Fibromyalgia:  What is it? and do you have it?

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome, in that is it is a collection of symptoms. There are no clinical tests for Fibromyalgia.

So how do you know if you have Fibromyalgia?

Do you have:

· Unexplained widespread pain or aching?

· Persistent fatigue?

· Generalized morning stiffness?

· Non-refreshing sleep?

· Multiple tender points?

Lets look at some of the official definitions as prescribed by the medical profession:

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a little understood condition, even by the medical profession. It is characterised by widespread myofascial pain, poor sleep, morning stiffness in the muscles and the presence of at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points.

It is not a new syndrome as it was first described by William Balfour, a surgeon at the University of Edinburgh in 1816 (van Why 1994) but confusion arose because of the many names the medical profession called it, names such as chronic rheumatism, myalgia, pressure point syndrome, and fibrositis, and many thought the whole thing to be just psychological.

As recently as 1987 the American Medical Association (AMA) eventually recognized FMS as a true illness and a major cause of disability. Final recognition came on January 1st. 1993 when it was officially recognized by the World Health Organization.

The Copenhagen Declaration in 1992 defines FMS as a painful but not articular condition predominantly involving muscles. And as the most common cause of chronic, widespread muscluloskeletal pain.

In 1990 The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) defined the finer points of FMS for diagnostic purposes. The WHO considered the ACR definition as "suitable for research purposes" and added the following, often overlooked symptoms to the syndrome -

the presence of :

· Unexplained widespread pain or aching,

· Persistent fatigue,

· Generalized morning stiffness,

· Non-refreshing sleep,

· Multiple tender points

In addition to the above I have observed that many fibromyalgics have flare ups of pain when the weather changes, and that normal pain killers have little or no effect on the pain.

It is reported that 85% of fibromyalgics are women and only 15% are male.
The problem may have a genetic component as it tends to run in families.

In his book "Let's Play Doctor" Dr Wallach ND.says:

"Fibromyalgia (adult onset muscular dystrophy, known in animals as stiff lamb disease) was eliminated from animals in 1957. It is a multiple deficiency disease of selenium, vitamin E and amino acids.
Treatment includes: elimination of all fried foods and vegetable oils, supplementation with Selenium 500mcg, Vitamin E 1200iu, and an Amino acid program."

We have only just started trials on this program at Pain Busters Clinic, so it is still too early to report on results.

Gary Clark

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia: The Revolutionary Treatment That Can Reverse the Disease Author: R. Paul St. Amand Description Over a decade ago, Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, an experienced endocrinologist and UCLA assistant clinical professor, published his protocol for reversing fibromyalgia based on nearly half a century of research...

Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current science and the most effective treatments Author: Ginevra Liptan Description Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by widespread muscle pain and fatigue that affects 6-10 million people in the United States. Huge progress in research over the past decade has established dysfunction in sleep, pain, and the stress response in fibromyalgia...

Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current Science and the Most Effective Treatments Author: Ginevra Liptan Description Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by widespread muscle pain and fatigue that affects 6–10 million people in the United States. Huge progress in research over the past decade has established dysfunction in sleep, pain, and the stress response in fibromyalgia...

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual (2nd Edition) Author: Devin J. Starlanyl Description This classic survival manual offers you the first comprehensive patient guide for managing the common but often misdiagnosed conditions of fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain. The management techniques found in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain include targeted bodywork for painful trigger points and strategies to help you cope with the chronic pain, sleep problems, and numbing effects of 'fibrofog' that occur as a result of the disease...

Fibromyalgia For Dummies Author: Roland Staud Description The pain you suffer from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is not in your imagination. FMS is a real medical problem that can be as debilitating and demoralizing as it is mysterious. Fibromyalgia For Dummies, Second Edition, brings you the latest scientific findings on the symptoms and causes of this disease and guides you toward proven, practical steps you can take reduce or eliminate FMS-related pain...

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Related posts:

1. Ten things we do at Pain Busters Clinic to help fight fibromyalgia