MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'fibromyalgia'. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:38:28 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3194020&cid=t_105051_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVZLb8OwMT6s%2F Which one? Public Citizen says the agency should yank Savella immediately because its dangers outweigh its benefits, according to a petition the consumer group sent the agency. In its missive, Public Citizen notes the European Medicines Agency rejected the drug for fibromyalgia last July, citing marginal benefits that failed to outweigh risks. The FDA approved the drug in January 2009. In two randomized clinical trials, Savella, which is made by Forest Labs and Cypress Bioscience, was found to increase blood pressure, heart rate and suicidal thoughts, according to the petition. Among patients who had normal blood pressure at the beginning of the study, 19.5 percent of those given Savella developed hypertension, compared to 7.2 percent of those on a placebo. Based on the extent of increas... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3194020 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:47:05 +0100 3194020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3163870&cid=t_105051_113_f&fid=38494&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcuretogether.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2F11%2F13-new-discoveries-at-curetogether-2%2F Thousands of voices can create beautiful discoveries. (Photo: qthomasbower) . A huge thanks to the amazing CureTogether community! Sharing your health conditions, symptoms and treatments is leading to many new associations. Many of you have been asking for more personalized recommendations, like what treatment will work best for me given my set of symptoms? I’m excited to say this is in the works! Our query masters are knee-deep in stats right now to find answers for you. In the meantime, a gift – here are 13 more co-morbidities we found, with a significant 99% confidence interval. We hope this advances research into these conditions and sparks new questions and ideas. . Endometriosis – Infertility (757 people) . Eating Disorders – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (724... The Collective Well blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3163870 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:42:08 +0100 3163870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3149135&cid=t_105051_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FSXIkAaXGJQs%2F Being abused as a child has a lifelong impact on people, even if they think they’ve left the abuse behind. In some cases, it may come out in personality issues and in others, physically, such as high stress levels or illness. Migraines, one of those mysterious ailments that affect so many people, is one of the long-lasting physical effects that may result from childhood abuse. Of course, that’s not to say that if you have migraines, you were abused – absolutely not. But, researchers have found that a significant number of people who do live with migraines were somehow abused or neglected when they were children. Child abuse and neglect are, unfortunately, still very much present in today’s society. In the United States, the U.S. Department of Health has said that in... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3149135 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:55:36 +0100 3149135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142667&cid=t_105051_113_f&fid=38494&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcuretogether.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2F04%2Ffibromyalgia-and-neuropathy-are-friends%2F Awesome awareness art by Kindreds Page . Chronic pain – not fun, extremely common, and very poorly understood. I recently learned that 10 million Americans are estimated to have fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, and up to 20 million Americans have neuropathy, a nerve disease that causes pain and numbness. (Statistics from the National Fibromyalgia Association and the Neuropathy Action Foundation). With enough patients coming together, progress can start to be made on these conditions that affect so many people in their everyday lives. Today’s announcement is that we found a strong association between Fibromyalgia and Neuropathy, which independent studies published in established journals also confirm. In graphical form: x .d CureTogether members who report Fibromyalgia a... The Collective Well blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142667 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:14:58 +0100 3142667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3101086&cid=t_105051_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fdiet-tips-for-those-with-fibromyalgia.html I have a family member that deals with this painful condition and have spent some time on the subject at my website, and often suggest something called "Fibralgia" for this, if you would like a fact sheet, please email me a nutritionist[at]happynutritionist.com.In this post, I'd like to share with you part of an article about diet and Fibromyalgia, and here is a link that leads to many other articles on the Fibromyalgia. Some of the writers are sharing from a professional point of view, others a personal point of view.I hope you find this to be helpful.Best Tips on Fibromyalgia Diet GuideBy: Dr. KenFibromyalgia seems to be a common condition to people with EDS and other connective tissue disorders, but many people with fibromyalgia do not have EDS .There is no single accurate or erroneous ... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3101086 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:45:00 +0100 3101086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2905110&cid=t_105051_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F96vVL2ciNtQ%2F Recent mailings by CVS Caremark to doctors about Lilly’s Cymbalta antidepressant are causing a stir - and embarassing Eli Lilly. At issue is the notion that the big pharmacy chain and benefits manager is making available info about patients with - in this case, fibromyalgia - so that the drugmaker can target docs who may be inclined to prescribe the pill for this other indication. The practice, however, has stunned some consumer advocates who says it’s really a paid promotion disguised as a professional mailing. “This kind of drug marketing should simply be forbidden,” Steve Findlay, senior health policy analyst at Consumers Union, tells The Indianapolis Star. “It does not fully inform doctors about drug treatment choices.” Eleanor Kinney, co-director of... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2905110 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:21:13 +0100 2905110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2872087&cid=t_105051_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F08%2Fpain-and-rheumatology-an-overview-of-the-problem%2F One of the most common reasons to visit a doctor is musculoskeletal pain. And one of the first symptoms of a rheumatological disorder is pain – so it’s great to find this succinct overview of pain in rheumatological disorders. I think one of the saddest findings I’ve read recently (I blogged about it a while ago) is that people who see a rheumatologist may have their disease process managed – but their pain problem may remain untouched. There is a misconception that pain is simply ‘a response to inflammation’ or ‘joint derangement’ – but it’s never really that simple! This paper by Montecucco, Cavagna, & Caporali identifies five groups of pain disorder in rhematological diseases: acute pain, like gout, related to local tissue ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2872087 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:18:23 +0100 2872087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862577&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=38951&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarlatpsychiatry.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Feli-lilly-hires-cvs-caremark-to.html Eli Lilly has discovered a new advertising strategy: your pharmacy. Check out this package of material I just received from CVS Caremark, a prescription benefit plan associated with CVS pharmacy. Pure and simply, it is an advertisement for Cymbalta, Eli Lilly's antidepressant which was recently approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. But it doesn't look like an ad. It looks like a letter from a pharmacy that is deeply concerned that my fibromyalgia patients receive the best treatment. Here's how the letter starts: Dear Doctor:CVS Caremark administers the prescription benefit plan for one or more of your patients. We are committed to providing health care professionals with information about drug therapy. As part of this commitment, we are providing you with this issue of RXViewpointsÂ... The Carlat Psychiatry Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862577 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:54:00 +0100 2862577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862506&cid=t_105051_101_f&fid=38980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.medicthree.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fduring-my-pre-op-screening.html The nurse asked if I had fibromyalgia. I ROFL'd. A lot. (Source: medic(THREE)) medic(THREE) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862506 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:16:00 +0100 2862506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842828&cid=t_105051_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Ffibromyalgia-an-overview%2F I didn’t intend to get into a theme this week, but this paper arrived in my inbox this morning, and given both the prevalence of fibromyalgia, and the often ‘fuzzy’ management that can be provided, I thought it might be worthwhile taking a look at it.  The paper itself is a pre-print, but has been revised earlier this year and is probably the final version. The outline of the paper covers diagnostic criteria, and briefly discusses the place of neuroimaging (if only we could get that done readily here!), but notes that many other conditions overlap or mimic FM such as hypothyroidism, tendonitis, ankylosing spondylitis, as well as chronic fatigue, suggesting some sort of common pathway in either the peripheral or central nervous system, raising the possibility of some comm... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842828 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:26:02 +0100 2842828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2836350&cid=t_105051_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F28%2Ffibromyalgia-time-for-the-rheumatologists-to-hand-over%2F The American College of Rheumatologists developed diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia in 1990, the culmination of many years of debate and disparagement of the existence of this pain problem.  At the time, it was thought that it was a rheumatic complaint due to the presence of body pain and soft tissue tenderness, so the diagnosis and management of it was firmly in the rheumatologists camp.  Research over the last few years shows that it is in fact a pain syndrome centered in the nervous system. Two rheumatologists now suggest that fibromyalgia should no longer be managed by rheumatologists and it should be handed over to…primary care physicians. The information above is drawn from an editorial by Shir and Fitzcharles, in The Journal of Rheumatology 2009; 36:4.  What does this st... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2836350 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:33:09 +0100 2836350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2772731&cid=t_105051_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F07%2Fpacing-and-avoidance-in-fibromyalgia%2F The recent emergence of study into ‘pacing’ or activity regulation in pain management is a welcome addition to our knowledge of this coping strategy. Although pacing has been described and included in many self-help books as well as clinical texts as an effective strategy for people with chronic pain to use, the research base for its use is pretty skinny (see Gill and Brown, 2009). McCracken and Samuels (2007) found that increased use of pacing was associated with higher disability and less acceptance, while Nielson and Jensen (2004) found that it was associated with lower disability in people with fibromyalgia. The study I’m looking at today, by Karsdorp and Vlaeyen, looked in whether pacing specifically was different from ‘other behavioural strategies assessed wit... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2772731 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:32:30 +0100 2772731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741624&cid=t_105051_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F28%2Fwhat-is-self-management-in-chronic-pain%2F Self management. It’s term we use very often in pain management, but do we really agree about what we’re talking about? Maybe self management is different things to different people, maybe even different things to different people at different times! But if we don’t talk about what we’re aiming for, especially if we’re in a team that don’t talk – we’re bound to run into trouble. Self management has been defined by academics in several ways, which doesn’t help, but all the definitions seem to include concepts of wellbeing, activities that the person with the health condition does, and encounters with the health system. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement states that self management includes three things: care of the body and manag... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741624 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:44:09 +0100 2741624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734186&cid=t_105051_130_f&fid=34938&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEvidenceInMotion%2F%7E3%2FZ5MtihaxtQI%2Fis-this-really-research-20.html I will assume many of you are familiar with the spit parties of 2008.  23andMe basically provides reports from DNA analysis of your spit.  That's all fine and dandy, I suppose.  I'm not sure about the validity or reliability or accuracy of the reports, so at this point in time, there may be issues in customers believing the reports to be 100% accurate.  23andMe has moved into being more than just an "informational" kind of company to a company that stores the genetic information for internal research AND to share with other companies.  I couldn't find any information anywhere as to the "other companies," so I have no clue the focus of the "research 2.0" occurring.  If the profiles are being used to assist in recruiting subjects, then a potentially helpful relationship for this endea... MyPhysicalTherapySpace.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734186 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:06:32 +0100 2734186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2572978&cid=t_105051_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fd4L-0ljAPxA%2F Reaction to illness depends on how severe the illness is, how long it lasts, and a variety of other things. Usually, if a good friend is diagnosed with an illness like cancer or has an unexpected surgery, friends come up with plans like helping with meals, transporting kids, and so on. Even the shorter-term illnesses, like pneumonia, are taken care of by people sending chicken soup or bringing you a book to read. But what happens when someone has a chronic illness, like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome? When they’re not always in-your-face ill, but they have times when they feel desperately ill or just too ill to face the world? Since it’s a chronic illness that can literally last a lifetime, what is a well-meaning friend to do? There’s a great post over at But Yo... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2572978 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:15:57 +0100 2572978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405066&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fyet-another-study-showing-decreased.html In their study findings, titled Decreased Gray Matter Volumes in the Cingulo-Frontal Cortex and the Amygdala in Patients With Fibromyalgia, researchers at the University Hospital MĂźnster (Germany) present the results of their investigation into the gray matter of fibromyalgia patients. Because previous studies supported the assertion that fibromyalgia involves central pain augmentation, they aimed to find out "whether structural changes in areas of the pain system are additional preconditions for the central sensitization in fibromyalgia." To do so, they performed MRI's and a neuroimaging technique called voxel based morphometry on 14 fibromyalgia patients and 14 healthy controls. They scanned and analyzed the brains of their subjects, finding that there were "[r]egional differences of th... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405066 Tue, 12 May 2009 16:22:00 +0100 2405066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405519&cid=t_105051_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FUqjqKHyBQqc%2F I’ve written quite a bit on fibromyalgia and I had featured someone with it in a Company’s Calling piece (Company’s calling - a journey with fibromyalgia ) when I wrote Help My Hurt for this network. I never knew there was a National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day - and I bet many of you didn’t either. Fibromyalgia is one of those hidden diseases that is still very much a disease that’s fighting to be recognized (Fibromyalgia debate continues ), which adds to the difficulties faced by those who live with it. They know it’s real - they have to live with its effects on a daily basis. According to the National Fibromyalgia Association : In 1993, May 12 was designated as the International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND) by T... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405519 Tue, 12 May 2009 07:16:19 +0100 2405519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382577&cid=t_105051_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fhlsku2BTfvI%2F Lyrica (pregabalin) is a very controversial medication in some areas. For example, it’s used for many people who have fibromyalgia (More positive Lyrica news for fibromyalgia ), but it seems to have caused serious side effects in some of the people who have taken it. It’s controversial because many people feel that it does more harm than good. That being said, it’s also helping an awful lot of people. Its labeled use allows doctors to prescribe it for neuropathic pain (nerve pain), which is very difficult to treat, most often caused as a complication of diabetes or shingles (post herpatic neuropathy). It’s also been used as an add-on medication (in addition to others) to treat epilepsy. Now, doctors have found that Lyrica also seems to be helpful for people who live... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382577 Sun, 03 May 2009 01:56:24 +0100 2382577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365114&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fold_opioid_addiction_drug_found_effective_for_fibromyalgia_p.htm By Tracie White For Tara Campbell, the onset of her fibromyalgia began slowly with repeated sore throats, fevers and fatigue. By the time she was diagnosed, a year later, she had become so debilitated by flu like symptoms and exhaustion that she often couldn't get off the couch all day. "Fall, a year ago, I hit my very, very worst," said Campbell, 39, of Walnut Creek, Calif. "I felt overall pain to the point that even when my children or husband just touched me it hurt." Campbell's symptoms still linger, but since taking part in a Stanford University School of Medicine clinical trial in the spring of 2008, she's improved enough that she's gone back to working again as an interior decorator and even headed up the fundraising auction at her daughters' school. "I am really, really good," Camp... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365114 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:31:00 +0100 2365114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177478&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fwho-supports-fibromyalgia-patient.html The Associated Press just published a story on the marketing of drugs for fibromyalgia, which provided a window into relationships among pharmaceutical companies and not-for-profit disease advocacy groups. One example was the National Fibromyalgia Association:The drug industry's grants also help fill out the budgets of nonprofit disease advocacy groups, which pay for educational programs and patient outreach and also fund some research.'If we have a situation where we don't have that funding, medical education is going to come to a screeching halt, and it will impact the kind of care that patients will get,' said Lynne Matallana, president of the National Fibromyalgia Association.Matallana founded the group in 1997 after she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. A former advertising executive, ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177478 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:15:00 +0100 2177478 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2131452&cid=t_105051_97_f&fid=35606&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theangriestpharmacist.com%2F2009%2F01%2F25%2Fi-pissed-off-someone-with-a-t-shirt%2F As you know, I don’t give a flying f., but I figured you all should know about this. Honestly, this isn’t me being offensive. This is the doing of YOU — THE READER! I received a request for a FATSOMYALGIA shirt. Here’s the request: http://www.theangriestpharmacist.com/2009/01/19/question-and-an-update/#comment-11663 At first, I balked cause I didn’t know what to do. A few comments later, someone pulled the trigger and gave me a moderately funny idea. So, I published it! http://www.zazzle.com/fatsomyalgia_shirt-235816616102959384 Apparently, “Casty63,” took offense. Rude Many people suffer from FIBROMYALGIA who are not overweight. How can you make fun of this real and devastating ailment, why did you choose a profession that works with people as yo... The Angriest Pharmacist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2131452 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:18:04 +0100 2131452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2129415&cid=t_105051_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ffibromyalgia-treatment-update-savella-milnacipran-approved-tricyclic-antidepressants-validated%2F Two major pieces of news for people afflicted by fibromyalgia have appeared in the past few weeks; namely, the FDA approval of Savella (milnacipran), the third drug to receive federal backing for fibromyalgia, and the publication of a major meta-analysis in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which confirmed that antidepressant medications (including Savella) can improve pain, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and quality of life. Of note, however, is that the JAMA report also concluded that older medications, called tricyclic antidepressants, are most effective for treating fibromyalgia, even though they are not FDA approved for such use. It is often the case that older and now generic medications, such as the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline, ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2129415 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:37:14 +0100 2129415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121953&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Folder_antidepressants_improve_fibromyalgia_symptoms.htm The use of antidepressant medications by patients with fibromyalgia syndrome is associated with a reduction in pain, sleep disturbances and depressed mood and improvement of health-related quality of life, according to an analysis of previous studies published in the January 14 issue of JAMA. Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), which consists of chronic widespread pain and tenderness, with other symptoms including fatigue and sleep difficulties, has an estimated prevalence of 0.5 percent to 5.8 percent in North America and Europe. "Patients with FMS experience disability and reduced health-related quality of life. Fibromyalgia syndrome is also associated with high direct and indirect disease-related costs. Effective treatment of FMS is therefore necessary for medical and economic reasons," the au... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121953 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:46:00 +0100 2121953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056117&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fbiochemical-basis-of-myofascial-pain.html Uncovering the biochemical milieu of myofascial trigger points using in vivo microdialysis: an application of muscle pain concepts to myofascial pain syndrome is the title of an article published by members of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD). The article "discusses muscle pain concepts in the context of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and summarizes microdialysis studies that have surveyed the biochemical basis of this musculoskeletal pain condition." Myofascial pain condition is extremely common in fibromyalgia patients, though it is unclear whether MPS can cause fibromyalgia or vice versa.The pathophysiology of MPS is "only beginning to be understood due to its enormous complexity." It is considered to be characterized by the pres... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056117 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:35:00 +0100 2056117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056118&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2F40-of-patients-with-cervical-neck.html A study from Selcuk University in Turkey (PMID: 19085177) recently analyzed the demographic features, clinical findings and functional status of a group of cervical (neck) myofascial pain syndrome patients. They evaluated the patients using the short form health survey (SF-36), pain and depression levels, patient demographics and physical examinations. They used the visual analog scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and medical history to evaluate the patients. A total of 82 patients had a diagnosis of cervical myofascial syndrome. Almost 88% of these patients were female, and they were around 37 years of age on average.53.1% had trigger points in the trapezius muscle with high percentage of autonomic phenomena like skin reddening, lacrimation, tinnitus and vertigo. 58.5% of the series had su... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056118 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:27:00 +0100 2056118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006343&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fthe_next_generation_of_fibromyalgia_research.htm Psychiatry Weekly 2008 Dec;3(38) Clauw DJ. Fibromyalgia, once viewed with skepticism by many in the medical field, is increasingly recognized as an organic disorder characterized by a heightened sensitivity to pain and other sensory stimuli, rather than as a somatization syndrome. According to Dr Daniel J. Clauw, this shift in thinking can be attributed directly to the spate of new data that indicate a strong genetic component in fibromyalgia, and objective differences identifiable in functional neuroimaging studies. "More and more physicians are now seeing the scientific studies that have been performed on fibromyalgia over the past decade-brain imaging studies, genetic studies, cerebrospinal neurotransmitter studies-that show a strong biological underpinning to this entire spectrum of il... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006343 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:57:00 +0100 2006343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1999292&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_fibromyalgia_a_disorder_of_the_brain.htm This article presents evidence that fibromyalgia patients have alterations in CNS anatomy, physiology, and chemistry that potentially contribute to the symptoms experienced by these patients. There is substantial psychophysical evidence that fibromyalgia patients perceive pain and other noxious stimuli differently than healthy individuals and that normal pain modulatory systems, such as diffuse noxious inhibitory control mechanisms, are compromised in fibromyalgia. Furthermore, functional brain imaging studies revealing enhanced pain-related activations corroborate the patients' reports of increased pain. Neurotransmitter studies show that fibromyalgia patients have abnormalities in dopaminergic, opioidergic, and serotoninergic systems. Finally, studies of brain anatomy show structural dif... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1999292 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:52:00 +0100 1999292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1961387&cid=t_105051_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ffibromyalgia-no-longer-invisible%2F This study demonstrates that these patients exhibit modifications of brain perfusion not found in healthy subjects and reinforces the idea that fibromyalgia is a ‘real disease/disorder.’” Of course, the millions of Americans suffering from fibromyalgia didn’t need this research to know their illness is real. But it might help in the development of new treatments because researchers now have an objective measurement of brain function that can be compared before and after drug administration. In June of 2007, I noted in this blog that Lyrica (pregabalin) was the “First fibromyalgia drug approved,” by the FDA. And a year later, I alerted readers that “Cymbalta [was] approved for fibromyalgia.” Another drug pending FDA approval is milnacipran, a decision on which was ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1961387 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:29:23 +0100 1961387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907882&cid=t_105051_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F430827891%2F We have a midday meeting, but do not want you to feel abandoned as we head off for a little while. And so here are a few developments that caught our eye. See you soon… Sepracor Gets OK To Market Lunesta In Europe (Boston.com) Europe Rejects Lilly Drug For Fibromyalgia (Yahoo/Reuters) Watson Files Patent Suit Against Barr Over Patch (Yahoo/AP) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907882 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:33:19 +0100 1907882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856116&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fneurocognitive-defects-brain-structure.html The journal Brain [2008 Sep 26] just published a study on a fascinating study from the University of Regensburg's Clinic for Rheumatology in Germany. The researchers write that fibromyalgia patients often report memory and attention problems in addition to pain, stiffness and sleep disturbance. While "[a]ccumulating evidence suggests that [fibromyalgia] is associated with CNS [central nervous system] dysfunction and with an altered brain morphology," there have been few studies that have specifically focused on fibromyalgia patients' neuropsychological issues. Therefore the authors of this study aimed to determine whether fibromyalgia patients' memory and attention problems have any correllation with changes in the morphology (structure and shape) of the brain. They focused specifically on... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856116 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:54:00 +0100 1856116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856117&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fstudy-reveals-subgroups-of-fibromyalgia.html This study is particularly relevance to the debate within both medical and patient communities as to the relationship between fibromyalgia and anxiety/depression. Some patients experience depression and/or anxiety before developing fibromyalgia. Some develop these symptoms long after the onset of pain and other fibromyalgia symptomsm. Still others never experience depression and anxiety at all, even as they struggle with the stress of chronic widespread pain. It also brings up questions about whether those fibromyalgia patients who do have depression or anxiety experience more severity of their pain and fatigue symptoms. (Source: The Fibromyalgia Research Blog) The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856117 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:41:00 +0100 1856117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652338&cid=t_105051_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Flyrica-lightens-up-dtcwise.html First, there was the suffering, sighing woman in the first DTC (direct to consumer) ad for Lyrica, a drug being marketed by Pfizer for the treatment of fibromyalgia, a painful syndrome that is not well understood. Here's the woman in that ad (see "Women Need More Love, Less Drugs"):Then there was the "battered-woman" fibromyalgia disease awareness ad that attempted to portray how sufferers felt by showing bruised images of a woman who says something like "maybe if people saw me this way, they will believe that fibromyalgia is a real medical condition" (see "Battered Woman Imagery in Pfizer's New Fibromyalgia Ad"). I was not able to capture an image of the woman in that from my TV, so I used the following image to illustrate my point:The newest DTC ad for Lyrica is considerably LIGHTER in t... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652338 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:47:00 +0100 1652338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1596359&cid=t_105051_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2F330104215%2F The other day I was asked to assess a patient’s mental state, a patient who also had a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. I knew little about this condition other than it’s main symptom was pain before I saw the patient so I decided to find out a bit more about it. What I discovered intrigued me and brought together a number of the patients symptoms. Before I looked up Fibromyalgia on Wikapaedia and the NHS website I had a vague idea that it was a condition connected with “Fibroyds” which results in severe and enduring pain. Well I got the last bit right. Actually it is associated with the sympathetic and central nervous system and is characterised by widespread pain and tactile allodynia or tenderness to light touch. A diagnosis is made by eliciting a pain response by applying pressure t... Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1596359 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:42:24 +0100 1596359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1551366&cid=t_105051_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fbattered-woman-imagery-in-pfizers-new.html Pfizer has recently upped the stakes in its campaign to depict fibromyalgia as a "real" medical condition. In an non-branded "disease awareness" TV ad that I saw last night, this point was hammered home by images of a woman showing black and blue bruises over her body. She says something like "Maybe if people saw me this way, they will believe that fibromyalgia is a real medical condition." What I saw were disturbing images reminiscent of battered woman syndrome. The whole thing smacked of desperation on Pfizer's part to sell more drugs and represents DTC advertising sinking to a new low in exploiting women's fears! I was not able to capture an image of the woman from my TV, so I am using the image above left that I found at the Medical Advocates/Battered Women web site. It accurately c... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1551366 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:21:00 +0100 1551366 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543344&cid=t_105051_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F319116896%2Ffda_approves_cymbalta_for_fibr.html Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE:LLY) announced that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for Cymbalta for the management of fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder.Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) is the first serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that has proven effective in the treatment of pain associated with fibromyalgia. The new approved indication becomes the fourth FDA approved use of the drug.  Cymbalta has been previously approved for management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), the treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. (Source: PharmaGazette) PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543344 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:00:45 +0100 1543344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543345&cid=t_105051_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F319064498%2Ffibromyalgia.html is a chronic illness whose symptoms include widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. It is also characterized by fatigue and multiple tender points.The illness is more common in women than in men but it is not progressive nor life-threatening even though it is not curable. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown but current theory holds that patients may have lower thresholds of pain possibly due to repeated nerve stimulation which may have caused changes in brain chemicals. Other theories about the cause of fibromyalgia include injury, infection, changes in muscle metabolism and abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system. (Source: PharmaGazette) PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543345 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:00:42 +0100 1543345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1531886&cid=t_105051_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fcymbalta-approved-for-fibromyalgia%2F The anti-depressant Cymbalta (duloxetine), marketed by Lilly, has received FDA approval for the treatment of fibromyalgia. While certain anti-depressants are considered first-line therapy for fibromyalgia, most notably the tricyclic anti-depressants such as amitriptyline, none had been approved by the FDA for this use until now. Cymbalta belongs to a newer class of anti-depressants known collectively as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which are somewhat similar to the serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), of which Prozac, also marketed by Lilly, is the most widely known. Cymbalta is already marketed for the treatment of depression, anxiety and for pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It was first approved for U.S. marketing in 2004. Cymbalta is no... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531886 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:43:51 +0100 1531886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526306&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Ffda-approves-cymbalta-for-fibromyalgia.html The FDA approved duloxetine (Cymbalta) as a medication for fibromyalgia earlier this week. Cymbalta is a serotonin-norepinphrine reuptake inhibitor. It is also used for anxiety, major depression and peripheral diabetic neuropathy. It has been shown to be effective for some fibromyalgia patients. Cymbalta, made by Lilly, is the second drug to ever be approved for fibromyalgia. Last year Lyrica (pregabalin), an anti-convulsant, became the first fibromyalgia drug approved by the FDA.The added indication [for fibromyalgia] was approval on the basis of data from two three-month clinical trials of 874 fibromyalgia patients. In both studies, compared with placebo, duloxetine was associated with more than a 30% reduction in pain as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) 24-hour average pain sc... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526306 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:21:00 +0100 1526306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1512315&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Ffibromyalgia_new_insights_into_a_misunderstood_condition.htm Jack J. Chen, PharmD, BCPS, CGP, FCPhA Despite the classification of fibromyalgia nearly 20 years ago, this chronic condition continues to be shrouded in controversy and skepticism. At the recent annual meeting of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), experts provided an evidence-based discussion of the fibromyalgia syndrome. The information provided there was intended to help clinicians better understand current diagnostic and therapeutic considerations of this medical disorder. Ironically, the lead author on the 1990 diagnostic guidelines was originally a skeptic who questioned the credibility of fibromyalgia, said Linda Krypel, PharmD, Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Des Moines, Iowa. The recent publication of treatment ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1512315 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:13:00 +0100 1512315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1338041&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E5%2F261085727%2Fviewcontent.cgi My adopted home town of Lubbock, Texas was in the news this week—no we haven’t arrested the Chippendale Dancers again... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1338041 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:14:15 +0100 1338041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268442&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fare-fibromyalgia-patients-more.html Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread tenderness, including sensitivity to touch. But do fibromyalgia patients also more sensitive to other stimuli, such as sound? In their article A Psychophysical Study of Auditory and Pressure Sensitivity inPatients With Fibromyalgia and Healthy Controls, researchers at the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, discuss their recent research into this question [Journal of Pain, 2008 Feb 14]. Because past studies reported that people with fibromyalgia are sensitive to other stimuli, such as auditory tones, they hypothesized "that subjects with [fibromyalgia] would display greater sensitivity to both pressure and auditory tones and report greater sensitivity to sounds encountered in daily activities" and th... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268442 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:51:00 +0100 1268442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268443&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fcost-effectiveness-of-aquatic-training.html The results of a randomized controlled trial were published in the most recent issue of Arthritis Research and Therapy [2008 Feb 22;10(1):R24]. Knowing that physical therapy in warm water has been shown to be highly effective for fibromyalgia patients, the study was designed to evaluate whether it is an efficient investment for patients or health care managers. The research aimed to "assess the cost-utility of adding an aquatic exercise programme to the usual care of women with fibromyalgia."The study evaluated costs to the health care system and to society. It included 33 participants, all women with fibromyalgia. Seventeen participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group and sixteen to a control group.The intervention in the experimental group consisted of a one-hour, supervi... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268443 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:42:00 +0100 1268443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268444&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fstudy-suggests-fibromyalgia-pain-is.html This study evaluated 305 chronic pain patients (CPPs) admitted to The Rosomoff Pain Center (Miami, FL). All were administered the NPS, a diagnostic tool designed to assess the distinct pain qualities associated with neuropathic pain, and were given a diagnosis on the basis of a physical examination and all available test results.Using patients known to have neuropathic or non-neuropathic pain conditions as a reference, esearchers were able to derive "an NPS cut-off score above which CPPs would be classified as having neuropathic pain." Patients who had diagnoses of myofascial pain syndromes, spinal stenosis, epidural fibrosis, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndromes, and failed back surgery syndrome, a predicted NPS score was calculated and compared with the cut-off score.The NPS app... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268444 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:25:00 +0100 1268444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1199992&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fimmunological-changes-in-fibromyalgia.html The newest issue of the medical journal Neuroimmunomodulation [2008 Feb 1;14(5):272-280] includes the results of a study conducted by Department of Anesthesiology of Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. The study address immunological changes in chronic pain patients, specifically complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia (FMS), both of which the researchers describe as "chronic pain syndromes occurring in highly stressed individuals."Despite the known connection between the nervous system and immune cells, information on distribution of lymphocyte subsets under stress and pain conditions is limited. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that play a critical role in the body's defenses. They include T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells. They also modulate the acti... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1199992 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:27:00 +0100 1199992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1199993&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Feffects-of-drug-pyridostigmine-along.html A subset of fibromyalgia patients are known to have a dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary-insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis, which is diagnosed by low blood serum levels of IGF-1 and a reduced growth hormone (GH) response to physiologic stimuli. There is evidence that the drug pyridostigmine (PYD) can improve the acute response of growth hormone to exercise in fibromyalgia patients. Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, conducted a 6-month randomized controlled trial of pyridostigmine in conjunction with exercise, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment on fibromyalgia treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of 6 months of PYD and group exercise on [fibromyalgia] symptoms. The researchers ran... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1199993 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:13:00 +0100 1199993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1199994&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fonline-support-groups-empowering-for.html In this study we explored if, and in which ways, patients feel empowered by participation. Additionally, we studied which empowering and disempowering processes occur as a result of taking part in these groups.Their study consisted of interviewing 32 participants of online support groups. Analyzing this interviews showed empowering processes that fell into the following categories: exchanging information, encountering emotional support, finding recognition, sharing experiences, helping others, and amusement. They found that few people mentioned disempowering processes.Empowering outcomes mentioned were being better informed; feeling confident in the relationship with their physician, their treatment, and their social environment; improved acceptance of the disease; increased optimism and c... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1199994 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:06:00 +0100 1199994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1177695&cid=t_105051_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fwomen-need-more-love-less-drugs.html There seems to be a proliferation of "real" diseases that "primarily affect middle-aged women." That, for example, is how fibromyalgia is described (see "Drug Approved. Is Disease Real?"). The "real" adjective figures prominently in Pfizer's TV ad for Lyrica, which was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia (see "Living with Fibromyalgia, First Drug Approved").You've probably seen the commercial -- if not, you can find it on the official Lyrica product site here.On the left/above is a frame from that video showing a woman in distress after reading from her diary about the pain she suffered "all over." (God, look at the signs of distress in her face and neck!)She also took the time to write in her diary "But until June 2007 there were no medicines approved by the FDA... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1177695 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:53:00 +0100 1177695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1149834&cid=t_105051_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F216412438%2F Is fibromyalgia an example of disease mongering? A new TV ad campaign for Pfizer’s Lyrica, the first med approved to treat the pain condition, argues the affliction is real. But some docs are questioning whether fibromyalgia even exists, The New York Times writes. For patient advocacy groups and doctors who specialize in fibromyalgia, the Lyrica approval is a milestone. They say they hope Lyrica and two other drugs that may be approved this year will legitimize fibromyalgia, just as Prozac brought depression into the mainstream. “What’s going to happen with fibromyalgia is going to be the exact thing that happened to depression with Prozac,” Dan Clauw, a professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, who has consulted with Pfizer and two other drugmakers hoping to market... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1149834 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:50:56 +0100 1149834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1139834&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fmedications-for-fibromyalgia.html According to an article in the Italian rheumatology journal Reumatismo [2007;59(4):280-291], the medications Italian physicians have found the most effective for fibromyalgia "include the tricyclic drugs and mixed reuptake inhibitors. Recent works suggest that the anticonvulsant medications pregabalin and gabapentin are also effective. Moreover, two serotonin and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors-duloxetine and milnacipran show encouraging results in treating FM symptoms. The results of clinical trials of anti-inflammatory medications have been generally disappointing, but three RCTs have found that tramadol (with or without acetaminophen) is effective in FM. (Source: The Fibromyalgia Research Blog) The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1139834 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:31:00 +0100 1139834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1139835&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Feffects-of-yoga-and-tui-na-on.html A study conducted by the Pulmonary Division at University of SĂŁo Paulo (Brazil) intended to verify whether techniques of yoga with and without the addition of traditional Chinese medicine modality Tui Na would "improve pain and the negative impact of fibromyalgia on patients' daily life." The results are published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine [2007 Dec; 13(10):1107-14].Forty women with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to two groups. One group participated in Relaxing Yoga (RY) and the other received Relaxing Yoga plus Touch (RYT), for "eight weekly sessions of stretching, breathing, and relaxing yogic techniques." RYT patients also received manipulative techniques of Tui Na, an ancient hands-on Chinese technique that uses acupressure to bring the body into b... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1139835 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:19:00 +0100 1139835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1139836&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fwarm-water-exerise-effective-for.html In the most recent issue of Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology [2007 Nov-Dec;25(6):823-30] researchers at the Section of Physical Education and Sports, University Pablo de Olavide, Seville (Spain) describe their study of the effects of warm water exercise on middle-aged women with fibromyalgia. They aimed to compare cognitive function between fibromyalgia patients and health controls, as well as to evaluate the efficacy of warm water exercise.Sixty middle-aged women with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to either an exercise training group that participated in 3 sessions a week of aquatic training in chest-high 32 C / 89.6 F water for 16 weeks. The program included mobility, aerobic, strengthening, and relaxation exercises. The control group did not receive this treatment. Twenty-fi... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1139836 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:56:00 +0100 1139836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1126515&cid=t_105051_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fbrand-new-year-same-old-me%2F Ring the bells, bang the drums, In New York, they drop the ball It’s the time for introspection For me, for you, for all. What keeps you going, When a day becomes days, Is it your family, Is it your stubborn ways? You don’t hear “gumption” Used much anymore Which is a shame When I need it galore. Is it grit or is it faith? What does it for you? Is it love, is it hate? How often are you blue? There are days I can’t face life Other days filled with joy Sometimes I’m certain I’m just God’s little toy. As celestial jokes go This one can really suck Like lightning it’s not funny If you’re the one who’s struck. No one ever tells you Life can be this hard. They just let you grow-up Unaware you will be scarred. Sometimes it comes at you With storm and wind and rain At other t... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1126515 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:37:51 +0100 1126515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1101397&cid=t_105051_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F12%2F17%2Flet-us-sing-the-praises-of-massage-therapy.html By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DI never dreamed that I would bestow scientific respectability on this ancient/new age practice. But here we are. Last October, the first Congress of Fascia Research convened at Harvard. No, it has nothing to do with Fascism or anything political.What is fascia?Fascia is the soft part of the body’s connective tissue system. It underlies the skin, envelopes our organs in a lacy blanket, connects in a thousand strands one muscle fiber to another, forms a sheath around bones and tendons—in short, it is present throughout the body. Given such ubiquitous distribution, it is quite surprising how neglected this organ system (yes, it can be viewed as such) is in biology and medicine. In research, scientists study the mechanical properties of the collagen fibers t... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1101397 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:30:26 +0100 1101397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1064628&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__comorbidity_of_fibromyalgia_and_psychiatric_disor.htm Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2007 Oct;11(5):333-8. Review. Comorbidity of fibromyalgia and psychiatric disorders. Buskila D, Cohen H. Department of Medicine H, Soroka Medical Center, POB 151, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel. There are mounting data supporting comorbidity of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and psychiatric conditions. These include depression, panic disorders, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The nature of the relationship between depression and FMS is not fully understood, and it was hypothesized that chronic pain causes depression, or vice versa, and that chronic pain syndromes are variants of depression. A link between PTSD symptoms and FMS has been reported, and both conditions share similar symptomatology and pathogenetic mechanisms. Assessment of comorbid psychiatri... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1064628 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:44:00 +0100 1064628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1049908&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fnabilone-synthetic-cannibanoid-for.html Research conducted at the University of Manitoba's Rehabilitation Hospital [Canada] into the effectiveness of a synthetic cannibanoid for fibromyalgia pain was recently published in the Journal of Pain [2007 Oct 30] . Nabilone is a synthetic cannabinoid that mimics THC, the main ingredient of marijuana, but it can be dosed more uniformly and has more predictable side effects. It causes no or minimal euphoria, and is not derived from the cannabis plant. Nabilone has been used medically as an anti-nausea drug as well as for neuropathic pain. It is sold in many countries as a drug called Cesamet and is FDA approved in the US for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as well as for the treatment of anorexia and weight loss in AIDS patients. It is widely used "off-label" as ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1049908 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:25:00 +0100 1049908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1049909&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Ffibromyalgia-has-highly-negative-impact.html Though research frequently focuses on patient populations in urban areas of developed countries, fibromyalgia "has been described and studied in various sociocultural settings in both developed and developing countries." In their study published in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism [2007 Oct 29] researchers at Ben Gurion University of the Negev (Beer Sheva, Israel) aimed to assess the clinical manifestations of fibromyalgia and describe its effect on quality of life in the "unique setting of Muslim Bedouin women in the southern Israel Negev desert area."They evaluated 102 Bedouin women were recruited from a primary health care clinic in the Negev, all of whom fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for fibromyalgia diagnosis. Tender points were assessed using manua... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1049909 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:24:00 +0100 1049909 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1045948&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Ftranscranial-direct-current-stimulation.html Medical researchers from the Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de SĂŁo Paulo (SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil) conducted a randomized, sham-controlled study on the "site-specific effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on sleep and pain in fibromyalgia." The results are published in Pain Practice (2007 Nov 6).Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) involves applying weak electrical currents to the body so that the electromagnetic field they create will modulate the activity of brain neurons. It has been found to alter neuron firing rates. It is being studied as a treatment for a variety of conditions such as stroke recovery, depression and migraines. Do not confuse tDCS with electroconvulsive therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation. tDCS does not independently cau... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1045948 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:28:00 +0100 1045948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1045949&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fmuscle-strengthening-vs-aerobic.html What is more effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia, aerobic exercise or muscle strengthening? That is what researchers at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dokuz EylĂźl University (Ýzmir, Turkey) decided to find out. This month's edition of Rheumatology International [2007 Nov 3] reveals their conclusions.The study involved 30 women with fibromyalgia who were randomly assigned to either an aerobic exercise (AE) program or a strengthening exercise (SE) program for eight weeks. "Outcome measures included the intensity of fibromyalgia-related symptoms, tender point count, fitness (6-min walk distance), hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale, and short-form health survey (SF-36)."There were significant improvements in both groups regarding pain, sleep, fatigue,... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1045949 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:17:00 +0100 1045949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1045950&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fdoes-resistance-exercise-improve-heart.html In the journal Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging this month, researchers in the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences at Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL) present their findings regarding treating the reduced heart rate variability (HRV) that is found in fibromyalgia patients. Reduced heart rate variability increases fibromyalgia patients' risk for illness and death from cardiovascular problems.The researchers hypothesized that resistance exercise training (RET) would improve heart rate variability, baroreflex (a bodily mechanism for maintaining blood pressure) sensitivity and muscle strength in women with fibromyalgia. They studied 10 FMS patients and 9 healthy controls, aged 27-60 years. Only women with fibromyalgia underwent RET two days per week for 16 w... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1045950 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:04:00 +0100 1045950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1045951&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2F1-in-4-chronic-pain-patients-has.html Vitamin D deficiency has been known for a while to be common in fibromyalgia patients, and research has even linked it with anxiety and depression in fibromyalgia. New research, however, shows that Vitamin D deficiency may in fact cause worsening of chronic pain in general. The American Society of Anesthesiologists recently released results of a Mayo Clinic study that shows that 1/4 of chronic pain patients have inadequate blood levels of vitamin D. The study also suggests that such a deficiency can possibly contribute to the severity of chronic pain. Their study showed that patients who have vitamin D deficiency needed a higher dose of morphine for a longer time in order to alleviate their pain.Researchers recorded the serum vitamin D levels of 267 adults undergoing outpatient treatment f... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1045951 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:51:00 +0100 1045951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1015938&cid=t_105051_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Ffinal-words-on-memory-loss-and-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F Many chronic diseases can cause memory loss: One of the biggest culprits for this is diabetes. If glucose levels get out of control, blood vessels can be damaged and this can lead to brain damage, deterioration of the eyes as well as poor circulation in the extremities, especially the toes and feet. Diabetes has to be taken seriously. It’s so much easier to monitor now than it used to be; there is really no excuse for not taking care and monitoring your blood sugar if you are diabetic. I know it’s a drag, but it’s a drag that isn’t going away and should be at the top of your list. According to a recent article in “Arthritis Today,” hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland, affects approximately 10 percent of American women. This is especially true among those with RA and ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1015938 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:25:31 +0100 1015938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=996629&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Ffibromyalgia_pain_may_be_caused_by_neuron_mismatch.htm The unexplained pain experienced by patients with fibromyalgia is the result of a mismatch between sensory and motor systems, new research suggests. In a study published in the journal Rheumatology, researchers asked patients to look at a reflection of one arm whilst moving their other in a different direction which was hidden behind the mirror. This created a mismatch between what the brain sees via sensory input and what it feels through the motor system that controls movement. Of the 29 patients involved in the study, 26 reported feeling a transient increase in pain, temperature change or heaviness in their hidden limb - all symptoms of a 'flare up' of their condition. This suggests that a mismatch between sensory and motor neurons could be at the root of the fibromyalgia - a condition ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=996629 Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:46:00 +0100 996629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=944609&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fabnormalities-found-in-nerve-cells-in.html In this month's Clinical Rheumatology [2007 Oct 3], researchers at Dongguk University College of Medicine in South Korea published the results of a blinded study conducted to "determine if there are any abnormal electron microscopic (EM) findings in the skin of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients, which might contribute to or be due to the increased pain sensitivity seen in this condition."They collected skin biopsy samples from 13 fibromyalgia patients and 5 control subjects, which were read by an individual who did not have any knowledge of whether the biopsy was from a study participant or not. All five skin biopsies from healthy controls "showed relatively even distribution of variegated sized unmyelinated axons sheathed well by complicatedly folded Schwann cell membranes." However, i... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=944609 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:01:00 +0100 944609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=944610&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fgender-differences-in-fibromyalgia.html In this study, published in Revista ClĂ­nica EspaĂąola [2007 Oct;207(9):433-9], they used a detailed survey, distributed to patients with currently diagnosed fibromyalgia in three different rheumatology clinics in Spain.The sociodemographic characteristics were very similar in men and women. However, there was a greater proportion of men diagnosed with [fibromyalgia] on sick leave, compared to women with the same diagnosis. Men had a worse perception of their health, a higher percentage of psychiatric history and current mental illness and more impact of the disease.The researchers explain their belief that these results support their theory that in fibromyalgia, as with other diseases, "there are gender differences in the clinical and psychosocial characteristics of men and women diagnose... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=944610 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:35:00 +0100 944610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=913645&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fresearch_discovers_why_painkillers_dont_alleviate_fibromyal.htm New research from the University of Michigan Health System (U-M) has discovered why people with fibromyalgia often don't get pain relief from common painkillers. They were found to have reduced binding ability of a type of receptor in the brain that is the target of opioid drugs such as codeine and morphine. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans of the brains of 17 female patients with fibromyalgia, and of an equal number of age-matched people without the condition revealed the fibromyalgia patients had reduced mµ-opioid receptors (MOR) availability in regions of the brain which normally process and dampen pain signals - specifically, the nucleus accumbens, the anterior cingulate and the amygdala. "The reduced availability of the receptor was associated with greater pain among peo... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=913645 Sat, 29 Sep 2007 08:20:00 +0100 913645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=907096&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fphysical-activity-protects-men-with.html Researchers at Meir Medical Center in Israel have discovered that men with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are less likely to develop severe fibromyalgia (FMS) if they maintain a high level of physical activity, according to a study published in Italy's Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology (2007 Jul-Aug;25(4):529-33).Because fibromyalgia has been associated with some mental health disorders, and a recent study showed that fibromyalgia is more prevalent in men suffering from combat-related PTSD, the researchers chose to "analyze the relationship between engagement in physical activity, the psycho-metric traits of PTSD and the future development of FMS." They studied 55 male patients who had all been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after combat-related tr... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=907096 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:09:00 +0100 907096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=907097&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fgender-differences-in-chronic-pain-and.html In October's Psychosomatics (2007 Oct;48(5):394-399), Canadian researchers present results of an epidemiological study of "gender differences in the prevalence of depression in four chronic pain conditions and pain severity indices in a national database."In 131,535 adults, the prevalence of depression in women (9.1%) was almost twice that of men (5%). One-third (32.8%) had a chronic pain condition (fibromyalgia, arthritis/rheumatism, back problems, and migraine headaches). The prevalence of depression in individuals with chronic pain conditions was 11.3%, versus 5.3% in those without. Women reported higher rates of chronic pain conditions and depression and higher pain severity than men.... Depression and chronic pain conditions represent significant sources of disability, especially for ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=907097 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:04:00 +0100 907097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=907098&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Ftranscranial-magnetic-stimulation.html This study was based upon the premise that "non-invasive unilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the motor cortex induces analgesic effects in focal chronic pain syndromes, probably by modifying central pain modulatory systems." Because neuroimaging studies have shown that a large number of brain structures, including those involved in pain processing, are activated during rTMS, the researchers purported that this type of stimulation could induce "generalized analgesic effects." They conducted their study with the goal of determining the effects of unilateral motor cortex-focused rTMS on 30 patients with chronic widespread fibromyalgia pain.In this double-blind study, patients were randomly assigned to receive active rTMS or a sham treatment, both applied to the l... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=907098 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 02:50:00 +0100 907098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=856806&cid=t_105051_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2007%2F09%2F10%2Ffibromyalgia-new-therapy-offers-hope%2F Fibromyalgia is a chronic muscle pain disorder that has no underlying identifiable cause. Sufferers have muscle pain, multiple areas of tenderness and fatigue. It is a poorly understood disorder, with many physicians not even acknowledging that it is a real illness. There is , however ample evidence that fibromyalgia is a real condition as it has been estimated that as many as 6 million Americans suffer from this affliction annually. Patients typically see several physicians and become frustrated when all their testing comes back normal. Other accompanying symptoms may include poor sleep hygiene, headache, mental clouding (fibromyalgia fog) and depression. Although this conditions rarely clears, suffers can be treated successfully with a combination of medications and regular exercise. The... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=856806 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:06:26 +0100 856806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=856865&cid=t_105051_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F154546412%2F Today kicks off National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. It runs September 10th through the 16th. What is an invisible chronic illness? If you have an illness and it can’t be seen from the outside, you have it. That would include diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, autism, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraines, chronic back pain, eating disorders, multiple sclerosis and mental illness, just to name a few. Actually over 95% of chronic illness is invisible. Laura from CFS Squared sent me a link to a great website that is officially hosting an area to come together and “feel that there is someone else that gets it”. Go check out all that it offers including… articles, things to buy, chat rooms and a very funny “10 things not to say to a chr... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=856865 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:32:54 +0100 856865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=817753&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Feli_lilley_seeks_okay_for_duloxetine_cymbaltareg_as_fibr.htm In this study, which included patients with and without depression, duloxetine reduced the pain associated with fibromyalgia." "Lack of awareness of fibromyalgia can lead to frustration as patients often see multiple physicians over a number of years before receiving a formal diagnosis," said Alan Breier, M.D., vice president for medical and chief medical officer, Eli Lilly and Company. "This research may help increase recognition of fibromyalgia and offer hope to those living with this debilitating condition." (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=817753 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 08:57:00 +0100 817753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=809622&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fresearchers-suggest-ndma-as-possible.html In N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor-Mediated Chronic Pain: New Approaches to Fibromyalgia Syndrome Etiology and Therapy, several researchers present their approach to the causation and therapy of fibromyalgia syndrome. Published in Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain (Vol 15, Issue 2, pp. 33 - 44), this article hypothesizes that FMS may be caused by "stress-induced disturbances of endocrine and neurological systems, involving the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate [NMDA] receptor." This receptor is implicated in other chronic pain conditions, as well. Their review aims to "provide evidence for targeting the NMDA receptor for FMS pharmacotherapy and discuss its significance to FMS pain."The researchers found that fibromyalgia pain is difficult to manage effectively due to their being no "discrete objectifiable ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=809622 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:56:00 +0100 809622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=763698&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fmultidimensional_approach_recommended_for_fibromyalgia_treat.htm Laurie Barclay, MD Désirée Lie, MD, MSEd July 26, 2007 - Management of fibromyalgia requires a multidimensional approach including patient education, cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, and other treatment, according to a review published in the July 15 issue of American Family Physician. "Fibromyalgia is an idiopathic, chronic, nonarticular pain syndrome with generalized tender points," write Sangita Chakrabarty, MD, MSPH, and Roger Zoorob, MD, MPH, from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. "It is a multisystem disease characterized by sleep disturbance, fatigue, headache, morning stiffness, paresthesias, and anxiety. Nearly 2 percent of the general population in the United States suffers from fibromyalgia, with females of middle age being at increased risk."... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=763698 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:20:00 +0100 763698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=758699&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fpet-scans-show-multidisciplinary.html The results of a pilot study published in Rheumatology International (July 20, 2007) show that clinical improvement in fibromyalgia can occur when a multi-disciplinary treatment program is able to increase a fibromyalgia patient's limbic metabolism. According to researchers at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, this indicates that there is limbic system involvement in fibromyalgia syndrome.Aberrant central neurological functioning is believed to contribute to the abnormal sensations of fibromyalgia (FM). This pilot study sought to determine if alterations in regional brain metabolism from baseline occur in FM after undergoing a multidisciplinary therapeutic regimen. Regional brain metabolic activity was estimated using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=758699 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 18:34:00 +0100 758699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=758701&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fchanges-in-fibromyalgia-tender-point.html The study summarized in Tender point count and total myalgic score in fibromyalgia: changes over a 28-day period (Rheumatology International, July 20, 2007), investigates tender point count (TPC) and total myalgic score (TMS) in fibromyalgia patients. Researchers at Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Institute at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, explain that TPC and TMS are used to monitor fibromyalgia patients' conditions. They studied 24 fibromyalgia patients in order to determine how stable these measures were over time and how well they reflected the patients' own experiences and perceptions of their condition.When they entered the study, all patients completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) measuring well-being. They w... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=758701 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 18:08:00 +0100 758701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=758702&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fis-fibromyalgia-really-rheumatologic.html The nature and categorization of fibromyalgia has perplexed researchers for years. Researchers at the Department of Rheumatology of the National Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway, published an article this month in Rheumatology International (July 20, 2007) which is the latest in the controversy over whether or not fibromyalgia can be classified as a rheumatologic illness.They describe fibromyalgia as "a medically unexplained or functional somatic syndrome (FSS)" with two classification criteria: chronic widespread pain (CWP) and the finding of 11 out of 18 tender points (TP). It overlaps, they write, with other functional somatic syndromes. Ten of these FSS's aside from fibromyalgia also include chronic fatigue syndrome, myofascial pain syndromes and irritable bowel syndrome. This mak... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=758702 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 17:53:00 +0100 758702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=758703&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fcost-effectiveness-of-spa-treatment-for.html In an article subtitled "General Health Improvement Is Not For Free" (Rheumatology [Oxford], July 17, 2007) rheumatology researchers in the Netherlands examine the cost-effectiveness of a course of spa treatment for fibromyalgia patients compared with usual care only. They studied 134 patients, who were randomly assigned to a 2 1/2 week spa treatment course in Tunisia or to a regular course of care only. Effectiveness was measured via multiple scales, and costs were reported from societal perspective.The data from 128 of the patients was analyzed, and the information indicated that general health improvement was experienced by the spa treatment group up to 6 months after the treatment. After one year, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The mean incremental cost o... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=758703 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 17:30:00 +0100 758703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=697184&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Ffibromyalgia_a_biopsychosocial_medical_condition_1.htm Fibromyalgia, a chronic, widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues accompanied by fatigue, is a fairly common condition that does not manifest any structural damage in an organ. Twenty-five years ago, Muhammad B. Yunus, MD, and colleagues published the first controlled study of the clinical characteristics of fibromyalgia syndrome. That seminal article, published in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, led directly to formal recognition of this disease by the medical community. In the June 2007 issue of Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, Dr. Yunus once again makes an enormous contribution to the field of chronic pain and fatigue by meticulously synthesizing and interpreting the extensive body of scientific literature on fibromyalgia and his own insights into the concept of central se... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=697184 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 08:26:00 +0100 697184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=692468&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Ffda_approves_lyrica_for_fibromyalgia.htm Pfizer has announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lyrica® (pregabalin) capsules CV for the management of fibromyalgia. Characterized by chronic widespread pain that can be relentless, fibromyalgia is usually accompanied by poor sleep, stiffness, fatigue, depression and anxiety; sufferers also report experiencing deep tenderness, soreness and flu-like aching. The pain of fibromyalgia can hamper a patient's ability to work and often results in increased medical costs and disability. Fibromyalgia is thought to result from neurological changes in how patients perceive pain, specifically a heightened sensitivity to stimuli that are not normally painful. Lyrica® binds to a specific protein within overexcited nerve cells and works to calm damaged nerves. This is th... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=692468 Sat, 23 Jun 2007 08:17:00 +0100 692468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=690047&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fbreaking-news-first-fibromyalgia-drug.html June 21, 2007, will is a major landmark in the history of fibromyalgia treatment. Yesterday Pfizer, Inc. won federal approval for Lyrica as the first treatment for fibromyalgia. This means that Lyrica will be the first drug that can be marketed specifically as a treatment for fibromyalgia patients, unlike the many drugs that have been prescribed for fibroomyalgia patients for "off-label" uses. This also will have implications for the insurance industry and the potential for policies to cover this medication for insured patients.Lyrica is an anti-convulsant that was previously approved by the FDA for the treatment of seizures, post-herpetic pain and diabetic neuropathy.According to CBS, the "FDA warned that common side effects of the drug included mild-to-moderate dizziness and sleepiness. ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=690047 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:53:00 +0100 690047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=677447&cid=t_105051_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fgabapentin_effective_for_fibromyalgia_pain.htm New research shows that the anticonvulsant medication gabapentin (Neurontin®), which is used for certain types of seizures, can be an effective treatment for the pain and other symptoms associated with the common, often hard-to-treat chronic pain disorder, fibromyalgia. In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 150 women (90 percent) and men with the condition, Lesley M. Arnold, M.D., director of the Women's Health Research Program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and colleagues found that those taking gabapentin at dosages of 1,200 to 2,400 mg daily for 12 weeks displayed significantly less pain than those taking placebo. Patients taking gabapentin also reported significantly better sleep and less fatigue. For the majority of participants, the drug was well t... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=677447 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:42:00 +0100 677447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=645189&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Feffects-of-mud-bath-treatment-on.html In Rheumatol Int. (2007 May 23), an article written by researchers at the Rheumatology Unit of the Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunogical Sciences at University of Siena, Italy, discusses the results of their clinical trial for mud bath therapy as a treatment for fibromyalgia.They performed a randomized clinical trial to "evaluate the effects and the tolerability of mud-bath treatment in [fibromyalgia] patients, who are poor responders to pharmacological therapy." Subjects included eighty patients with primary fibromyalgia diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology criteria. These patients were randomly divided into two groups - Forty patients received a cycle of 12 mud packs and thermal baths, and 40 were controls.Patients were evaluated by multiple evaluation tools ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=645189 Tue, 29 May 2007 17:27:00 +0100 645189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551529&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Ffibromyalgia-update-on-mechanisms-and.html Dr. Daniel J. Clauw, MD, one of the nation's experts in fibromyalgia care and research and the director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), has written an important article updating physicians on "the evolving study of Fibromyalgia’s nature and treatment." Geared towards doctors but written in language accessible to patients, this article is entitled Fibromyalgia: Update on Mechanisms and Management and cites more than 30 published studies. It was initially intended to be an educational ‘Grand Rounds’ presentation for fellows in Rheumatology at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center, but was subsequently published in the April 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology.This comprehensive article includes discussion of the neg... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551529 Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:29:00 +0100 551529 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551530&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fadvocates-for-fibromyalgia-funding.html Advocates for Fibromyalgia Funding, Treatment, Education and Research is requesting participation by people with fibromyalgia as well as people without fibromyalgia in its online survey. This online survey's deadling is May 2, but they encourage peopel to respond by April 19. The purpose of this non-scientific study is to evaluate the symptoms and characteristics that people with fibromyalgia share and the words we use to describe our pain, to be used for education and advocacy purposes.For those WITH fibromyalgia:http://freeonlinesurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=0i7jksxu5ic501y286405For those WITHOUT fibromyalgia (control group):http://freeonlinesurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=lg7zt9v1onqfsvr287189 (Source: The Fibromyalgia Research Blog) The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551530 Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:17:00 +0100 551530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551531&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fabnormal-brain-processing-in-chronic.html In the Journal of Affective Disorders (2007 Apr 13), researchers at the University of Balearic Islands and the Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS), Spain, analyze the effect of chronic pain on mood and information processing.Citing previous research that suggested that chronic pain sufferers are "vulnerable to the effects of negative mood during information processing" and the lack of evidence available, they designed a study to assess behavioral and brain responses to pain descriptors and pleasant words.They studied 18 patients with fibromyalgia, 18 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain due to identifiable physical injury, and 16 healthy controls. All patients were asked to decide whether certain words described their current or past experience of pain, while researchers r... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551531 Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:09:00 +0100 551531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551533&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Ffibromyalgia-caused-by-decreased-blood.html Researchers at Yale University School of Medicine (New Haven, CT) recently published a new hypothesis on the cause of pain in fibromyalgia (Medical Hypotheses, 2007 Mar 19). They suggest that while we know little about the cause and nature of the muscle pain of fibromyalgia, there are indicators that it may be involve "hypoperfusion" (decreased blood flow to muscles). Current fibromyalgia treatments are only partially effective, they write, and are geared towards reducing symptoms without knowing what exact pathology they are targeting, but the treatments that do help many fibromyalgia patients help give researchers a clue to what may cause patients' pain.A noteworthy commonality among partially effective therapies is a vasodilatory [blood vessel dilating] effect. This is true both of conv... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551533 Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:06:00 +0100 551533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=541715&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fstudy-finds-greatly-accelerated-brain.html In the Journal of Neuroscience (2007 Apr 11;27(15):4004-4007) researchers at McGill University's Centre for Research on Pain in Quebec, Canada, present findings of their recent study of anatomical changes in the brain associated with fibromyalgia. Using voxel-based morphometric analysis of magnetic resonance brain images, they examined the brains of 10 fibromyalgia patients and 10 healthy controls, all of whom were female.We found that fibromyalgia patients had significantly less total gray matter volume and showed a 3.3 times greater age-associated decrease in gray matter than healthy controls. The longer the individuals had had fibromyalgia, the greater the gray matter loss, with each year of fibromyalgia being equivalent to 9.5 times the lossin normal aging. In addition, fibromyalgia pa... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=541715 Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:28:00 +0100 541715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=509437&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fno-relationship-between-psychological.html Researchers in Turkey recruited 3 groups of subjects for a study into whether cognitive factors such as attributions, expectations, and anger management style, contribute to fibromyalgia patients' decisions whether or not to seek medical care for their illness (Turk Psikiyatri Derg, 2007 Spring;18(1):22-30). The groups consisted of 37 patients from a FMS clinic, 38 community residents with FMS symptoms they had not sought medical care for, and 41 healthy controls. Their measures of anxiety, depression, anger, locus of control (LOC), attributions, pain intensity, and disability were compared, as well as demographic statistics.There were major differences between the groups in levels of anxiety, depression, LOC, and somatic and symptom interpretation questionnaire (SIQ) scores.FMS nonpatient... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=509437 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:05:00 +0100 509437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=490867&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Flow-hypocretin-1-levels-in.html In Sleep Medicine (2007 Mar 16) researchers at the University of Minnesota's Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences evaluated the levels of the hypothalamic neuropeptide hypocretin (orexin) in the cerebrospinal fluid if fibromyalgia patients. Hypocretin (orexin) "modulates sleep-wake, feeding and endocrine functions. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypocretin-1 (Hcrt-1) concentrations are low in patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy, a sleep disorder characterized by hypersomnolence and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep abnormalities." They found that the base cerebrispinal fluid levels of hypocretin-1 in fibromyalgia patients did not differ from the levels of healthy controls, which suggests that abnormally low Hypocretin-1 levels is not a likely cause of fatigue in fibromyalgia. (Source: T... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=490867 Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:16:00 +0100 490867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=490868&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Flong-term-evaluation-of-medication.html In a forthcoming article, researchers present the results of their 5-year study of the use of long-term "opioid contracts" for pain management (Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2007 Apr;22(4):485-90). Such medication contracts are gaining popularity as a way for doctors to monitor their patients' adherence to their treatments and to prevent abuse of medications. The study aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of medication contract agreements for chronic pain patients receiving opioid medications. They studied all patients who participated in contracts for opioid medications between 1998 and 2003 at one internal medicine clinic.A total of 330 patients constituting 4% of the clinic population were placed on contracts during the study period. Seventy percent were on indigent care pr... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=490868 Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:09:00 +0100 490868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486793&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Ffemale-fibromyalgia-patients-wanted-for.html A study in Southern California is enrolling fibromyalgia patients. From the National Fibromyalgia Association: The effectiveness of foot reflexology in the management of chronic pain has been the focus of varied research, but more specific study is needed to document its affect on sleep disorders and pain as it relates to the fibromyalgia population. National reflexology educator and holistic health facilitator Linda Chollar has taught the discipline of reflexology to health professionals in hospitals, hospice, wellness centers and nursing colleges. In private practice, she provides complementary approaches to wellness for clients with chronic pain conditions. Chollar has logged results with fibromyalgia clients over the past ten years. Her mission is to encourage more clinical... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486793 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:54:00 +0100 486793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=728730&cid=t_105051_150_f&fid=35781&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.qdinformation.com%2Fqdisblog%2F2007%2F03%2F16%2Fdrugs-nearing-approval-for-fibromyalgia%2F Back in January, Reuters had this article on the mysterious pain condition referred to as fibromyalgia Drugs nearing approval for mysterious pain condition | Health | Reuters.com: The condition is controversial because it is not east to diagnose and there is no test for it. The diagnosis is made based on patient complaints and responses to subjective questions during an exam. It is estimated that the condition may affect as many as 12 million Americans mainly females. I’m not qualified to say wether or not it should be a recognized disease but it is interesting to note that several major pharma companies are looking at this as an area ripe for new drugs to target this. Among the companies actively developing drugs for fibromyalgia are Pfizer, Lilly, Forest Labs and Wyeth. There may b... QDIS Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=728730 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:34:22 +0100 728730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486794&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Ffibromyalgia-researcher-dr-mb-yunus-on.html According to Essential Science Indicators, Dr. Muhammad B. Yunus is one of the most widely published fibromyalgia researchers, with 16 papers cited a total of 422 times as of late 2006. Dr. Yunus is Professor of Medicine in the Section of Rheumatology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. In an interview with Dr. Yunus from September 2006, he discusses his background in fibromyalgia research and then envisions the future of fibromyalgia research:A greater number of studies involving a large array of neurotransmitters involved in the pain pathway may be most relevant in fibromyalgia research in the future. There will be more drug studies involving many neurotransmitters, their receptors and subtypes. Serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, substance P, NMDA receptors and... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486794 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:49:00 +0100 486794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486795&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Ffibromyalgia-and-concept-of-central.html March's issue of Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (2007 Mar 10) includes an article summarizing the results of recent research conducted by Dr. M.B. Yunus, a prominent fibromyalgia expert and professor of medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (Peoria, IL). The format of this research is a critical overview of existing literature combined with the author's own views, aimed at discussing fibromyalgia and overlapping conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome, within the concept of "central sensitivity syndromes" (CSS).According to the researcher, the theory of these conditions belong to a category of central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) is viable, based on associations between the conditions as well as the available ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486795 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:38:00 +0100 486795 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486796&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Ffibromyalgia-not-related-to-depressive.html This month's Annals of General Psychiatry (2007 Mar 9;6(1):9 ) includes an article on a study conducted to assess fibromyalgia patients' personality types. The study investigates the concept of fibromyalgia as a manifestation of depression or affective spectrum disorder. Researchers measured the cognitive styles of 44 fibromyalgia patients, 43 patients with major depressive disorder, and 41 healthy controls, using the Sociotropy and Autonomy Scale (SAS) and the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) as well as the Beck Depression Inventory.The study found that many fibromyalgia patients also suffer from depression, and thus have depressive personality styles. However, it also found that the population of fibromyalgia patients who do not suffer from major depression have personality styles simi... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486796 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:29:00 +0100 486796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486797&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fdiagnostic-criteria-for-myofascial.html An article in this month's Clinical Journal of Pain (2007 Mar-Apr; 23(3):278-86) summarizes the results of a literature review done at the Uiversities of Exeter and Plymouth, UK. This review aimed to investigate the criteria used to diagnose myofascial trigger point (MTrP) pain syndrome, a painful condition often experienced by people with fibromyalgia as well as those without. The researchers searched electronic databases, looking for relevant empirical research, and found 93 articles that met their inclusion criteria. They assessed "(1) the individual criterion and criteria combinations used to diagnose MTrP pain syndrome; (2) the cited "authoritative" publications and (3) the criteria recommended by the authoritative publications as being essential for MTrP pain syndrome diagnosis."The ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486797 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:05:00 +0100 486797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486798&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fresults-of-internet-survey-of-2596.html Results of an internet questionnaire survey from the National Fibromyalgia Association will be published this month. The questionnaire was completed by 2,569 people. The patients who responded were mostly United States citizens, with a majority being middle-aged Caucasian females. Most had suffered from fibromyalgia symptoms for 4 years or more.The most common problems were morning stiffness, fatigue, nonrestorative sleep, pain, concentration, and memory. Aggravating factors included: emotional distress, weather changes, insomnia, and strenuous activity. Respondents rated the most effective management modalities as rest, heat, pain medications, antidepressants, and hypnotics. The most commonly used medications were: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, cyclobenzaprine, amitriptyline, and as... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486798 Sat, 10 Mar 2007 06:13:00 +0100 486798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486799&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fhow-do-helplessness-and-loss-affect.html Researchers at Helix Clinical Research, Inc. recently conducted a study evaluating the feelings of fibromyalgia-related helplessness and loss on patients' depression symptoms (Pain, 2007 Feb 28). They tested two models. One examined whether the experience of loss would affect the relationship between disability and depression. In this model, loss was measured by the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory (WHYMPI) Interference Scale. The second model "determined whether condition-specific helplessness and loss would mediate the relationship between pain and depression with disability controlled." The participants in the study were eighty patients with a confirmed fibromyalgia diagnosis.The results showed that "in Model 1, loss fully mediated the relationship between disability and ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486799 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 19:02:00 +0100 486799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486800&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Ffibromyalgia-research-focus-of-new.html On Monday, March 5, 2007 the University of Nevada School of Medicine (Reno) broke ground on a new medical research facility, The Center for Molecular Medicine. The center's 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility will house several research departments, and will serve as the headquarters for the Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease. The $78 million building is funded in part by money allocated by a Nevada senate bill and from federal funds.More than 15,000 square feet on the second and third floors will house the Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease, the first institute of its kind in the United States. Dedicated to finding a cause and cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other neuro-immune diseases such as fibromyalgia, Gulf War Illness and autis... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486800 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 18:52:00 +0100 486800 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486802&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Famerican-heart-association-instructs.html The American Heart Association has published a statement on the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for chronic pain. They instruct doctors to change how they prescribe pain relievers based on the increasing evidence that NSAIDs, other than aspirin, increase the risk for heart attack and stroke."We believe that some physicians have been prescribing the new COX-2 inhibitors as the first line of treatment. We are turning that around and saying that, for chronic pain in patients with known heart disease or who are at risk for heart disease, these drugs should be the last line of treatment,” said Elliott M. Antman, M.D., FAHA, lead author of the American Heart Association scientific statement. “We advise physicians to start with non-pharmacologic treatments such as physica... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486802 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 18:23:00 +0100 486802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486804&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fmultidimensional-rehabilitation-program.html Researchers in Norway have found that "multidimensional rehabilitation is an effective intervention for patients with widespread chronic pain." Their study focused on 200 patients with chronic myofascial pain and/or fibromyalgia (Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening, 2007 Mar 1;127(5):604-8.) Patients went through a 4-week comprehensive rehabilitation program which included "education and pain management in a cognitive setting, various forms of aerobic exercises, myofascial pain treatment, relaxation and medication as needed."The patients filled in questionnaires on arrival, at follow-up after six and 12-months and at discharge. They completed visual analogue scales (pain, fatigue, sleep problems, depression), the Nottingham Health Profile, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, global ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486804 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 18:07:00 +0100 486804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486805&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Ffibromyalgia-and-vulvodynia.html The results of a research study published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2007 Feb;196(2):128.e1-128.e6) indicate that vulvodynia, a chronic pain syndrome causing unexplained pain in the vaginal area, is clearly associated with both chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, in addition to a number of other health conditions. (Source: The Fibromyalgia Research Blog) The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486805 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:51:00 +0100 486805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486806&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Faction-potential-simulation-ineffective.html According to researchers at the Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, The Netherlands, an increasingly popular method of pain reduction did not have any affect on the 10 fibromyalgia patients they studied (Clinical Rheumatology, 2007 Mar;26(3):322-9). Action potential simulation (APS) is a form of microcurrent electrical stimulation which is hypothesized by its proponents to works by stimulating neurons which may replenish the cell's pain energy source (ATP). It has not been widely researched for the treatment of pain but is similar in many ways to the commonly used TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit. The study aimed to investigate "whether APS helps to reduce pain, improves patients' perception of daily functioning and social participation in patients with fibromya... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486806 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:02:00 +0100 486806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486807&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Ffibromyalgia-and-breast-implants-no.html In this month's Annals of Epidemiology, researchers present the results of a nationwide study of rheumatic conditions and connective tissue disease in Danish women with cosmetic breast implants.We extended by 5 years the follow-up of our earlier population-based cohort study of Danish women with cosmetic breast implants (n = 2761) and comparison groups of women with other types of cosmetic surgery (n = 8807). All women were followed from January 1977 through December 2001. Hospitalization and outpatient data for CTD and ill-defined and other rheumatic conditions in the implant and comparison groups were compared with those in the general Danish population. Additionally, CTDs and fibromyalgia were confirmed through medical chart review, and direct comparisons of the breast implant cohort wi... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486807 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:18:00 +0100 486807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486809&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Ffibromyalgia-tissue-bank-now-enrolling.html As previously announced on this blog, the Sun Health Institute in Sun City, AZ, recently received an award from the National Institute of Health to begin the world's first fibromyalgia tissue bank. In an article published today, representatives of the tissue bank indicate that their primary goal is to research glial cells - activated brain and spinal cord cells - which are theorized to cause fibromyalgia pain. Many researchers believe that tissue collected from fibromyalgia patients will hold the key to determining the cause of fibromyalgia, which may open the door to treatments and even, perhaps, a cure. The bank is now enrolling donors:Tissue donation will not occur until the donor's death. However, fibromyalgia-tissue donors will be asked to visit the institute each year to have their m... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486809 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:59:00 +0100 486809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486810&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fsupplemental-therapy-for-pain-relief.html Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, TX) have discovered that a supplemental therapy that combines pain coping and biofeedback skills can reduce pain from temperomandibular disorder (TMD), a painful condition that disproportionately affects fibromyalgia sufferers.The therapy, called "early biopsychosocial intervention" teaches patients to self-manage pain and control stress-related bodily functions such as heart rate and tension. The trial included 20 men and 81 women, who were divided into two groups, one of which received standard care and one of which received standard care plus the new therapy.The six-week intervention teaches patients about the mind-body relationship, the body's reaction to stress and relaxation training in everyday settings. Instruction also is give... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486810 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:48:00 +0100 486810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486811&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fseeking-research-participants-cognitive.html Duke University in North Carolina is seeking participants for a 9-month clinical trial for cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in fibromyalgia patients. Participants must be 21-65 years old, either gender, and have fibromyalgia with a diagnosis of insomnia and a history of insomnia complaints for over a month but must not have other sleep disorders.Click here for more information or to enroll. (Source: The Fibromyalgia Research Blog) The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486811 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:58:00 +0100 486811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486812&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fcritical-analysis-of-tender-points-in.html A new method for quantifying and assessing fibromyalgia tender points has been developed by doctors at the Northwestern University's Center for Pain Studies (Chicago, IL). Published in this month's Pain Medicine (2007 Mar;8(2):147-156), the results of their study show a clear and measurable differentiation between tender points in fibromyalgia patients and non-fibromyalgia patients. Their critical assessment of the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia involved 25 fibromyalgia patients and 31 health controls. Using an algometer (a device that measures pressure threshold) they applied pressure to the 18 ACR tender points and five sham points. They used the patients' responses to give them an "algometric total score" (the sum of the patient's average p... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486812 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:58:00 +0100 486812 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486815&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fdevelopment-of-new-gabapentin-based.html On February 11, 2007, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and XenoPort, Inc. announced that they have come to an agreement to co-develop and co-market the new pain medication XP13512, which is a prodrug of gabapentin (Neurontin), a medication commonly prescribed for fibromyalgia. The companies describe as a "new chemical entity that is designed to improve upon the clinical utility of gabapentin by taking advantage of high-capacity transport mechanisms in the gut to improve absorption." It is currently in Phase III development for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and in Phase II development for neuropathic pain. Prior clinical trial results have been encouraging."We are pleased to work with XenoPort toward bringing a new treatment alternative for the management of these two important disease areas of RLS and... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486815 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:58:00 +0100 486815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486813&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fgrowth-hormone-deficiency-in.html Many of fibromyalgia's symptom are similar to those of adult growth hormone deficiency syndrome. Studies have found that many fibromyalgia patients have low serum growth hormone levels, with a suspected cause being dysregulated growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor. Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University (Portland, OR) executed a study aimed at assessing the growth hormone reserve in fibromyalgia patients with low serum insuline-like growth factor levels using the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)-arginine test (Growth Hormone IGF Research, 2007 Feb 5). They evaluated the test results of 77 fibromyalgia patients with low insulin-like growth factor levels.Of the 77 FM patients, 13 patients (17%) failed the GHRH-arginine test... In contrast, the remaining 64 patients (... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486813 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:57:00 +0100 486813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486816&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fexploring-role-of-sleep-and-coping-in.html 99% of the 101 fibromyalgia patients who participated in a study designed to investigate the effect of sleep and coping on thequality of life of FMS patients experienced poor sleep quality, according to research published in The Journal of Psychosomatic Research (2007 Feb;62(2):145-51). Researchers found that "sleep quality was significantly predictive of pain, fatigue, and social functioning in patients with FMS. Active coping, planning, acceptance, and seeking instrumental and emotional social support were not predictive of health outcomes in FMS. However, the use of restraint coping was predictive of poorer physical functioning." "Restraint coping" is defined here as "coping passively by holding back one’s coping attempts until they can be of use."The researchers concluded that "sleep... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486816 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:56:00 +0100 486816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486817&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fchildren-with-fibromyalgia-report-more.html The creation of a system for evaluating the impacts of fibromyalgia on the lives of children and teens with fibromyalgia, as well as the outcome of treatments, is discussed in an article in February's Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (2007 Feb 12;5(1):9). Standardized outcome measures for clinical trials in fibromyalgia are being developed to measure pain, generic health-related quality of life, fatigue, sleep quality, and physical function but no such measures exist for pediatric fibromyalgia.Because of this lack of a standardized way to evaluate fibromyalgia impact on children and teens, researchers analyzed the "feasibility, reliability, and validity of the PedsQL 4.0 (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) Generic Core Scales, PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and PedsQL Rheumato... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486817 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:12:00 +0100 486817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486818&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fpool-exercise-and-fibromyalgia.html In their journal article Pool exercise for individuals with fibromyalgia, researchers at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Toronto, ON, investigate the existing literature on the benefits of pool exercise for fibromyalgia patients (Current Opinions in Rheumatology, 2007 Mar;19(2):168-73). They reviewed eight studies published during the last 7 years on the topic.The literature review found that "pool exercise has been evaluated against sedentary control groups, land-based exercise and immersion in a warm, mineralized pool." Studies found that pool exercise was as effective as land-based exercise and is possibly better in terms of mood and sleep duration benefits. The improvements fibromyalgia patients experience from an exercise program in pain and mood can last for up to 2 years. They fou... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486818 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:03:00 +0100 486818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486819&cid=t_105051_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Ffibromyalgia-treatment-update.html Medical researchers from the Division of Rheumatology and the Center for the Study of Nutrition Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA) review and summarize the recent literature involving fibromyalgia treatment options in next month's Current Opinions in Rheumatology (2007 Mar;19(2):111-7).They cite prior research that shows that medication and self-management approaches can improve symptoms and overall wellbeing in fibromyalgia patients, and discuss recent studies showing encouraging results of studies on the effects of the anticonvulsant pregabalin (Lyrica) and two seratonin and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors, duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran.Studies evaluating different forms of exercise continue to support the belief that incre... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486819 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:58:00 +0100 486819