fibromyalgia

Posted on Pain Management

Chronic Overlapping Pain Condition Symptoms: Diagnostic Approaches

Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions: Definition and Causes | PAINWeek


Pain conditions that often occur together and either solely or predominantly affect women have been recently termed by the NIH as chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs). They include: vulvodynia, temporomandibular disorders, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, chronic tension-type and migraine headache, and chronic low back pain. These patients often demonstrate common abnormalities in neural, immune, and endocrine function, which may explain the overlapping nature, as well as increased risk for developing new COPC. COPCs lead to physical and mental disability, poor sexual function, higher rates of drug addiction, and suicide. What symptoms should practitioners look out for?




Posted on Patient Talk

GIFTS FOR THE CHRONICALLY ILL 2020 | Holiday Presents to Help those Suffering from Chronic Illness

Hey there friends! Today I’d like to share my gift ideas for your friends and family who suffer from a chronic illness. If your loved one suffers from lupus, lymes disease, hashimotos, POTS, fibromyalgia, MS, or any other chronic illness causing pain and fatigue, then this is the video for you! I have a bunch of ideas for holiday/Christmas presents for your loved ones!


Leave a comment Posted on Fibromyalgia

10 Things That Doctors Don’t Tell You About Fibromyalgia




At the doctor's office - doctor and patient

At the doctor’s office – doctor and patient




According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, 3-6% of the world’s population has fibromyalgia syndrome estimating that somewhere around 300 million people worldwide suffer from the condition.

The NHS estimates that 2-4.5% of people in the UK may have fibromyalgia syndrome – estimating between 1.2 million and 2.8 million people. 75-90% of people with fibromyalgia syndrome are women.

It is a condition that conventional medicine currently has no answer for and sufferers are often prescribed with long lists of symptom-managing medication with often damaging side effects. So here are some things your doctor might not tell you about causes and treatment of fibromyalgia, based on my own personal experience and that of my patients:

Prolonged Virus – if you have previously suffered from a prolonged virus such as glandular fever it can either be a primary cause of fibromyalgia or significantly increase your chances of getting it in the future. A prolonged virus increases the sensitivity of your nervous system, lowering your resilience to stressful situations in the future.

Prolonged Emotional Stress – whether it’s work stress of domestic stress, if it has been constant for a while it can play a large role in an individual developing fibromyalgia. Stress affects a part of the brain called the amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for controlling our stress response. If it becomes overloaded by repeated daily stresses then it can often start to malfunction and lead to conditions such as fibromyalgia and its sister condition chronic fatigue syndrome.

Read more: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/health/10-things-that-doctors-dont-tell-you-about-fibromyalgia-1144274.html#ixzz5Fm5wWKB5

5 Comments Posted on autoimmune conditions, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Patient Talk

Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia – is there a connection?




Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis

Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis

As some readers will know my background was conducting market research with people who suffer from various medical conditions. The main ones were in fact diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

It was only when we started working with a lot of social media in around 2006 that I became commented with members of the fibromyalgia community.




You might also aware that we run various communities on Facebook and Twitter where we encourage discussion on a whole range of subject which are important to people with various conditions.

Over the years there has been a number of questions which come up from time to time. One of which is the relation between multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. After all having more than one autoimmune condition is not uncommon.

Indeed one of our members posted this on our page MultipleSclerosisTalk a few days ago “Hi. I just had a quick question. I am currently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia but with this last relapse, I have noticed many new and worsening symptoms, and I’m worried it may be more related to MS. I have a appointment with a neurologist on Tuesday and I was wondering how I should approach this with him. I’m really sick on this because I feel like they don’t really listen to how you feel sometimes. Thank you for any advice.”

Firstly if you do have any advice for this reader please feel free to use the comments box below to share your ideas.

Secondly I’m wondering how common this situation actually is? So I thought it would be useful to run the following poll to see how our readers have been diagnosed in the past.

It would great if you could take part below.





 

Bonnie2405 I think fibro me CFs lupus Lyme and ms are all the same, like polio, some get it small some get it big. If ritbixin works, they may have a cure for all of it, the virus attacks the autoimmune system that goes into overdrive, ritbixin removes all B cells wipes long term memory and the mitochondria has to start building healthy cells all over again freshly removing the virus from our bodies. The drug will be ready within three years are u ready to start recommending it DR because patients are desperate and want to try it they are that desperate.
traceychace Hi my name is Tracey, I was diagnosed with fibro about 3years ago after suffering for many years before hand.
My Dad had MS, my Mom has always said that she thought that’s what I have more than fibro.
My neurologist said that I deffinatley don’t have ms as there is no connection & its not hereditary.
My health seems to be deteriorating quite quickly, does fibro usually deteriorate quickly?
emily89 My mom was diagnosed with ms in her 30’s & im 24 I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia, my older sister also has fibromyalgia. All of our symptoms are similar the only difference is that in an mri my mom has visible plaque on her brain.
anarivera Hi my name is ana rivera and i have fibromyalgia and i just cant find thevright medication can someone please help !!
RebeccaRaeThomas Go in with a detailed history of all symptoms over time and voice your concerns. Be assertive in getting additional tests. Don’t let them dismiss your concerns.

Barb MacLeod – 1 year ago
Diagnosed with IDDM (Type 1 or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus) in 1984; Diagnosed with RRMS (Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis) in 2015. My sister has Type 2 Diabetes diagnosed in 2012. My mother has Fibromyalgia diagnosed in 2014. It is tough being female in our family ! 🙂

Ileana Peters – 2 years ago
I was diagnosed with MS in 2011. i have a cousin that has fibromyalgia. Our symptoms are very similar . Its crossed our minds, she might have been misdiagnosed.

Carole mellor – 3 years ago
I was diagnosed with MS in 2008 and just been diagnosed now with Fibromyalgia the symptoms are very similar

linda Barlow – 3 years ago
Iv just fibormyalgy it’s a very painful ms what symptoms for that.

1 Comment Posted on Cognitive dysfunction, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis

Does the cold weather make your brain fog or fibro fog better or worse? Find out what others think here…………..




Cognitive dysfunction (also called brain fog , fibro fog or clouding of consciousness) was a big topic in the early days of Patient Talk.

Brain fog

Brain fog

And at the same time we were also interested in the impact of the reasons ( and the weather) on pain levels. You can see the results of our poll on the subject here.




So I was very interested when Kelly asked “Since the weather has changed to cold, my cognitive function is getting way worse, where I can’t get words out of mouth. Does anyone else experience this the cold?” in our Multiple Sclerosis group yesterday morning.

The feedback was very interesting.

Tracet replied “Yes. Does anyone else have trouble getting people to understand this happens to you? I think people are starting to assume I’m just an idiot, even after explaining cognitive dysfunction.”

For Roberto it is the other way round ” I experience this but it happens when the weather gets warm”.




” Definitely far worse with the cold, I like the heat, thought I was strange as the ‘norm’ is the opposite. I practise Bikram Yoga in the heat which helps me a lot, my neurologist freaked when I told her, but now she thinks its wonderful!” was Brendan’s suggestion.

But for Kristine “I love all the seasons. snow and sun are both fun! Humidity is my killer…”.

No the other hand for Charlene ” For me it is the extreme weather. Extreme cold and heat both make it worse. Of course extreme is a relative term! Lol extreme heat is like 80 and extreme cold is like below 45. Lol”.

But for some ” Doesn’t matter what season it is my mind is one purr muddle I nix up words loose train if thought an forgot what a conversation is I stair in to space like no one is home …but hay I can’t argue with anyone as I forget what has made me mad !!! The joys hay”

So what about you?




Even better could you share your story in the comments section below.

Cognitive dysfunction refers to the loss of intellectual functions such as reasoning, memory , and general thinking which together impair day to day living.. People with brain fog have difficulty with verbal recall, basic arithmetic, and overall concentration.

It can be caused by a variety of medical conditions which include multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia (hence the term fibro fog), lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, hypothyroidism, Lyme’s disease and stress. What is interesting , at least to me, is how many of these disorders are auto-immune conditions.

Many thanks in advance for all your help!