The pain from fibromyalgia is real

Thanks to www.fibrohugs.com

Public release date: 28-Nov-2006
Contact: Katie Gazella
University of Michigan Health System


The pain from fibromyalgia is real, researchers say
University of Michigan doctors say widespread evidence verifies
validity of condition, say patients should be taken seriously

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Many people with fibromyalgia - a debilitating
pain syndrome that affects 2 to 4 percent of the population - have
faced the question of whether the condition is real.


Fibromyalgia often has been misdiagnosed as arthritis or even a
psychological issue. Increasingly, though, the scientific knowledge
about fibromyalgia is growing, and a new paper from the University of
Michigan Health System says there are "overwhelming data" that the
condition is real, is characterized by a lower pain threshold and is
associated with genetic factors that can make some people more likely
to develop fibromyalgia.


The review paper, in the December issue of the journal Current Pain and
Headache Reports, cites recent studies involving pain, genetics, brain
activity and more. The paper's authors hope these findings will lead to
a better understanding and acceptance of fibromyalgia and related
conditions.


"It is time for us to move past the rhetoric about whether these
conditions are real, and take these patients seriously as we endeavor
to learn more about the causes and most effective treatments for these
disorders," says Richard E. Harris, Ph.D., research investigator in
the Division of Rheumatology at the U-M Medical School's Department of
Internal Medicine and a researcher at the U-M Health System's Chronic
Pain and Fatigue Research Center.


A growing amount of research related to the neurobiology of the
condition supports the notion that the pain of fibromyalgia is real.
Studies at U-M and elsewhere using two neuroimaging techniques -
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and single photon emission
computed tomography (SPECT) - indicate there is a difference between
patients with and without fibromyalgia.


"In people without pain, these structures encode pain sensations
normally. In people with fibromyalgia, the neural activity
increased," says Daniel J. Clauw, M.D., director of the U-M Chronic
Pain and Fatigue Research Center and professor of rheumatology at the
U-M Medical School, and an author of the new paper. "These studies
indicate that fibromyalgia patients have abnormalities within their
central brain structures."


In a 2003 paper in the journal Science, a U-M team reported that a
small variation in the gene that encodes the enzyme called
catechol-O-methyl transferase, or COMT, made a significant difference
in the pain tolerance, and pain-related emotions and feelings, of
healthy volunteers. Researchers also have found that individual
mutations in the COMT gene are related to the future development of
temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMD or TMJ, a condition
related to fibromyalgia.


Together, these studies about COMT and numerous studies with animals
suggest that pain sensitivity is determined at least in part by a
person's genetic makeup, Clauw says.


The authors note that there are some legitimate areas of debate
regarding fibromyalgia, including disagreements about how precisely it
should be defined and whether people with the condition deserve
compensation. But none of those disagreements should detract from the
acceptance of it as a condition causing real pain, they say.


###
Reference: Current Pain and Headache Reports, Dec. 2006, pp. 403-7.

Millions of Americans in Pain

Millions of Americans in Pain
Most Common Pains Are Low Back Pain, Migraine or Severe Headache, Joint Pain
By Daniel DeNoon
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD on Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Nov. 15, 2006 -- Each month, one in four American adults suffers pain for at least 24 hours. That pain lasts for a year in nearly three-fifths of those over 65 and in 37% of those aged 20 to 44.

These numbers are why the CDC has made pain the focus of this year's annual report card on U.S. health.

The painful facts:

In a 2004 survey, more than one in four American adults reported low back pain in the last three months.
In 2004, 15% of American adults reported migraine or severe headache in the past three months.
In 2004, about one-third of adults over 18 and half of adults 65 and older reported joint pain, joint aches, or joint stiffness in the past 30 days. The knee is the most common site of joint pain.
Use of narcotic pain drugs is up. During 1988-1994, 3.2% of Americans took narcotics for pain. That percentage rose to 4.2% in 1999-2002.
Recent low back pain makes it five times more likely that a person will suffer serious psychological distress.
The most common pains are low back pain, migraine or severe headache, and joint pain.

Other facts from the CDC's Health, United States, 2006:

American girls born today can expect to live more than 80 years. An American boy's life expectancy is just short of 75 years.
The gap in life expectancy between white Americans and black Americans has narrowed. The gap was seven years in 1990 and five years in 2004.
The average cost of health care for Americans is $6,280 a year.
In the last year, 7% of American adults under age 65 passed up needed health care because they could not afford it.
Heart diseaseHeart disease is still the No. 1 killer of Americans -- but between 2000 and 2004, U.S. heart-disease deaths dropped by 16%.
Deaths from America's No. 2 killer -- cancercancer -- dropped 8% between 2000 and 2004.
More and more Americans suffer diabetesdiabetes. Diabetes strikes 11% of Americans aged 40 to 59 and 23% of Americans aged 60 and older.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, Health, United States, 2006. News release, CDC National Center for Health Statistics.

Long-term pain hits 1 in 10 Americans, CDC reports

Long-term pain hits 1 in 10 Americans, CDC reports

Nov 16 (Reuters) - One in 10 U.S. adults suffer pain that lasts a year or more, according to government statistics released on Wednesday.
But Americans are living longer, with life span at a record average of just short of 80 years, according to the annual report on the nation's health from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"At birth, life expectancy for females is just over 80 years and nearly 75 for males.

"The gap in life expectancy between white and black Americans also has narrowed from seven years in 1990 to five years in 2004," the CDC said in a statement.

"Life expectancy at birth reached a record 77.9 years in 2004, up from 77.5 in 2003 and from 75.4 in 1990."

But the bad news is that fully a quarter of American adults say they have suffered a day-long bout of pain in the past month, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the CDC.

Lower back pain is among the most common complaints, along with migraine or severe headache, and joint pain, aching or stiffness, the survey found.

"We chose to focus on pain in this report because it is rarely discussed as a condition in and of itself -- it is mostly viewed as a byproduct of another condition," said Amy Bernstein, the researcher who led the study.

More than a quarter of adults interviewed said they had experienced low back pain in the past three months.

Migraines or severe headaches affected 15 percent of adults in the past three months, and 4.2 percent of adults had used a narcotic drug in the past month for pain relief.

The report found that U.S. health care spending averaged $6,280 per person in 2004.

Infant mortality fell to 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2004, down slightly from 6.9 deaths in 2003.

For adults, heart disease remains the leading killer, but deaths from heart disease fell 16 percent between 2000 and 2004, the report found.

Deaths from cancer -- the No. 2 killer -- dropped by 8 percent.

But diabetes is worsening and 11 percent of adults aged 40-59 years have diabetes - 23 percent of those 60 and older, according to the report, available on the Internet at (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm ).


Publish Date: November 16, 2006

Coping with Holiday Lonliness

Coping With Loneliness
From Cathleen Henning, www.panicdisorder.about.com

Accepting it and moving on when the time is right.
Loneliness may be painful and even frightening, and it may indicate a need for introspection. Have you been feeling lonely for a long time? Perhaps it's time to make some changes; it is possible to feel less alone. Loneliness is not a sign that you have failed or that you will never have people in your life. It may take effort to change the way you feel, but you can do it. Here are several suggestions for learning about your loneliness:

1. Accept it.

There are many steps you may take to help yourself feel less alone, but before you take those steps, stop and think about how you are feeling. Loneliness is an emotion, and, as with other uncomfortable emotions, we often want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Sometimes, though, these kinds of emotions may be learning tools. Before rushing to eliminate loneliness, think about how you came to feel this way. Changes are most likely in order, but think about the changes that will suit your individual needs.

Sometimes, too, no change will eliminate loneliness. People may feel lonely even when surrounded by loving friends and family. Time may be the only solution. You are not flawed for feeling lonely, and, if you accept the feeling, you will find that it is not as uncomfortable as you first thought.

Remember, too, that being alone and feeling lonely are not the same. If you are alone these days but enjoying it, then don't feel as if you must change because other people don't understand. Do, however, be sure that you have a support system and that you are available to friends and family.

2. Reach out.

If you had people to contact, you may be thinking, then you wouldn't be lonely. Sometimes, though, when we are immersed in loneliness, we may forget about all of our options.

First, think about everyone you know and have ever known. Maybe you think a certain friend or relative wouldn't want to hear from you. Think again -- you may be surprised. Try contacting them and see what happens next. Be sure, however, to have a list of possible contacts, just in case the first doesn't go as planned. Think of old friends, too. You don't even have to tell them you're contacting them because you're lonely. Just reach out and communicate, and you'll start to feel better.

Second, if you truly believe friends and family aren't an option, then reach out to people you don't know. You're already on the Internet, and your options here are endless -- from chat rooms to forums to games to pen pals.

3. Help someone else.

A great way to spend time with people and feel good about your contribution to the world is by volunteering. If your anxiety disorder is keeping you from volunteering in a traditional way, use your imagination. Even going to an online forum and giving support to someone else who is lonely is a significant way to help. If you are ready to volunteer outside your home, look to places that will be anxiety-friendly: churches, hospitals, daycare or pre-schools, and nursing homes, are some examples.

4. Pursue your interests.

Meet people who like to do what you like to do by becoming involved in your hobbies and interests. If you already have a hobby that tends to be solitary, such as needlework, look for local classes or groups where you may meet other people as well as learn more about your craft. If you've thought about an interest for a long time but have never followed through, consider starting now. Look at your local newspaper for classes, groups and meetings, if you need ideas. Take a nature walk. Attend a lecture at a local museum. Take a cooking class. If you're not sure what your interests are, just start participating until you find what you love.

5. Join -- or start -- a support group.

Look around for an anxiety disorder support group. Ask your therapist, check the local newspaper, and contact local hospitals. If there aren't any for anxiety, try a depression or 12-step group. Consider starting your own support group if you can't find one; you'll be helping yourself and other people. If you need a place to have meetings, contact local churches which often have space.

If you're not sure how to cope with your loneliness and you feel that it's making you depressed, talk to your therapist about it (or get a therapist if you don't have one). Talking about it may help you explore other issues or come up with unique ways to cope with your individual feelings

How to Survive the Holidays FM Style!

How To Survive the Holidays
From Karen Lee Richards www.about.com

The holidays are supposed to be about love, joy and peace. Instead, too often they end up producing guilt, stress and conflict. This can be especially true for people with illnesses like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, who may struggle just to cope with everyday life. Throw a holiday and additional family pressures into the mix and life can quickly become overwhelming. With a little preparation though, you can get through the holidays and even enjoy them! Here are 10 steps, plus a few tips to help you survive this holiday season.

Here's How:
Examine your expectations.
When you think of the holidays, what picture comes to mind? Does it resemble a scene from a Normal Rockwell print? If so, it’s time for a reality check. Few holidays ever live up to the idyllic images in those pictures. It’s time to accept the fact that you can’t do everything you once did. Are the holidays really about elaborate decorations and frenetic activity; or are they about expressing your love and appreciation for family and friends? Now is the time to set new expectations based on what is most important to you.

Refuse to feel guilty.
Guilt develops when you fail to live up to your own expectations, or you feel like you haven’t lived up to the expectations of others. The fact is you have a very real physical illness that limits what you can do. It’s time to stop blaming yourself because you can’t do everything you used to do or because you can’t do everything you think your family expects you to do. Make the decision right now that you refuse to accept any guilt feelings. Remember that the holidays are not about how much you do, but are about expressing your love for your family.

Communicate, communicate, communicate.
Communicating clearly with your family ahead of time is key to a happy holiday season. Sit down with your family and explain that you want everyone to enjoy the holidays, but you have some physical limitations. Decide together what aspects of the holidays are most important to all of you and enlist their help with the things that you can’t do. Some family members may not understand at first, but don’t allow yourself to be pushed into doing more than you can handle. Try to remain calm but be firm.

Prioritize your holiday activities.
Every family has its own holiday traditions. List all of your family’s possible holiday activities then ask each person which activity they consider the most important (i.e., decorations, big home-cooked meal, baking cookies, visiting with relatives, etc.). Number them in order of importance. Focus your energy on the things that are most important. For each item on your list, decide: if there is an easier alternative, if someone else can take the responsibility, or if it’s not really necessary.

Plan ahead.
A big part of holiday stress comes from the last-minute rush to get everything done. Start planning as early as possible. Make a list of everything you need to do and figure out the easiest and best way to accomplish each task. Work on a portion of your list each week. Know that things will go wrong and you’ll probably have some days you don’t feel well enough to do anything. Be sure to allow extra time so those bad days don’t throw you completely off schedule. By not waiting until the last minute to do everything, hopefully you’ll have enough energy left to enjoy your holidays.

Share the workload.
You don’t have to do everything yourself. Don’t be a martyr. Ask each family member to take responsibility for part of the preparations. If you can afford it, hire someone to help you clean the house. Pay a student to address cards or help you bake. If everyone is coming to your house for dinner, ask each person to bring a side dish or dessert – then you can just prepare the main dish. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Simplify.
For every item on your “to do” list, ask yourself these questions: Does this really need to be done? Is there an easier way to do it? Can I get by with doing less? (e.g., instead of baking 12 kinds of cookies, make your family’s three favorites; put up fewer decorations or decorate fewer parts of the house.)

Find alternatives.
Try to think outside the box. For every holiday task, try to think of an alternative that would be easier and less stressful for you. Instead of fighting crowds at the mall, do your shopping online or from catalogs. Rather than cooking a big meal, consider having your holiday dinner at a restaurant. If everyone usually comes to your house, ask another family member to host the festivities this year. Be creative and make things easier on yourself.

Schedule time to take care of yourself.
This may be the most important step of all. It’s so easy to get caught up in everything that needs to be done and making sure everyone else is taken care of that you forget to take care of yourself. Make sure you’re taking time to eat healthy foods and keep up with your exercise program. And be sure to schedule time to do whatever is most relaxing and refreshing for you, whether that is soaking in a warm bubble bath, getting a massage or curling up in bed with a good book. Take time to pamper yourself.

Enjoy!
Remember that the holidays are to be enjoyed. You’ve done the best you can do, so it’s time to let go of the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” and just have fun. Happy Holidays!

Tips:
If you’re traveling out-of-town to spend the holidays with relatives, think about staying at a hotel for at least part of the time. Having your own separate space where you can escape to and rest when you need to will reduce your stress and give you a sense of control.

If the hubbub and pressure of holidays with lots of relatives is more than you can handle, consider taking your immediate family away for the holidays. A holiday vacation to a ski resort, a dude ranch or Disney World can be a wonderful and fun family time. As an added bonus, you don’t have to cook, decorate or entertain guests. And you can probably get by with less shopping, too, because all your gifts will have to be packed.

Instead of baking 10 different kinds of cookies, have a cookie exchange party. Invite nine friends and ask each to bring five-dozen cookies made with their favorite recipe. Each guest then takes home a half-dozen of each cookie. It’s easier (and cheaper) to make a larger quantity of one kind of cookie than smaller quantities of several kinds. You can adjust the number of guests and quantity of cookies to whatever you would like.

Got the doc to sign the papers!

One of my lasts posts was about my concern as to whether my doctor would sign the paperwork to get a handicap parking placard for my car. I was worried that he would say no. But I basically worried for nothing and my doc today signed the appropriate page for me to get the placard.
I am very lucky to have a doc like this. It also makes me feel terrible that there are people out there with chronic pain that aren't as lucky to have doctors who are sympathetic to their issues to help them. This is partially why I created this blog. To give people hope that there are doctors out there who do care about you and want to help you to the best of their ability. I wish I could share my doctor with those of you who have an uncooperative doctor and teach your doc how to treat chronic pain patients.
Good luck to all of you!
Oh I forgot to mention, I decided against getting the Rhizotomy for my right side. I basically feel that the pain I feel for the right side does not warrant the amount of pain I will be in after the procedure! So now I am just stuck with a bum hip on the left side!

When to get a disabled parking placard?

That is the question I am asking myself the last few days. Ever since my Rhizotomy back 6 weeks or so ago, my left leg gets painfully weak and tired. Then I am left in agony for the rest of the day just for doing "normal people" errands like grocery shopping and picking up my meds. If you need to do both.....oh brother are we in for it!
So as I said, now I am finally coming to a decision about accepting that I can't "do it all" anymore. Now don't get me wrong, I just don't want one just to have one. I would like to have it for times when it gets really bad.
Also I am set for next week to get my right side Rhizotomy done. If this left side recovery is any indiction as to how it will go, I am going to need that placard. Especially since my left side is not quite healed and I have SI joint and sciatic problems. Walking is going to be an adventure that is for sure.

Interesting new study

Long-Term Treatment with a Staphylococcus Toxoid Vaccine in Patients with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
by Carl-Gerhard Bottfries, et al
ImmuneSupport.com

11-01-2006

Journal: Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Vol. 13(4) 2006 pp. 31-43. [Published online ahead of print. Article copies are available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: docdelivery@haworthpress.com ; Website: http://www.HaworthPress.com.]
Authors and affiliation: Carl-Gerhard Gottfries, Ove Häger, Björn Regland, Olof Zachrisson. Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Gothenburg Sweden. [E-mail carl-gerhard.gottfries@vgregion.se]


One hundred and sixty patients with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, who were on a continuous treatment with a Staphylococcus vaccine, were followed during one year with repeated consultation visits. The patients had participated in controlled studies and been on continuous treatment with the vaccine for 22+/-10 months before inclusion in this follow-up study. They were treated with 1 mL of the vaccine subcutaneously every third to fourth week. Adverse events were few. The adherence to the treatment was very good. Over a period of one year, 8% withdrew, and in only 5%, the withdrawal was due to insufficient clinical effect. Only in two cases where the patients were allergic to the preservative of the vaccine, the side effects caused the withdrawal of the treatment.

Ratings with scales (CPRS-15 and FibroFatigue) showed improvement from start of treatment and also further improvement during the follow-up year. In view of the natural history for these disorders the result is of interest.