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What Is Fibromyalgia?



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 28th, 2004, 08:32 PM
George Parton
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Default What Is Fibromyalgia?

Clipped from the following location:

http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/f...rofs.htm#fib_a

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common and chronic disorder characterized by
widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. The word
fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and
the Greek ones for muscle (myo) and pain (algia). Tender points are
specific places on the body—on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and
upper and lower extremities—where people with fibromyalgia feel pain in
response to slight pressure.

Although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritisrelated condition,
it is not truly a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) because it
does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles, or other
tissues. Like arthritis, however, fibromyalgia can cause significant
pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person's ability to carry
on daily activities. Also like arthritis, fibromyalgia is considered a
rheumatic condition.

You may wonder what exactly rheumatic means. Even physicians do not
always agree on whether a disease is considered rheumatic. If you look
up the word in the dictionary, you'll find it comes from the Greek word
rheum, which means flux—not an explanation that gives you a better
understanding. In medicine, however, the term rheumatic means a medical
condition that impairs the joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic
pain.

In addition to pain and fatigue, people who have fibromyalgia may experience

* sleep disturbances,
* morning stiffness,
* headaches,
* irritable bowel syndrome,
* painful menstrual periods,
* numbness or tingling of the extremities,
* restless legs syndrome,
* temperature sensitivity,
* cognitive and memory problems (sometimes referred to as "fibro
fog"), or
* a variety of other symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome rather than a disease. Unlike a disease,
which is a medical condition with a specific cause or causes and
recognizable signs and symptoms, a syndrome is a collection of signs,
symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not
related to a specific, identifiable cause.

Who Gets Fibromyalgia?

According to a paper published by the American College of Rheumatology
(ACR), fibromyalgia affects 3 to 6 million - or as many as one in 50 -
Americans. For unknown reasons, between 80 and 90 percent of those
diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women; however, men and children also
can be affected. Most people are diagnosed during middle age, although
the symptoms often become present earlier in life.

People with certain rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis,
systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus), or ankylosing
spondylitis (spinal arthritis) may be more likely to have fibromyalgia, too.

Several studies indicate that women who have a family member with
fibromyalgia are more likely to have fibromyalgia themselves, but the
exact reason for this—whether it be hereditary or caused by
environmental factors or both—is unknown. One study supported by the
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
(NIAMS) is trying to identify if certain genes predispose some people to
fibromyalgia. (See What Are Researchers Learning About Fibromyalgia?)

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, but there are probably a number
of factors involved. Many people associate the development of
fibromyalgia with a physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic
event, such as an automobile accident. Some connect it to repetitive
injuries. Others link it to an illness. People with rheumatoid arthritis
and other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, are particularly likely to
develop fibromyalgia. For others, fibromyalgia seems to occur spontaneously.

Many researchers are examining other causes, including problems with how
the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) processes pain.

Some scientists speculate that a person's genes may regulate the way his
or her body processes painful stimuli. According to this theory, people
with fibromyalgia may have a gene or genes that cause them to react
strongly to stimuli that most people would not perceive as painful.
However, those genes—if they, in fact, exist—have not been identified.

(More information at the above site)

George

  #2  
Old August 28th, 2004, 10:10 PM
guitarprincess
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

So where's the part about it being the same as hypochondria?

--
Sheli


  #3  
Old August 29th, 2004, 01:25 AM
Em
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"George Parton" wrote in message
...
Clipped from the following location:

http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/f...rofs.htm#fib_a

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common and chronic disorder characterized by
widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. The word
fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and
the Greek ones for muscle (myo) and pain (algia). Tender points are
specific places on the body—on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and
upper and lower extremities—where people with fibromyalgia feel pain in
response to slight pressure.

Although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritisrelated condition,
it is not truly a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) because it
does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles, or other
tissues. Like arthritis, however, fibromyalgia can cause significant
pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person's ability to carry
on daily activities. Also like arthritis, fibromyalgia is considered a
rheumatic condition.

You may wonder what exactly rheumatic means. Even physicians do not
always agree on whether a disease is considered rheumatic. If you look
up the word in the dictionary, you'll find it comes from the Greek word
rheum, which means flux—not an explanation that gives you a better
understanding. In medicine, however, the term rheumatic means a medical
condition that impairs the joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic
pain.

In addition to pain and fatigue, people who have fibromyalgia may

experience

* sleep disturbances,
* morning stiffness,
* headaches,
* irritable bowel syndrome,
* painful menstrual periods,
* numbness or tingling of the extremities,
* restless legs syndrome,
* temperature sensitivity,
* cognitive and memory problems (sometimes referred to as "fibro
fog"), or
* a variety of other symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome rather than a disease. Unlike a disease,
which is a medical condition with a specific cause or causes and
recognizable signs and symptoms, a syndrome is a collection of signs,
symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not
related to a specific, identifiable cause.

Who Gets Fibromyalgia?

According to a paper published by the American College of Rheumatology
(ACR), fibromyalgia affects 3 to 6 million - or as many as one in 50 -
Americans. For unknown reasons, between 80 and 90 percent of those
diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women; however, men and children also
can be affected. Most people are diagnosed during middle age, although
the symptoms often become present earlier in life.

People with certain rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis,
systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus), or ankylosing
spondylitis (spinal arthritis) may be more likely to have fibromyalgia,

too.

Several studies indicate that women who have a family member with
fibromyalgia are more likely to have fibromyalgia themselves, but the
exact reason for this—whether it be hereditary or caused by
environmental factors or both—is unknown. One study supported by the
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
(NIAMS) is trying to identify if certain genes predispose some people to
fibromyalgia. (See What Are Researchers Learning About Fibromyalgia?)

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, but there are probably a number
of factors involved. Many people associate the development of
fibromyalgia with a physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic
event, such as an automobile accident. Some connect it to repetitive
injuries. Others link it to an illness. People with rheumatoid arthritis
and other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, are particularly likely to
develop fibromyalgia. For others, fibromyalgia seems to occur

spontaneously.

Many researchers are examining other causes, including problems with how
the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) processes pain.

Some scientists speculate that a person's genes may regulate the way his
or her body processes painful stimuli. According to this theory, people
with fibromyalgia may have a gene or genes that cause them to react
strongly to stimuli that most people would not perceive as painful.
However, those genes—if they, in fact, exist—have not been identified.

(More information at the above site)

George

Thanks for posting this George.
Em


  #4  
Old August 29th, 2004, 01:55 AM
Em
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"marengo" wrote in message
...
George Parton wrote:
|
snip off-topic stuff


I think you posted this in the wrong newsgroup by mistake. This is
alt.support.diet.low-carb.
--
Peter
270/215/180
Before/Current Pix:
http://users.thelink.net/marengo/wei...htlosspix.html


No, he didn't! No mistake. This was in response to something posted in
Sunshyne's "Input please, support" thread.


  #5  
Old August 29th, 2004, 06:44 AM
Sue Larkin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article ,
"guitarprincess" wrote:

So where's the part about it being the same as hypochondria?


If only that was true. Then I'd know how to treat it. In the meantime,
LC is the only regimen that helps. Well, for me but not every fibro
patient.

Aloha...Sue
  #6  
Old August 29th, 2004, 03:41 PM
Daniel Hoffmeister
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

guitarprincess wrote:
So where's the part about it being the same as hypochondria?


And this is where what my wife calls the Fairness Fairy comes by and waves
her wand and makes you live a week in the body of someone with
fibromyalgia.

Like other conditions that can cause pain and profound fatigue without
many outward symptoms, and where one's condition can vary from day to day,
sometimes the hardest struggle just to be taken seriously by doctors,
friends, and even family.

Dan
325/211/180
Atkins since 1/1/02 (yeah, it was a New Year's Resolution)
Besetting sins: good beer, German bread, and Krispy Kremes

  #7  
Old August 31st, 2004, 05:16 AM
Sue Larkin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article ,
"guitarprincess" wrote:

I was only kidding. There's just so much controversy on this subject.

I know people who have been diagnosed with it. I know doctors who say it's a
farce.

I am in the healthcare industry.

The doctors I know, say that the fibro symptoms are usually caused by other
diseases and ailments, not "fibromyalgia".


Stress...physical and/or emotional...seems to be a common "cause". I'm
fortunate to have a doc (rheumatologist) who is both knowledgeable
about fibro AND supportive of me low carbing in lieu of drugs.

Aloha...Sue
  #8  
Old August 31st, 2004, 05:25 AM
Sue Larkin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

In article , "Randy"
ranjorathotmail.com wrote:

Fibromyalgia is what you have when you can't really identify what you have.
Even my doctor agreed with that. I have a lot of pain from my waist down.
If they can't diagnose anything specific then it might just be
fibromyaligia. I didn't qualify, however, because I don't have any pain
above my waste. With fibromyaligia you have to have some pain in the neck
area and so on.


"Tender Points" seem to be the key. And many of them are above the
waist. Possibly that's why you didn't qualify? Regardless, I hope you
find the cause. Undiagnosed pain is such a...well...pain, isn't it.

Aloha...Sue
  #10  
Old September 3rd, 2004, 04:39 PM
tcomeau
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Sue Larkin wrote in message ...
In article ,
(tcomeau) wrote:

A friend was diagnosed with it a couple of years ago. The doctors
could offer nothing except for her to deal with it. She was unable to
get out of bed.


So many doctors, mine included, are quick to offer anti-depressants,
pain pills, sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, you name it. Many
patients are on "cocktails" of a combination of these drugs. That was
never an option for me. I was on low carb for 8 months before I told my
doc! Much to my surprise he wasn't upset at all and mentioned he had
arthritis patients who were helped by low carb. He admitted he didn't
understand it, even trying low carb himself to see if he felt any
changes. He didn't notice any difference but has become supportive of
his patients who have.


The mechanism that causes these problmes is quite simple. When we eat
fruit or other natural wholefood carbs they come with a raft of
various vitamins and minerals. The body needs to use some of them to
metabolize the sugars in the produce. When you eat refined carbs, they
contain none of these micro-nutrients so the body has to use up its
own stores of these micro-nutrients in order to metabolise the sugars.
Over the course of time we become deficient of many of the vitamins we
need. We then get a wide range of symptoms of clinical and
sub-clinical vitamin deficiencies. If it was just a single and obvious
vitamin deficiency like scurvy (vit C), the diagnosis would be
relatively easy. The problem is that it is a multiple vitamin
deficiency that creeps up on you and may show up as a wide variation
and odd combinations of symptoms that is not typical of any one
deficiency and not easy to diagnose as any one thing.

She went to a naturopath who took her off of all refined carbs and
caffeine. She was also put on a multitude of vitamins and minerals.
Now she works two jobs, she's a fulltime teacher and she helps her
cousin run a very busy restaurant.


A big CHEER for the naturopath! And your friend!

Aloha...Sue


Pass the word on to those with this condition and others that are
similar. There are a lot of people sufferring and taking useless and
expensive pills when the solution really lies in good nutrition and
restricting refined carbs.

TC
 




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