Is fibromyalgia Reversable?

fibromyalgia is often referred to as a chronic condition or a syndrome involving pain. Translated it means fibro (fiber) my(o) muscle, algia (pain). It is a disorder which affects by far more women than men. While the true cause of fibromyalgia is still uncertain there is speculation of it having something to do with genetic predisposition. Certain factors experienced over a period of time can trigger its onset including stress, anxiety and depression. While pain might be the main complaint, there are other major symptoms associated with the fibromyalgia syndrome, such as fatigue, sleeping disorder and stiff joints. But fibromyalgia doesn’t just affect the muscular system. It can block proper functioning of any body system, inhibiting proper digestive functioning for example.

Not everybody, who has been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, might experience all the same symptoms. We are all unique individuals and react differently to what we are exposed in life. If you have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or you think you have the classic symptoms, then your body is trying to tell you that it has been thrown off balance and needs your help to gain homeostasis again. Homeostasis is the body’s ability to keep a perfect balance. 

In recent times there has been lots of research done about the effects oxygen has on our body.  It was noted that our body requires a sufficient amount of oxygen to stay completely healthy.  It is no wonder that stress, fear, depression change our breathing pattern, not allowing enough oxygen to enter our body, starting an on-going cycle of emotional and physical discomfort.  This cycle can last for months and sometimes even turn into an ailment or condition such as Fibromyalgia.

Most people suffering from Fibromyalgia do see their medical doctors for pain management solutions. Pain is one of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.  A symptom is simply a message, letting you know that your body is no longer in perfect balance.  If we fight the symptoms, they keep coming back.  If we fight the cause, the root of the problem, then the symptoms won’t get a chance to make an appearance.

Five Easy-To-Follow Steps That Could Change Your Life 

Step 1: Consider a detox program to supply all digestive organs with the necessary nutrition to clean out debris and toxins within the digestive tract. Consider this cleanse a new start, a healthy diet made of natural and organic ingredients, such as raw vegetables and fruits, good quality meats, fish and grains. Stay away from processed foods. Diet changes can have amazing results on your physical and emotional well-being. Avoid refined sugars and sugar drinks. Drink plenty of water in between meals to promote a healthy digestion.

Step 2: Depending on your stress level, consider relaxation therapy . The best choices would be Hot Stone Massages or Lomi Lomi Massages. These techniques are known to be extremely relaxing. For that reason, they tend to release blockages deep within the body. Practice deep breathing during treatments. This will increase the amount of oxygen delivered to the cells and therefore increase the body’s healing capacity. Another very effective form of therapy I can recommend is LaStone Therapy. Due to the opposing temperatures, this type of massage will significantly increase circulation and help fight nasty trigger points (painful knots in muscles). Another amazing technique is a very ancient Japanese healing form called Jin Shin Jyutsu.  It is based on the principle of traditional Chinese Medicine and a very non-invasive healing method. It releases blockages and pain patterns by harmonizing life’s energy. This method is very relaxing and absolutely pain-free. 

Step 3: Most of us actually practice shallow breathing and don’t supply the body with enough oxygen. Oxygen is necessary to keep our cells healthy. Have you ever noticed the change in breathing pattern when you are under severe stress or when you are overcome with fear? Start deep breathing exercises on a daily basis. Deep breathing doesn’t just promote good health but it helps fight stress. When you inhale, make sure you extend your belly. Slowly exhale while bringing the belly back to the starting position. This is called Hara Breathing and has been practiced in Asia for thousands of years already.

Step 4: Stretching is necessary to keep structural balance, which will allow us to live with fewer muscular pains. Static Stretches should be held in position for a minimum of 30 – 60 seconds, the longer the better the results are. View your body in a big mirror, frontview and then sideview. Do you have a rounded back? Are your shoulders tilted forward? Is one shoulder sitting higher up than the other? These imbalances can have pain-producing effects on other parts of the body. For instance,a rounded back and forward-tilted shoulders are usually the result of short chest and abdominal muscles. A muscle lengthening stretching program is essential in keeping our structures healthy and painfree.

Step 5: Start an exercise program that appeals to you. Exercising will release endorphins. Endorphins are neurotransmitters, which act as natural painkillers. Exercising will also give you a feel-good sensation, especially beneficial if you are suffering from anxiety and depression. It will allow your lungs to open up and supply your cells with plenty of oxygen which is essential for maintaining a healthy cellular system.  Plus, if you have painful trigger points (knots) on your back, a back strengthening exercise program would be beneficial as it increases circulation and reduces the size of these trigger points.

Oxygen is the key ingredient in all five steps, which tells us that our cells depend on it to stay healthy and/or become healthy again. It is the food that our cells crave. Lack of oxygen is the creator of ailments. If you are serious about fighting fibromyalgia including anxiety and depression, I recommend a program that doesn’t just take care of one symptom but a program that will fight the cause of all the symptoms.

As a therapist and holistic healer I have come across many fibromyalgia patients. I have seen amazing results. The most important fact about achieving healing is that we are open to accepting a certain treatment. Otherwise, if we believe that nothing will work, we already are determined to give up and this negative energy will block the healing energy that is ready and available in our body.

If we want to fight fibromyalgia, we need to combat stress with all the weapons available to us. For that reason, I recommend starting with a program that will increase oxygen absorption, which will promote detoxification and increase metabolism, reduce painful trigger points, increase the release of endorphins, and decrease anxiety and depression.  Believe in yourself and believe in the fact that our body knows how to cure itself if given the right ingredients.

Fibromyalgia Diet. Fibromyalgia Treatment. 1-2-3 Recovery Program
Fibromyalgia can be cured by treatment based on diet and exercises. I will show you how. Recover from Fibromyalgia, back pain, depression, fatigue, insomnia, foggy head. Follow my step-by-step Fibromyalgia treatment program. All natural.
Fibromyalgia Diet. Fibromyalgia Treatment. 1-2-3 Recovery Program
Five ways to boost sleep’s fat-burning effects
Have a spare tire around your middle? You might need better sleep! Find out how you can get a good night’s rest, and what it means for weight loss.
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Radical fibromyalgia Treatment

Applying Fibromyalgia treatment is crucial if you want to get rid of this debilitating condition once and for all. Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue are utterly painful conditions and the agony of living in a painful body varies from person to person. No day is like the one before and no one can tell if tomorrow is a good day or a bad day.

While many have given up on believing that it is possible to find treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment and Fibromyalgia, I am living proof that it can be done. I was first diagnosed with Chronic Immune Deficiency Disorder, perhaps because I walked around with a low grade fever that ranged between 100 and 101 degrees for a period of over 2 years. No one could quite figure out why. People with Chronic Fatigue may have no pain or less pain than those with Fibromyalgia syndrome.

Radical fibromyalgia treatment.  is essential and absolutely necessary if you’re serious about kicking this condition in the bud. You have many choices when dealing with Fibromyalgia:

You can do nothing and whine about it and join Fibromyalgia support groups that mostly do just that – support Fibromyalgia by talking about it even more.
You can mask the pain temporarily by taking various medications ranging from over the counter pain medications to prescription drugs. Taking medications is not radical, it only makes things worse over the long run.
You can do only one thing here and one over there, but never do a series of things which are needed to get radical Fibromyalgia treatment

So what is radical Fibromyalgia treatment?

You must stop feeling sorry for yourself. This includes stop talking about it at any cost. Doing so only multiplies its negative, draining energy. I have dedicated an entire chapter in my book to the power of our words and another chapter on creating positive affirmations and another chapter to the power of our thoughts.
You must dedicate yourself and set your intention to get healing once and for all. Not getting healing is out of the question, it’s impossible for you not to find the cure, in fact you are dedicated to finding the cure for your own Fibromyalgia condition (and I am here to help).
You must be willing to do whatever it takes to get better. Whether this means to apply a new exercise regime or being willing to eliminate some food groups temporarily. The longest chapter in my book is about diet and which foods groups promote your Fibromyalgia symptoms and which ones will initiate the internal healing process.

There are too many steps to list in one article, which promote ultimate healing. Radical fibromyalgia.  treatment is necessary to heal a condition that took a life time to manifest in your beautiful body temple. I share many more steps and metaphysical and spiritual healing methods in my book and on my blog. To join our blogging community simply visit our website or join our Facebook fan page.

Chaszey is a keynote presenter and author of Inspiration to Live – a Spiritual Step-by-Step Action Guide to Healing fibromyalgia. She has been Fibromyalgia free for over 10 years and teaches new Fibromyalgia healing methods that promote effortless health. Read her book and blog at http://www.inspirationtolive.com.

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Learning to Cope and Live with fibromyalgia

fibromyalgia is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed syndromes there is in the medical field because there are still so many people, and doctors that dismiss this syndrome because there are no difinitive test ro prove if someone has this syndrome due to the fact that so many of it’s sysmtoms can fall under other illnesses or syndromes. It is also dismisses as a syndrome because it is still a mystery as to what exactly causes fibromyalgia or where it comes from.

However the people that have to live with Fibromyaglia can tell you that the pain and symptoms are very real, and it is extremely miseriable to have. I would not wish this type of Chronic Pain on no one, not even my worst enemy. Fibromyalgia affects and interfers with everyday living that most people take for granted like sex, preganancies, jobs, sleep, and many, many more.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a type of arthritis and it is the most common arthritis-related condition after osteoarthritis. It is a chronic pain disorder that affects people physically, socially, and mentally. Fibromyalgia is characterized as a syndrome because it is a collection of signs, symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but they are not related to a specific identifiable cause such as dieases are. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain state in which the nerve stimuli causing pain originates mainly in the muscle. The pain increases upon on movement and the aggravation of fibromyalgia by strenuous exertion.

Its characteristics include widespread muscle and joint pain and fatigue as well as many other symptoms. Fibromyalgia can lead to depression and social isolation. The impact that comes from the tremendous physical and mental strains can lead to loss of work hours, income, relationships, and more.

With Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) the following symptoms commonly occur together:

widespread pain
decreased pain threshold or tender points
anxiety or depression
incapacitating fatigue

What causes fibromyalgia

While the underlying cause or causes of FM still remain a mystery, new research findings continue to bring us closer to understanding the basic mechanisms of fibromyalgia. Most researchers agree that FM is a disorder of central processing with neuroendocrine/neurotransmitter dysregulation. The FM patient experiences pain amplification due to abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous system. An increasing number of scientific studies now show multiple physiological abnormalities in the FM patient, including: increased levels of substance P in the spinal cord, low levels of blood flow to the thalamus region of the brain, HPA axis hypofunction, low levels of serotonin and tryptophan and abnormalities in cytokine function. 

Recent studies show that genetic factors may predispose individuals to a genetic susceptibility to FM. For some, the onset of FM is slow; however, in a large percentage of patients the onset is triggered by an illness or injury that causes trauma to the body. These events may act to incite an undetected physiological problem already present.

The most common agreed upon causes of FMS by researchers are:

A genetic component, this disorder is often seen in families, among siblings or mothers and their children.
Fibromyalgia often occurs following a physical trauma, such as an acute illness or injury, which may act as a “trigger” in the development of the disorder.
Increasing attention is being devoted to the central nervous system as the underlying mechanism of FM. Recent studies have suggested that FM patients have generalized disturbance in pain processing and an amplified response to stimuli that would not ordinarily be painful in healthy individuals.

Exciting new research has also begun in the areas of brain imaging and neurosurgery. Ongoing research will test the hypothesis that FM is caused by an interpretative defect in the central nervous system that brings about abnormal pain perception. Medical researchers have just begun to untangle the truths about this life-altering disease.

Men vs. Women in fibromyalgia

There are more then 12 million Americans have FMS. Women are 10 times more likely to have FMS then men with ages ranging from 25-69. Most of them are women ranging in age from 25 to 60.

What are the fibromyalgia symptoms?

Fibromyalgia causes a person to ache all over and possible crippling fatique as if you had a severe case of the flu. In fact if you have a friend or loved one that does not quite understand your FMS then have them remember back to when they had the flu, then tell them to remember how bad their body ached all over. Once they can remember that then you tell them to multiply that by 10 and that is almost how bad your body aches all over.

Your muslces may feel like they have been overworked or like you pulled them without doing anything to them such as excercise. Your muscles can also sometimes twitch, having a burning sensation, or have a deep stabbing pain. There are specific trigger points or tender points on the body that may be painful to touch. You may also experience swelling, disturbances in a deep level or restful sleep, and mood disturbances or depression.

Some patients of FMS may have pain, achiness, and stiffness around the joints in the neck, shoulder, back, and hips. This can make it difficult for them to sleep or exercise. FMS can cause signs and feelings similar to osteoarthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis, but the pain of bursitis or tendinitis is localized to a specific area of or in the body. The feelings of pain and stiffness with FMS are widespread. Other fibromyalgia symptoms include:

abdominal pain
anxiety and depression
chronic headaches
difficulty maintaining sleep or light sleep
dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes
fatigue upon arising
hypersensitivity to cold and/or heat
inability to concentrate (called “fibro fog”)
incontinence
irritable bowel syndrome
numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
painful menstrual cramps
poor circulation in hands and feet (called Raynaud’s phenomenon)
restless legs syndrome
pain or burning sensation in the heels of your feet
pain or burning sensation in your elbows
stiffness

Are there tests used to diagnose fibromyalgia?

No there are not any difinitive test such as x-ray’s, MRI’s, lab test, etc. to diagnoise FMS. The best way to make an accurate diagnosis is to rely on an comprehnsive physical examination done by your doctor will rely on a and your medical history. Your doctor will also use a “diagnosis of exclusion” which means the doctor will rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms.

Even though there are no specific medical test that can be done to diagnose FMS your doctor may run some specific blood tests to rule out more serious illnesses. For example, your doctor may ask for a complete blood count (CBC), your doctor may also ask for tests for chemicals, such as glucose, that can create problems similar to problems caused by FMS. A thyroid test is another one that may also be done, because an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can cause problems similar to FMS., which includes fatigue, muscle aches, weakness, and depression. Some other laboratory tests your doctor may use to rule out serious illnesses may include Lyme titers, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte (red blood cell) sedimentation rate (ESR), prolactin level, and calcium level.

Nest your doctor will use a “diagnosis of inclusio” which means your doctor will make sure your symptoms satisfy the diagnostic criteria for FMS outlined by the American College of Rheumatology. This criteria consist of widespread pain that persists for at least three months. Please note that widespread pain refers to pain that occurs in both the right and left sides of the body, both above and below the waist, and in the chest, neck, and mid or lower back.

The doctor will then assess the severity of related symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders. This will help measure the impact FMS has on your physical and emotional function as well as on your overall health related quality of life.

Is there a cure or standard treatment for fibromyalgia?

There is no cure for FMs, and there is no treatment that will address all of the fibromyalgia symptoms. However, there has been a wide array of traditional and alternative treatments that have shown to be effective in treating this difficult syndrome. Treatment programs may include a combination of medications, exercises or both strengthening and aerobic conditioning, and behavioral techniques.

What medications are there to treat fibromyalgia?

According to the American College of Rheumatology, drug therapy for fibromyalgia primarily treats the symptoms, and does not cure FMS. The FDA has approved three drugs to treat FMS:

Lyrica
Cymbalta
Savella.

Lyrica-which is also used to treat nerve pain caused by shingles and diabetes, has shown to be effective in easing fibromyalgia pain for some patients.

Cymbalta & Savella-are in a class of drugs known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Also the FDA states thet low doses of tricyclic compounds such as Flexeril, Cycloflex, Flexiban, Elavil, or Endep have been found effective in treating the pain of FMS. In addition, positive results have been shown with the antidepressants known as dual reuptake inhibitors ( Effexor). Ultram is a pain relieving medicine that may also be helpful. 

Your doctor may also want to prescribe an antidepressant such as Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft., these drugs may help relieve feelings of depression, sleep disorders, and pain. Recently, researchers have found that the antiepileptic Neurontin is promising for fibromyalgia treatment too.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), including COX-2 drugs, have not been found to be effective for treating FMS pain. Opioid pain medications are usually only prescribed if all other drug and non-drug options have been tried to failed to no avail. These are only prescribed as a very last resort, and only if the patient is truly in sever pain.

Are there alternative treatments for fibromyalgia?

There are some alternative therapies, although they are not well-tested, can help manage the symptoms of FMS. For instance I learned some very intersting techniques when I went to the FMS Clinic in Springfiel, Missouri that is associated with St. John’s Hospital like, therapeutic massage manipulates the muscles and soft tissues of the body and helps ease deep muscle pain, but this may not be right for everyone it will depend on that person tolerance of pain and touch. Also if you take a white cloth like a cloth diaper (it needs to be white and cotton so the dyes do not fade off onto you), a large Ziploc Baggie, and a small bottle of Castrol, you then place the cloth in the large baggie, pour then bottle of Castrol Oil in the bag and all over the cloth, then you place the zipped baggie in the microwave for 1-3 minutes (however hot you can stand it) and then you take it out of the microwave and apply to the area of pain or soarness and place a towl over it, it can relieve your aches or pains. This has worked for me but of the other patients that were there it did not work out to well for them.  Something else you can do that might be effective, and I love to do is to take a bath as hot as you can stand it, and soak in it. This is not good for your skin because it can cause dry skin, but I will take the dry skin anyday over the pain. I have a whirlpool that I fill up with scolding hot water then I turn on the jets and the heat from the water and the massage from the jets feels so awesome. 

Now the American Pain Society (APS) guidelines recommend moderately intense aerobic exercise at least two or three times a week. The APS panel also endorses clinician-assisted treatments, such as hypnosis, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and chiropractic manipulation for pain relief.

Also along with alternative therapies, it’s important to allow time each day to rest and relax. Relaxation therapies  such as deep muscle relaxation or deep breathing exercises may help reduce the added stress that can trigger fibromyalgia symptoms. Having a regularly scheduled bedtime is also important. Sleep is essential to let the body repair itself, even if you have trouble sleeping it is important that you go to bed at the same time each night, because even though you may not be sleeping you are resting your body.

Food combining and fibromyalgia

Food combining is a way of eating foods so that they do not “fight” against each other; most foods belong to one of these three groups;

Proteins
Neutral foods
Starchy foods

Fruits are treated separately, and starches and protein foods can be combined with neutral foods but they should not be with each other. This enables more efficient digestion, and has had a significant effect in many cases of arthritis, including FMS.

Now according to Lesley Martin, Nutritionist & Kinesiologist the following combining recommendations may be helpful:

Combine any protein foods with leafy, neutral or low-starch vegetables
Combine starchy foods with leafy or low-starch vegetables
Have milk alone or try it and see if it works for you with grain foods like breakfast cereals
Experiment to see if cheese works well with either fruit or vegetables, or try it with grains or egg dishes
Papaya and pineapple contain abundant enzymes that help digestion, so they may combine well with any of the food groups especially proteins
Try and see how nuts, seeds and unrefined oils combine with any of the foods groups
Depending on your digestive system, fruits may or may not be combined with seeds and nuts, grains or milk products

You do not need to combine in the same meal heavy or lighter proteins with starchy foods, such as beef with bread or potatoes. You can try being less strict and try a combination of a grain like brown rice with light proteins, or bread with eggs. Do not combine lighter protein foods with milk or milk products or have a dairy desert right after these proteins, nor should you combine raw fruit or fruit juices with slightly starchy vegetables or with any non-fruit meal. Lemon juice is an exception, otherwise best to keep to a separate meal or allow at least half an hour before eating fruit after a non-fruit meal. Also you do not need to have sweets with protein foods or immediately after a protein meal. Sweets include fruit, honey, maple syrup, and refined sugar. Pineapple and papaya are exceptions.

Fibromyalgia: A Real Disease? Yes! Its Not In Your Head!
Are you suffering from fibromyalgia? These eBooks show why fibromyalgia is a muscle cell disease, what the signs & symptoms really are and what’s the basic care!
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Have you ever wondered what it was like for a friend, spouse, or other family member who suffers with fibromyalgia?

When you are in constant pain it is often difficult to see the beauty in life

fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions can be difficult to understand, especially when someone you love is the one who suffers from the condition.

You can not just look at a person with fibromyalgia or other Chronic pain and see that they are suffering from a Chronic disease process. There is no way to tell just by looking at them just how much pain they are really in.

Family and friends may not believe that the person who suffers from Fibromyalgia or other chronic pain condition is really sick. They often think that the person who suffers from these disease conditions is just to sensitive, or has a low pain threshold or are faking the condition.

It is hard for people who do not suffer from Fibromyalgia or other Chronic pain conditions to understand just what the sufferer goes through on a day to day basis.

Read on and I will try to help you understand, these are the tools you will need to hopefully understand what it is like and how you may be able to help the sufferer

* Caring spirit

* Ability to be non-judgmental

* empathy not sympathy, we do not need your sympathy!

* Understanding that some days we just can not keep up with our or your plans.

Fibromyalgia and other Chronic pain conditions

may not be life threatening, but they are life stopping!

Fibromyalgia steals more than just relationships …

causes more than just pain …

It steals lives, one day at a time …

everyday activities like taking the family dog for a walk can become impossible!

Simple things like taking the family dog for a daily walk can become impossible when you are faced with chronic pain … Each and every day we are alive is a day with pain

Daily pain wears the body down…

pain reduces energy…

reduced energy diminishes quality of life,

When you are in constant pain it is not only we who suffer…

but our family’s as well.

Every day we are in pain is a day our world shrinks a little at a time.

Our co-workers may notice we are not as attentive as before and may even begin to gossip about what they think may be going on in our lives

Others may see us as scatter brained, inattentive, or wonder if we are drinking,

Fibro-fog steals the most important thing… Our ability to think and communicate.

We loose words all the time, the phrase “it is on the tip of my tongue” was ment for fibromyalgia sufferers …

it had to be… because we live it daily.

People think we seem distracted, slow or unable to perform our jobs because…

we miss things, that we would otherwise not miss.

This distraction may be due to the “fibro-fog or simply the pain!

If you are a supervisor and have Fibromyalgia, it is even worse because employees chat about if they think that you are drinking during your breaks because your speech may be slurred, or you may appear inattentive.

Just like a puppy in a cage, our bodies betray us and we sometimes stumble and fall

Our world gets just that much smaller

we lose our identity, independance, zest for life! Our world shrinks on a daily basis.

We can’t work, so we then find that we must fight to go on disability because we loose our jobs …

Again our world shrinks.

We experience fatigue, we can’t get around like we used to … our world shrinks.

We loose our independence and may need  to depend on others … our world shrinks.

we want to spend time with our familys and our children

but we are tied down by our fatigue, our pain …

Our children want us to come play with them, our husbands want our time and our attention, our family can’t understand what is wrong with us…

we look just fine… but inside we are not fine!

Loved ones want to help but are frustrated,

they see us in pain and can do nothing …

Our outside friends and family members may not believe we are sick …

Our children do not understand why we can not attend events with them …

Our relationships with our husband/wife and children suffers …

We experience financial hardhsip as we fight for disability income …

Financial burdeons worry us as the medical bills mount with no end or answers in sight!

Living with Chronic pain can make us angry

The pain makes us angry, tired and miserable. We may lash out at loved ones…

We don’t understand what is happening to us before we are diagnosed, and may become angry and lash out at those we love the most

Fibromyalgia and Chronic pain is about losses

We often try to hide how we feel, this causes isolation

Which only makes us angry and miserable.

Our family and friends don’t know how to deal with us anymore

We loose friends, family doesn’t understand, relationships suffer

Even a touch from a loved one causes pain

Even a gentle touch from a loved one causes pain… making us seem unavailable to our familys.

Our world gets ever smaller…

It hurts to sit …

it hurts to stand …

even a loving hug can cause pain …

We try to hide just how bad we feel, it may even work for a while, but sooner or later the pain catches up …

Then it just takes over…

Children end up having to take on some adult responsibilities

Our children end up doing some of the household chores that we once did.

Our children can’t understand why we can not do the things that their friends mom’s or dads can do.

Our family’s and our children adapt, they try to help around the house to make us feel better.

This makes us feel guilty for our pain, so we try harder to hide it, from our loved ones and from ourselves…

We often try to hide our pain, this only makes the pain worse!

My son’s were wonderful about being quiet or bringing me ice when I had a really bad day.

Deep down inside though, I felt like I was letting them down.

I was no longer the wife and mother that I wanted to be…

I became someone else… someone I did not like at all

I became the embodiement of PAIN

Pain steals our lives

We are in constant pain, we try to hide it, we deny it,

but there it is… it steals our life…

How can we help but be depressed!

Like it or not, Depression steals even more of our lives!

Depression did not CAUSE our pain, rather depression is caused BY our pain.

Some doctors still hang on to the myth that we are depressed and that is what causes the pain,

or worse yet, they tell us that we need counseling, not medical treatment, to deal with our depression and not the pain.

Depression IS caused by the pain, but depression still needs to be addressed.

We may deny the depression

But how can you help but be depressed when every waking moment of your life you are in pain!

Sleep deprivation or improper sleep is common with fibromyalgia

Sleep eludes us for the pain, then fatigue becomes mind numbing,

and then finally sleep finally takes over… our lives!

Then there’s the fatigue …Endless mind numbing fatigue…

We become so tired, but we can not sleep for the pain

then it finally catches up to us, and we sleep for days

We feel tired all the time

Again our friends and family may try to understand

but they too fight the frustration and anger, when we can not do what we were supposed to do …

Plans get put on hold because we are too tired to go on that trip

Our children count on us to watch them play at the big game, but we just don’t have the strength…

Our jobs suffer   Our family’s suffer   Our lives suffer

Many of us suffer from undiagnosed sleep disorders,

Sleep apnea is a common problem  for those of us with Fibromyalgia

Ask your doctor for a sleep study!

Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are common and they are treatable

Sleep apnea is often treated with a CPAP or BIPAP device that the sufferer must wear every time they try to sleep.

Sleep apnea is common in sufferers of Fibromyalgia and other Chronic Pain conditions.

Sleep apnea can be either obstructive, which means that the airways close up during sleep, or Central when the brain forgets to tell the lungs to breathe.

Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a sleep study and usually treated with a CPAP device.

CPAP therapy is difficult to learn to live with, you wear a mask at night while pressurized air is pushed through a piece of tubing and into the mask to keep your airway open while you sleep. The device is noisy and can blow air on your spouse during the night.

This usually causes the spouse to feel resentful and try to urge you to not use your device at night so that they can get some sleep.

This can cause a further strain on relationships as the couple struggles to cope with yet another health related issue.

Then there is the dizzyness

many of us suffer with episodes of true vertigo

yes, the room really does spin!

True Vertigo is when the room really spins, you loose your balance,

and find it impossible to walk without falling due to the constant motion of objects around you.

Dizziness or true Vertigo are often common problems

Yes, the room really does spin!!!     No, I am not kidding here,

Dizziness is common with Fibromyalgia but no one can really explain why.

Dizziness can range from a simple feeling of movement that may or may not be followed by nausea and vomiting.

Sometimes it is only a sensation of movement or seeing movement out of the corner of your eye,

you see movement but when you go to look for it and it is gone…

But for some of us, myself included… it is typically true vertigo.

The room spins when you tilt your head a certain way.

This causes severe balance issues as well as nausea and vomiting.

It can last from a few hours to days at a time!

The sufferers doctor may prescribe Meclizine to help reduce the symptoms and make life bearable till the bout passes

Your balance is affected, you stumble and fall frequently,

you may find that you try to avoid public places so that others do not see you fall

Balance issues can be the worst thing to consider when dealing with Fibromyalgia.

You wobble when you walk. If I never hear another Weeble joke…

you find yourself bumping into door frames, stumble over your own feet, etc.,

People think you have been drinking or are drunk due to the way you walk…

You can’t help it, and so you become acutely conscious of how you walk, especially when out in public.

If you use a cane to assist you, you may find that sometimes it is not where you think it is and you fall.

People look at you, and again think you are drunk.

Stories about what you may be doing begin to be the latest gossip around town

You become more self conscious so, your world shrinks!

You become more self conscious, your world shrinks as you begin to avoid being in public when you are having problems with how you walk to avoid the embarrassment… and the questions…

Migraine headaches become a way of life

Even if you have never suffered from them before frequent Migraine Headaches may become a way of life

Migraines can be brought on my tight painful muscles that restrict the blood supply, often called tension headaches.

Migraines can come on for a variety of reasons, but with Fibromyalgia and chronic pain sufferers ,the Migraines may be brought on by the muscles in the neck and shoulders being in a constant state of spasm.

In this case pain begets more pain!

Migraine Headaches can also be caused by warmer weather, which for me is  frequently the case.

I tried to talk to my doctor about it but he is unsympathetic and feels that since I deal with them by staying in bed with ice packs, then I am ok… remind me that I need to find a different doctor!!!

So Again your world shrinks …

Optic Migraines are the scariest!

I have episodes when I see a multi-colored lightning bolt shoot through my field of vision, usually in my left eye. When this happens the lightning is the only thing I can see with that eye!

I close my eyes and it still see it!

It usually lasts from a few minutes to a half hour and leaves me feeling nauseous, dizzy, and out of sorts for the rest of the day.

I certainly can not drive when this happens….

my world is further reduced as I am again forced to depend on someone else to do my shopping, and errands for me….

Living daily with Fibromyalgia is about living with losses…

loss of freedom, loss of employment, loss of friendships when friends don’t understand, loss of relationships, but worst of all is the loss of independance

Then there are the strange sensations that only you feel!

You feel like someone is poking you repetidly

Sometimes, you look at the muscle and actually see it in spasm, Now that is truely strange!

it pops up and down and is a very strange sight to see…

Or you suddenly feel like someone has sprinkled you with Ice Water, but there is no ice water…

These sudden intense muscle spasms can become quite a bother when you go to reach for something and your hand or arm jumps… You have no idea how many times I have flung my french fries or even once a hamburger out the window of the car, when my arm or hand jerked at an unexpected time!

Again, when this happens, people stare…

You become nervous in public

again your world gets smaller…

The real CREEPY CRAWLY sensations can be the worst.

If you suffer from Fibromyalgia or another Chronic Pain condition you may suffer from crawling, tingling, burning, or other sensations in the skin or under the skin.

I have one spot on my left shoulder blade that always feels like there are bugs moving around just under the skin. sometimes these crawling sensations are maddening… I am constantly asking my spouse to scratch there and also if he sees anything moving around under the skin. Of course there are no bugs there

It has been years since this started yet I still ask, even though I know the answer is NO!…

Sometimes it feels like someone is touching you when no one is around.

Sometimes you feel like you have an intense sunburn and your skin is painful when your clothes touch, but again there is nothing there…

Dealing with Fibromyalgia or another Chronic Pain Conditions on a day to day basis makes you feel trapped, isolated, and alone!

There are 18 identified Pressure points in Fibromyalgia

There are 18 recognised pressure points in Fibromyalgia. For a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia sufferers have to be only identified with 11 of these. Fibromyalgia is no longer considered a “catch all” disease for when nothing else fits.

Finally the medical community is begining to see that this is a real disease process and not “all in our heads”.

Some doctors finally recognise the fact that Fibromyalgia causes painful knotted muscles and some have even realised that you can FEEL the knots in the muscles!

There are some doctors now who will actually look for these knots in the muscles to help identify those patients who may have Fibromyalgia.

Finally there is a finally definaitave criteria set for the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia.

Doctors can apply pressure to these trigger points (excruciatingly painful for the sufferer) and if the patient tests positive (thats expressing pain) in at least 11 of the 18 recognised pressure points then that is proof positive that the patient suffers from Fibromyalgia.

Finally there is a set criteria for a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

My diagnosis took 7 years, because my previous doctors did not believe that Fibromyalgia was a real disease process even though the AMA recognises it as such!

Fibromyalgia makes your world smaller,

until you feel like you are the only one who suffers!

Finally there is hope for Fibromyalgia sufferers.

Doctors are begining to understand the disease and how to identify it.

Medications are being approved by the FDA for the treatment of Fibromyalgia such as Lyrica.

* We are not lazy, simply fatigued

* We ARE in REAL pain

* This is a REAL disease condition

* Yes, some people have it and still function, Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions are different for different people. For some it becomes debilitating and others a mild inconvenience

* Strong relationships based on loving communication seem to stay together, while other relationships do not.

* Fibromyalgia and other Chronic pain conditions often cause the loss of relationships.

* Communication is the key to holding on to loved ones, talk to them, tell them how you feel, try to make them understand you still love and care for them.

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fibromyalgia – Causes And Home Remedies

fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by inflammation of muscles, tendons and joints. The fibromyalgic tissues pain a lot and turn stiff and tender. The pain may be quite disabling, inhibiting movement in day to day life. But fibromyalgia is otherwise harmless for it does not cause any kind of body damage or deformity. Women are more affected by fibromyalgia than men. Patients with fibromyalgia are increasingly sensitive to external sensory stimuli that trigger pain. The pain occurs all over the body, but is heightened at the tender pressure points. Neck, shoulder, arms, chest, hip, buttocks, either side of breast bone and knee are usually affected by pain. Apart from pain, the other symptoms of fibromyalgia include stiffness, tingling or numbness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, weakness, nausea, sleep problems, gastrointestinal disorders and urinary problem.

The causes of fibromyalgia may be listed as follows:

1. Genetics
2. Growth hormone secretion deficiency
3. Stress
4. Trauma
5. Elevated levels of substance P in brain
6. Problems with Dopamine secretion
7. Issues related to serotonin metabolism
8. Unhealthy diet
9. Infection
10. Psychological distress
11. Inadequate sleep
12. Cold, rainy weather.

Home Remedies for Fibromyalgia

1. Mix 3-4 cups of Epsom salt in warm bath water and take bath with it. This soothes aching muscles.

2. Mix 1 teaspoon of grated ginger in 8 ounce of hot water and keep for 10 minutes. Strain and add honey for taste. Take the mixture. It alleviates pain effectively.

3. Add 2 teaspoon lemon juice and honey to a glass of water and take the solution. This eases painful situation.

4. Mix 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric powder in glassful water and take thrice a day to get relief from fibromyalgia pain.

5. Cook 10-12 ripe cherries in a mixture of 2 tablespoon butter and 2 tablespoon jiggery for some time. Let it cool. Take the mixture frequently throughout the day. This relieves muscular pain.

6. Cook 4-5 tablespoons of oatmeal in milk. Add cherries and jiggery and cook thoroughly. Take the mixture 2-3 times a day. This reduces body ache.

7. Cranberry or radish juice is very effective in lessening fibromyalgia pain.

8. Boil 8-10 papaya seeds in glassful water. Cool and strain and take the mixture thrice regularly.

9. Cook 2-3 brinjals on fire, add 3 drops of castor oil, some cumin seeds, garlic and chopped coriander leaves. Take it 1-2 times daily. This is an effective home remedy for fibromyalgia.

10. Take coconut water and coconut milk in plenty. This treats fibromyalgia effectively.

11. Vegetable juices are very helpful in curing fibromyalgia.

12. Massage body with a mixture of kerosene and olive oil to get rid of pain.

13. Application of warm vinegar on painful areas relieves pain.

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