Diet, Massage & Fibromyalgia

I came across this very good article today. It reaffirms that diet affects anyone with fibromyalgia and that massage therapy facilitates relief from the pain and discomfort associated with fibromyalgia.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2003. I suffered with this from a young age. I didn't know what it was. A lot of people kept telling me I needed to get more exercise and I needed to do this and needed to do that... Fibromyalgia is a difficult syndrome to cope with. So, when a holistic relief like this comes along, we grab it with both and and hang on for the ride of comfort and relaxation that, unfortunately, only lasts a brief time. Regularly scheduled massages allow for a better quality of life.

In 2009, however, God healed me of fibromyalgia. It is one of those syndrome that there is no known cure. It has been the most awesome blessing.

I have a clean diet and exercise today. I've been able to lose weight and generally doing quite well. I use a regular regimen of herbal supplements, vitamins and minerals that include shark liver oil, sam-e, and several other things.

If you or someone you know suffers from fibromyalgia, look into holistic health-care, like massage therapy.

Oh, did I mention... I am a massage therapist! Right this minute I'm in the Seattle area. However, by the end of this month I will be in Southern California. Watch for reports on when I'm up and running again to have clients in. You can see more about me here.

FM Attitude Adjustment

The invisible disease

Fibromyalgia is sometimes known as the invisible disease. We don´t look sick. People find it difficult to understand that we really are sick and not just making excuses. You need to anticipate this, and the reactions that people will give you when you say no to things you don´t feel able to do. Your true friends will understand; the others don´t matter. And you must learn to say no or you will run the risk of causing a flare-up of your symptoms.

New Studies released information

See these links to learn about the results of the studies:
Study Reveals Subgroups of Fibromyalgia Patients - Not All Experience Psychological Distress
&
Neurocognitive Defects & Brain Structure in Fibromyalgia: Are Pain & Cognitive Problems Related?

Complementary and alternative medicine

---

Original Article:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079/DSECTION=11

---

Fibromyalgia

Complementary and alternative medicine

Complementary and alternative therapies for pain and stress management aren't new. Some, such as meditation and yoga, have been practiced for thousands of years. But their use has become more popular in recent years, especially with people who have chronic illnesses, such as fibromyalgia.

Several of these treatments do appear to safely relieve stress and reduce pain, and some are gaining acceptance in mainstream medicine. But many practices remain unproved because they haven't been adequately studied. Some of the more common complementary and alternative treatments promoted for pain management include:

• Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a Chinese medical system based on restoring normal balance of life forces by inserting very fine needles through the skin to various depths. According to Western theories of acupuncture, the needles cause changes in blood flow and levels of neurotransmitters in the brain and spinal cord. In a 2006 Mayo Clinic study, acupuncture significantly improved symptoms of fibromyalgia. Research on the benefits of acupressure — a similar practice that uses finger pressure on the skin rather than needles — is inconclusive.
• Chiropractic care. This treatment is based on the philosophy that restricted movement in the spine may lead to pain and reduced function. Spinal adjustment (manipulation) is one form of therapy chiropractors use to treat restricted spinal mobility. The goal is to restore spinal movement and, as a result, improve function and decrease pain. Chiropractors manipulate the spine from different positions using varying degrees of force. Manipulation doesn't need to be forceful to be effective. Chiropractors may also use massage and stretching to relax muscles that are shortened or in spasm. Because manipulation has risks, always go to properly trained and licensed practitioners.
• Massage therapy. This is one of the oldest methods of health care still in practice. It involves use of different manipulative techniques to move your body's muscles and soft tissues. The therapy aims to improve blood circulation in the muscle, increasing the flow of nutrients and eliminating waste products. Massage can reduce your heart rate, relax your muscles, improve range of motion in your joints and increase production of your body's natural painkillers. It often helps relieve stress and anxiety. Although massage is almost always safe, avoid it if you have open sores, acute inflammation or circulatory problems.
• Osteopathy. Doctors of osteopathy go through rigorous and lengthy training in academic and clinical settings, equivalent to medical doctors. They're licensed to perform many of the same therapies and procedures as conventional doctors. One area where osteopathy differs from conventional medicine — but is similar to chiropractic medicine — is in the use of manipulation to address joint and spinal problems.

By Mayo Clinic Staff
June 25, 2007
© 1998-2008 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

DS00079

Living with Fibromyalgia

Living with Fibromyalgia, First Drug Approved

Getty Images Symptoms of fibromyalgia include fatigue, pain in muscles and joints, difficulty sleeping, and morning stiffness.

After meeting on the Internet in 1997, Lynne Matallana and Karen Lee Richards discovered they had a lot in common. They both had seen numerous doctors before being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by fatigue and widespread pain in muscles and joints. They both had trouble finding medical information and support for coping with the illness. Seven months after meeting, they started gathering with five other people with fibromyalgia who also wanted to bring awareness to the issue.

"We called ourselves 'the pillow posse' because we would meet and have our pillows to support our aching bodies," Matallana says. Those gatherings grew into the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA), an organization that now provides support, research information, medical education, and messages of hope to millions.

Fibromyalgia affects 2 to 4 percent of the population, according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). It mostly affects women, and tends to develop in early to middle adulthood. But men and children also can have it.

Read more by clicking here

Sleep problems and pain

When people with FMS sleep they rarely reach the deep sleep stage, which is why they still feel exhausted. The worst sleep nights often lead to the most painful days. This is because the growth hormone that helps to heal troubled tissues is released during that critical stage of sleep - which FMS patients rarely achieve.

Fibromyalgia Tips -- 3/10/2007

Fluctuating body temperature

Unexplained, low-grade fever seems typical for people with fibro. Make a habit of taking and recording your temperature daily at a couple of different times. Many of us tend to have a regular body temperature that is abnormally low. This can mean that the standard "normal" temperature can feel like fever to you. If you typically read low, you want your doctor to understand this.

Fibro diagnosis

Disbelieving doctors

Many doctors simply refuse to believe that fibromyalgia exists, or instead use it as a catchall term for anyone with aches and pains that he or she is unable to diagnose. If you have been tested by your doctor, and haven´t got a diagnosis yet, or if your doctor blames your symptoms on depression, you may have one of the disbelievers. Try another doctor – preferably a rheumatologist – to get a genuine diagnosis.

How Fibromyalgia Happens

Researchers have been unable to determine the exact cause of fibromyalgia; however, there are a number of theories as to the possible cause. Neurochemical Imbalances It is believed that there is a faulty regulation of two neurochemicals of the central nervous system, namely substance P and serotonin. Substance P is a chemical that is responsible for amplifying pain signals in the body. Research has shown that some people with fibromyalgia have up to three times the normal level of substance P compared to someone who does not have fibromyalgia. This may lead to errors in pain processing. An example is when something that should not be painful, such as a hug or pat on the back, is perceived by your body as being painful. It’s not that you cannot tolerate pain, but rather that your body is sensing more pain than it actually should be. Serotonin is a chemical that is important for mood, sleep and pain. Researchers believe that serotonin is either in lower than normal amounts or is not being used properly by the body in people with fibromyalgia. Antidepressant medications such as fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline hydrochloride (Zoloft), and citalopram hydrobromide (Celexa) can help the body use serotonin more efficiently so that it can then help with mood, sleep and pain issues. Autonomic Nervous System Stress Response (HPA axis) The autonomic nervous system is that mechanism in the body that helps regulate all the “automatic functions,” such as heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and digestion. The autonomic nervous system also is responsible for controlling the stress response, often referred to as our “fight or flight” response. During a time of stress, the body secretes chemicals, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which help you remain alert in a time of stress to be able to deal with the stressor or escape it. Think of a time when you have been faced with a stressor. How did your body respond to that stress? Did you have an increased heart rate, fast and shallow breathing or did you ‘forget’ to breathe? Were your palms sweaty or did your stomach feel nauseous? These are just a few of the symptoms that can occur under a time of stress. Researchers have found that people with fibromyalgia either tend to run at a slightly higher than normal level of stress or may take a little longer to recover from a stressful event. You may not feel as though you are in a stressful situation. Dealing with chronic pain and fatigue on a daily basis, however, certainly is stressful. This ongoing stress can lead to changes in the brain that alter the way pain signals are processed, leading to increased sensitivity. Symptoms from stress can exaggerate the fibromyalgia symptoms. That is why stress management is a very important key in managing fibromyalgia symptoms. Sleep Problems Proper sleep is necessary to provide healing of the body as well as mental clarity and physical endurance. There are two very important types of sleep called NREM and REM. NREM stands for non-rapid eye movement sleep, or non-dream sleep, and is important for physical recovery of the body. There are several stages of NREM sleep with the deeper stages numbered 3 and 4, also known as delta sleep. REM sleep stands for rapid eye movement sleep, which is when dreams occur, and is important for our mental recovery. About 90% of people with fibromyalgia do not get into the deep restorative NREM sleep stages 3 and 4. It is during this “delta” sleep that the body secretes a growth hormone called somatomedin C. This chemical is important in adults because it is responsible for directing the repair of muscles. People normally experience micro muscle trauma just from moving around during the day. Muscle is normally restored with the help of somatomedin C secreted in the proper amounts. Your body secretes adequate amounts of growth hormone in two ways: 1) by getting into the deep stages of sleep, possibly with use of a proper medication, 2) by getting aerobic exercise which is directly related to the amount of growth hormone that is secreted. Genetics Researchers are continuing to study the possible role genetics may play in fibromyalgia. Article is from: The National Pain Foundation

.

Aches & Pains 101

Health Conditions Weather is considered a possible influence on a wide variety of health conditions. In some cases, such as migraine headaches, weather may bring on an episode. In other cases, weather factors may make existing pain worse. Read more.... <---- by clicking here