muscle pain, fatigue, tests, causes, and treatments in this WebMD slideshow.
Fibromyalgia blog aimed at helping people better understand the symptoms, learn to live with it, and reduce chronic pain from it.
Fibromyalgia, What you Need to Know and Treatments Fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia pain relief, anti inflammatory diet for fibromyalgia,
Many of us living with chronic illness loathe the words “accountability” and “goals.” Allow me to suggest a reframe! This post shares 4 fundamentals of creating supportive “goals” and “accountability” for living well with chronic illness that won't leave you feeling demoralized.
A Holiday Gift Guide for someone in your life that lives with chronic illness or pelvic pain and maybe a few items for yourself!...
I'm slowly accumulating tools that make disabled life a little easier, but there are still a few chronic illness products on my wish list!
Navigating flare days when you have a chronic illness is hard. But knowing how to practice effective self-care can make coping with the ups and downs of being a spoonie so much easier. Learn the best self-care tips for chronic illness to help you navigate these flare days with a little more ease & relief.
It's so important for people who are experiencing the difficulties of diagnosing or managing chronic illness to keep track of all symptoms, no matter how short-lived, small, or seemingly not important. Even the smallest, weirdest thing can help a doctor to find the correct diagnosis, and therefore, the correct treatment. I created this checklist and summary sheets to help me communicate effectively with my doctors. After trying health journals I bought, trying to journal by myself in blank books, and failing miserably at it, I created an easy, quick checklist for my ridiculous array of symptoms. If you feel it at all during the day, check it off! There is a spot to list anything else not on the list, and if you like writing, you can write details on the back. I've included monthly summary sheets for you to use or not-it's up to you. I tally the number of days each month I had each symptom, and the results can be shocking. When you live with something everyday, you don't realize the overwhelming amount of things you overcome every day. These summary sheets are also effective tools to good communication with your doctors, or even family, spouses, partners or friends when trying to explain what your day is like.
Staying cool in summer is a struggle when you deal with chronic illness. Here are some ways I’m staying cool in summertime as a spoonie.
A lot of chronic illnesses come with fatigue and other symptoms that impact your energy. Some of them even have exercise intolerance as a symptom. In these illnesses, exercising causes symptoms and…
Dealing with pain, day in and day out, can be extremely tiring. While there is no cure, there is definitely hope for pain relief. Yoga for fibromyalgia relief is what we are talking about
Image via Wikipedia Who ever heard of a blood test to diagnose fibromyalgia? Well, there might be one when Dr. Bruce Gillis of Santa Monica,...
The facts about Fibromyalgia and living with Chronic pain and fatigue revealed, including an in depth truth about how Fibromyalgia can leave its sufferers depressed and defeated.
