What the heck is fibromyalgia??

DusktilDawn · Aug 5, 2005

A form of nonarticular rheumatism characterized by musculoskeletal pain, spasm and stiffness, fatigue, and severe sleep disturbance. Common sites of pain or stiffness can be palpated in the lower back, neck, shoulder region, arms, hands, knees, hips, thights, legs, and feet. These are known as trigger points. Physical tgherapy, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants provide temporary relief.

Definition from Mosby's medical dictonary.

mommatrauma, RN · Aug 5, 2005

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fibromyalgia.html

rebeccainlv · Aug 14, 2005

My mother suffers from FM s/p a serious car accident 9 years ago. She is disabled and retired now. The one of the things that have helped her the most is to find a pain dr that understands FM. She used to take all kinds of serious opiates and she is now off of everything except Neurontin and antidepressants. She occasionally takes Ultram for antiinflammatory pain.

The biggest improvement for her came through seeing an acupuncturist. She gets treatment every few weeks and lives a pretty normal life now.

I have a herniated disk and also see an acupuncturist. I can't say enough positive things about Chinese and alternative medicine for conditions that Western doctors don't fully understand.

MissJoRN, RN · Aug 14, 2005

The biggest improvement for her came through seeing an acupuncturist. She gets treatment every few weeks and lives a pretty normal life now.
I have a herniated disk and also see an acupuncturist. I can't say enough positive things about Chinese and alternative medicine for conditions that Western doctors don't fully understand.

I'm not surprised....those "trigger points" mentioned above caught my eye once when I was looking at a diagram that showed their location on the body...then it clicked...they fall on acupuncture meridians often where they cross. I don't know much about acupuncture but would think it would be an especially helpful modality in the case of "classic" fibro.

MIA-RN1, RN · Aug 14, 2005

Hi guys,
My Dad has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I've done a little bit of net research about it... but what Ive been able to find has been vague and im becoming frustrated by not knowing exactly what the deal is!
I'd love any information with regards to exactly what it is, what causes it, prognosis, and not just conventional treatments, but complimentary therapies as well (my Dad is into complementary therapy).
Anything would be great
goober

I have fibromyalgia, have had it for years. I use reiki on myself when it gets really bad. I have found time and time again that the NSAID's don't work as well for me as plain old tylenol. The thought of accupuncture on trigger points sends chills on my spine, but maybe it would help.

I've read, and believe, that fibro symptoms worsen w/ lack of sleep. I read some studies that they kept people up or kept waking them up and they developed symptoms similar to fibro. I know mine is worse when I am tired and/or stressed in any way.

Tell dad that a good, regulated sleep-wake time is helpful. My doc said NO NAPS and at first I didn't believe him--couldn't really stay awake if I tried anyway-- but it helped after a bit. They use low-dose antidepressants to help regulate sleep too. I took pamelor (nortryptaline) 10mg qs and it really really helped. Lots of people I know w/ fibro are more sensitive to drugs too, which is why the lowest dose helped me.

I also found HUGE relief of my symptoms with a low-carb diet. The relief came way before the weight loss, so I can't attribute feeling better to losing 30 lbs.

Oh, and often hypothyroid symptoms mimic fibro, and vice-versa, so be sure your dad's had his thyroid levels checked too.

And please tell him that YES IT DOES GET BETTER than it is right now. It takes time, but it gets easier to handle. I don't know if it goes away ever, but my life now compared to 10 years ago is way better.