Fibromyalgia, a real pain

July 1, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: After severe back pain and many different meds and treatments, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I took Cymbalta, which helped but it made me lethargic and depressed. I’m now taking Celebrex, which helped for a while, but now the pain in my lower back and hips is so bad that I cannot lie on my side. I am ready to give up. Do you have any advice?

DEAR READER: The pain of fibromyalgia is widespread and can be felt throughout the body. Symptoms vary from person to person and can include joint stiffness, sleep disorders, fatigue, widespread pain and a great deal more. Herein lies the problem, because every symptom can be tied in to other disorders, making it difficult to diagnose.
[Read more...]

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Treating Fibromyalgia Syndrome with Acupuncture

March 1, 2010 By

Fibromyalgia Syndrome affects an estimated 2 percent of the population. Current treatment is largely comprised of prescribing different medications to treat the varying symptoms. Many people with fibromyalgia have turned to complementary and alternative medicine to manage their symptoms. Acupuncture, in particular, has become a popular treatment choice and has shown to be an effective treatment for Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain, a heightened and painful response to pressure, insomnia, fatigue, and depression. While not all affected persons experience all associated symptoms, the following symptoms commonly occur together:

chronic pain
debilitating fatigue
difficulty sleeping
anxiety and depression
joint stiffness
chronic headaches and jaw pain
difficulty swallowing
dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes
hypersensitivity to odors, bright lights, and loud noises
inability to concentrate
irritable bowel syndrome
numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
painful menstrual cramps
poor circulation in hands and feet.
restless legs syndrome

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed when there is a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 designated tender points on the body. This condition does not result in any physical damage to the body or its tissues and there are no laboratory tests which can confirm this diagnosis.

Symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases there appears to be no triggering event. Women are more prone to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of fibromyalgia increases with age.

The Chinese medical theory of pain is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: “free flow of QI= no pain, no free flow of QI= pain.”

Pain is seen as a disruption of the free flow of Qi within the body. The disruption of Qi that results in fibromyalgia is usually associated with disharmonies of the “Liver” median.

You can reduce your symptoms significantly by incorporating a few simple life-style changes into your daily routines and habits.

1. Eliminate processed foods from your diet, especially white sugar and white flour products. These products give our bodies little nutrition and over time can damage our digestion.
2. Include all unprocessed foods in your diet, such as proteins, complex and unrefined carbohydrates, vegetables, whole grains and legumes .
3. Avoid overly greasy foods, ice cold drinks, alcohol, raw and uncooked foods, hot, peppery foods, coffee, and too much fruit. Avoid daily juice drinks since these are the same as eating a candy bar in the amount of sugar introduced into the body.
4. Do not drink sodas. Sodas are acidic in nature and are loaded with sugar and chemicals. Sodas are detrimental to both the spleen and the kidneys.
5. Find some type of exercise that you really enjoy and just do it. You would probably benefit most from some kind of cardiovascular exercise to keep to blood moving, such as swimming, yoga, stretching, and bicycling.
6. Take a walk every day. If you live with a dog or cat, play with them daily. Animals live in the moment and love to play. This is a great way to break stressful daily routines.
7. Buy some relaxation tapes with guided imaging. Learn how to really relax. This means bodily relaxation as well as mental repose. Use these tapes daily for the best results.
8. If you know that you have too much stress in your life, then find a solution. This may be finding a new job or new, more supportive relationships. Understand that stress alone can kill you, and if you smoke and consume alcohol to escape stressful situations, you are only fooling yourself.
9. Find a Chinese medical practitioner who can help you maintain good health with Chinese medicinal herbs and acupuncture. If you visit with a practitioner on a regular basis, before you become ill, then you avoid many other more serious problems later. Remember that the strong suit of Traditional Chinese Medicine is prevention.

Alan Rivenson, L.Ac, Dipl in Acupuncture
Affordable Acupuncture
25 Main Street
Canaan CT 06018
860-824-7727
arivenson@att.net

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Differentiating between fibromyalgia and polymyalgia

February 18, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I recently read in one of your newsletters about fibromyalgia. I have polymyalgia. Could you please explain the difference between the two and what medication I should be using? I would appreciate hearing from you.
DEAR READER: Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread pain of muscles and ligaments, coupled with a painful response to even gentle touch. The symptoms may wax and wane and can be vague. Women are more prone to the disorder and typically experience pain throughout the entire body. Men, on the other hand, often report facial pain or discomfort in a specific part of the body. This is often a diagnosis of exclusion, because so many symptoms mimic other disorders, making it difficult for a physician to diagnose. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

September 2, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My doctor told me that I have fibromyalgia. My ribs ache, especially when I lift heavy objects or stretch. I also have insomnia. Can you please explain this condition to me? I am an 80-year-old female.

DEAR READER:
Fibromyalgia is a wide-spread pain condition of the muscles and joints. In order to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia you have to meet certain criteria. From your brief note I cannot determine if you truly have the condition. However, if your only symptoms are insomnia and rib pain, I doubt you have fibromyalgia. Based on the symptoms you listed, it seems that you more likely have a condition known as chest wall syndrome. It is a benign inflammation of the rib lining. It has no known cause and often resolves on its own but for some can take many months to heal. I suggest you use [Read more...]

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Daily Column

August 5, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My sister has been suffering with back pain for a very long time and her doctors haven’t been able to find out what the problem is. She’s had all kinds of testing and they’ve tried her on many different pain medications that haven’t done her any good. Now they are giving her morphine. Would a vibrating, reclining chair be the answer? Should I be concerned?

DEAR READER:
It might help if I knew how old your sister is and what other medical conditions, if any, she might have. Without that information, I have to start from square one. And yes, you should be concerned.

If your sister suffered any trauma, such as an automobile accident or major fall, she could have discogenic disease. A slipped or compressed disc can be extremely painful. Confirmation is made by an X-ray known as an MRI. There are numerous methods including balloon kyphoplasty for pain relief. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

July 5, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I suffer from fibromyalgia and hot flashes. I am not a fan of conventional medicine and don’t take anything for either condition. Do you know what I can take that will be a natural substance or supplement?

DEAR READER:
In brief, fibromyalgia might be handled by pain relieving drugs such as Aleve or Motrin, coupled with mild exercise. Castor oil rubbed on affected joints two or three times a day might provide relief. Certo and purple grape juice have provided relief from joint pain.

Modify your diet to include nuts and omega 3 fish oil. Drink green tea and eat grapes that contain a compound that blocks the swelling that causes arthritis.

Hot flashes can often be handled by eating two or three slices of crystallized ginger or by taking one or two ginger capsules twice a day. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

May 2, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Could you please explain to your readers what fibromyalgia is and how painful it can be?

I am 44 years old and work as a State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA). There are days when my co-workers think I am just looking for ways out of doing my job. In reality all that is going on is that my feet, back, legs and arms hurt all over. Every joint, tendon and muscle aches. No matter how much medication I take, I hurt. During these times even a simple hug hurts enough to bring me to tears. Yet, despite this pain and my co-workers quips, I do my job to the best of my abilities. Then I have good days when there isn’t much pain and I can function reasonably well. The cycle effect is exhausting. All I want is to feel better.

DEAR READER:
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, complex and poorly understood disorder that is often difficult to diagnose. It affects about nine million people in the United States. Of those, nearly 80 percent are female. However, men and women of every ethnicity and age have been diagnosed with the condition. It typically presents with fatigue and widespread pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons. Fibromyalgia differs from arthritis in that it doesn’t cause pain or inflammation IN the joints. Rather, it produces pain in the soft tissues AROUND joints and in skin and organs throughout the body.

The associated fatigue varies from person to person. While some individuals experience mild symptoms, others are completely exhausted with debilitating flu-like symptoms. Stiffness can result upon awakening or after remaining in one position for a prolonged period. Damp, cold weather is particularly difficult because it can exacerbate symptoms. Lightheadedness, headache, memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, and paresthesias (numbness and tingling) of the arms and legs may be present.

Presently, there is no simple test available for diagnosis. Evaluation by a skilled medical professional, usually a rheumatologist, consists of ruling out other medical conditions with similar symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, Lyme disease and lupus. The physician should take an extensive medical history followed by a physical examination that includes the application of pressure to specific anatomical points known to be particularly sensitive in sufferers.

There is no known cure at this time, but the symptoms can be treated. This generally includes medication (anti-inflammatory drugs, narcotics and steroids), physical and relaxation therapy (such as meditation, massage, walking and more) and nutritional counseling. Some individuals have had amazing success with the alternative therapies acupuncture or acupressure.

For further information, contact the National Fibromyalgia Partnership by mail at PO Box 160, Linden, VA 22642-0160 or the Fibromyalgia Resource Center by phone at 1-866-725-4404.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Managing Chronic Pain”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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