Category Archives: Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Is Only Induced by Motor Vehicle Trauma ?Whiplash Disease

A prospective trial (follow people before injury to after injury – a very good trial approach) found Widespread Pains developed only after Road traffic accidents – not after any other injury. This highlights howPost Traumatic Fibromyalgia coould be a neck disease … Continue reading

Posted in Fibromyalgia, Neck | 4 Comments

Unlearning Fibromylagia Pain

Quite some years ago, John Sarno, an orthopedic surgeon wrote book on how chronic widespread pain might be a manifestation of emotional pain – people whose bodies are on overdrive and knotted up with body armour. He called it Tension … Continue reading

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Mindfulness Therapy Not So Great in Fibromyalgia -Possible Reasons

Though an earlier uncontrolled study suggested Mindfulness medication could be helpful in FM, a randomized trial did not.  Maybe becoming aware of surroundings, some of which you don’t like, is not helpful?

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Physical Activity and Fibromylagia -Is it Good or Is It Hype?

Only 1/2 of studies show pain benefits in FM from exercise. Most exercise trails are short term (12-20 weeks) and a recent long term study failed to show benefits on followup. Is the idea “all you need is exercise” just hype?

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Straight MRI’s Useless in Fibromyalgia (FM)

There appears to be an association of chiari (“a hindbrain malformation characterized by downward anatomical extension of the cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum, and is thought to result from a developmentally small posterior fossa.”) and FM. This however, is … Continue reading

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Is Fibromyalgia(FM) an Anti-immune Disease?

Fibromyalgia rates are much higher in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) – about 31% and not higher in cases with subclinical hypothyroidism. This suggests a subgroup might be autoimmune.

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Fibromyalgia(FM) and Breathing Trouble – Alpha-1 – antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency

About 1-5% of FM might actually be an alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. This  condition causes run away inflammation that causes COPD but responds to AAT replacement therapy. Cases are presented.

Posted in Fibromyalgia | 3 Comments

If DHEA and Androgens Help Then Why is Fibromyalgia(FM) Higher in Polycystic Ovaries(PCO)

DHEA and androgen levels are higher in PCO yet FM rates are 32.5% in PCO versus 7.7 in the general population.

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Synthetic Cannabinoids And Fibromyalgia – Pain Aid and Now Sleeps

Two Canadian studies have been done on  Nabilone – One at University of Manitoba showing it improves pain, and a recent one from McGill showing it helps sleep.

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Is Fibromyalgia(FM) a Small Fiber Neuropathy?

Recent poster studies shows decreased nerve density peripherally in FM.

Posted in Fibromyalgia, neuropathic | 3 Comments

Biochemical and Hormonal Abnormalites Suggest Possible Treatments for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia posters at the IASP congress in Montreal highlighted abnormalities in DHEA and tryptophan. Treatments of these conditions could help. Testosterone could be a concern as well.

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Music Therapy in Chronic Pain May Drop Pains by 50% 0ver 2 Months

Program of twice daily 20 minute of specific music therapy dropped chronic pains from 6.3 to 3.2/10 over 6 weeks.

Posted in Fibromyalgia, Mechanical aids, psychology | 1 Comment

Treating Peripheral Triggers in Fibromyalgia (FM) Helpful

Just treating Infraspinatus and Trapezius triggers will drop pains in FM by 20% – renewing interest in idea that a portion of FM is peripherally driven.

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Quick Rating of Fibromyalgia Severity

The Fibromyalgia Impact questionnaire now appears as a series of Visual Scales that makes progress easy to follow.

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Fibromyalgia Sleep Disorder Treatment Success Highlights Narcoleptiform Sleep Disorder

High proportion of cases of Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic fatigue subjects had sleep studies and HLA body marker abnormalities suggestive of narcolepsy and responded to Sodium Oxybutate

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High Brain Insula Glutamate Confirms Fibromyalgia Central Hypersensitivity Idea

The idea sufferers of Fibromyaglia have pain amplifying circuits got confirmation with finding of high glutamate (pain transmitter) in insula of the brain. It’s like the brain is on fire…

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Sick Muscle Mitochondria Seen in Fibromylagia Cases

Mitochondria are the energy furnaces in the cell. When they don’t work you run out of “gas” and the cells get sick. Degenerating mitochondrial, low levels of mitochondrial supporting CoEnzyme Q10 (tissues not blood) and overwork excessive oxidation are seen … Continue reading

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Mortality in Fibromyalgia

There is some good new and bad news in a recent study

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Fibromyalgia – Simple Home Treatment

Stand up with one leg bent up. Position two mirror over the bend up leg so its reflection looks like you have both legs up. This gives patient an amazing sensation of weightlessness. Hold position for 30 seconds and stop … Continue reading

Posted in Fibromyalgia, Mechanical aids | 1 Comment

If Fibromyalgia is a Mast Cell Skin Disease, Would Tanning Help? – No but..

Finding Mast Cell accumulations up to 15 times normal in the skin of Fibromyalgia (FM) subjects has raised the question whether FM is a skin condition causing a tenderness there. This has sparked my interest in dermatological treatments. A trial … Continue reading

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Is Fibromyalgia a Mast Cell Disease – like some “somatization diseases” such as migraine, TMJ, irritable bowel, and interstitial cystitis

Sorry – trying to change fonts has duplicated some areas… It is become increasingly clear that so-called “somatization” “psychosomatic” diseases are associated with abnormal concentrations of mast cells – guardians of  peripheral sensitization and also carriers of allergy reactions such as hives. … Continue reading

Posted in Abdominal pain, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Interstial Cystitis/Gynecologic, mast cell disease | 8 Comments

Growth Hormone Deficiency Common in Fibromyalgia But Where is Evidence That Rx Helps That Much?

A recent abstract (not article) was published finding that baseline growth hormone and peak growth hormone levels (after insulin reaction provocation) were diminished in Fibromyalgia ,but prior article attempts of growth hormone supplementation looked disappointing to me.

Posted in Drugs, Fibromyalgia | 1 Comment

Cytokine Inflammation Diseases Will Be the Diseases of the 21st Century

Cytokine (Immune chemical) diseases will become more clear in the ensuing years. Recently Tension headache was associated with higher Interleukin-6 levels.

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How One May Obtain Significant Relief Pain With Over the Counter (OTC) Meds – Using Dextromethorphan

NOTE – many drugs could be effected by treatment below (and potentially dangerously) and so this should be supervised by your doctor or your pharmacist -especially if on Warfarin. There are rare cases of Dextromethorpan “Benylin cough syrup” dependence mentioned … Continue reading

Posted in Drugs, Fibromyalgia | 1 Comment

New Tool For Fibromyalgia Diagnosis Clinically

A series of 6 self-administered questions proved helpful in delineating fibromyalgia risk. A cut-off of 5/6 positive answers “gave the highest rate of correct identification of patients (87.9%), with a sensitivity of 90.5% and a specificity of 85.7%”.

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