fibromyalgia

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hi, just wanted to hear from any nurses working with fibromyalgia. my mom is writing a book, and if anyone was interested in having their stories, ideas or inputs included. if possible would like to hear humorous stories, even with this condition as well as living with fibro. day to day. thanks. ps. my mom has fibro. and promises not to take up to much of your time.

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Are you looking for just nurses with fibro, or folks with fibro in general? My mother has fibro, but is not a nurse.

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Hello,

I am a RN and I have suffered with fibromyalgia for many years, it is not something that any one would want to live with .I have so much that I would loveto share with her and I am hoping that one day there will be a cure and not just symptom relief. I also wish that they can actually find out how and why so many people especially woman are being diagnosed with it. I have not allowed it to take control of my life and I pray each day for relief as well. Please feel free to contact me at any time for any information that may help.

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How in the world do you diagnose fibromyalgia?

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fibro is dx by sx and ruling out anything else...the pain varies from discomfort to intense

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

I have people come to clinic every day thinking that they have it, and when we determine that it is likely arthritis, they get mad. I can't fathom WHY they'd want it. I'm a big skeptic, though, I'm going to have to research it more before I form a ready opinion on this ailment.

It would be simpler if there were a blood or biopsy test, though, more definitive.

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fibromyalgia is not an autoimmnune disease. this is a widespread notion. a higher percentage of women are diagnosed but this is thought because men are more reluctant to seek medical help. the medical community first began studying rheumatism in the 1880's. in the mid 1900's it became named fibrositis. in the 1960's fibrositis was persued by a canadian physician, dr. hugh smyth. in 1990, dr. smyth along with five other physicians completed the research that is now used by the american college of rheumatology's criteria.

the american college of rheumatology

1990 criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia

history of widespread pain has been present for at least three months

definition: pain is considered widespread when all of the following are present:

  • pain in both sides of the body
  • pain above and below the waist in addition, axial skeletal pain (cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine or low back pain) must be present. low back pain is considered lower segment pain.

pain in 11 of 18 tender point sites on digital palpation

definition: pain, on digital palpation, must be present in at least 11 of the following 18 tender point sites:

  • occiput (2) - at the suboccipital muscle insertions.
  • low cervical (2) - at the anterior aspects of the intertransverse spaces at c5-c7.
  • trapezius (2) - at the midpoint of the upper border.
  • supraspinatus (2) - at origins, above the scapula spine near the medial border.
  • second rib (2) - upper lateral to the second costochondral junction.
  • lateral epicondyle (2) - 2 cm distal to the epicondyles.
  • gluteal (2) - in upper outer quadrants of buttocks in anterior fold of muscle.
  • greater trochanter (2) - posterior to the trochanteric prominence.
  • knee (2) - at the medial fat pad proximal to the joint line.

digital palpation should be performed with an approximate force of 4 kg. a tender point has to be painful at palpation, not just "tender."

add to this- central nervous system, gastrointestinal, dermal, and a host of other life-altering symptoms.

a good md or np will refer the patient to a rheumatologist for true diagnoses.

as far as "believe in fibromyalgia"? i guess the same could be said for mental illness. two hundred years ago we crucified the mentally ill because they were "possessed". think of patients with epilepsy. just some 30 years ago, these patients were ashamed of the diagnoses because of the lack of knowledge by the medical community and the general public. or we could continue to jump all over our fellow nurses who call out for shift because they "just" have cramps. the "unknown" is often easier to dismiss rather than investigate, learn about, and learn from. think gulf war syndrome. a large number of these cases are confirmed fibromyalgia patients.

i have read through past threads on fibromyalgia and i am appalled at the comments written by fellow nurses. it breaks my heart to think a patient seeking a diagnoses would be so harshly judged. there is much written now on the research of fibromyalgia. johns hopkins continues to make great strides in this area. like so many other now "confirmed" diseases and/or illnesses they all were at one time floundering, waiting for a diagnoses, waiting for a medication(s), waiting for a cure; fibromyalgia is very real. i always try to remember that medicine is science in progress. waiting for great men and women to discover what we are yet to know. listen to your patient. please do not judge based on lack of information and or knowledge.

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Check out the Sept 26, 08 issue of the journal Brain

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Check out the Sept 26, 08 issue of the journal Brain

I have read this issue. I hope others will check out OXFORD-BRAIN JOURNAL. Incredible research.

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Specializes in Home Health.

i'm a HHA and i've had fibro for many years, in fact i was just diagnosed a year ago, but i know i've had it for many years... feel free to PM me with any questions your mother has

Erica

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