Posted on 08/22/2005 10:50:57 PM PDT by Plutarch
Exploring fibromyalgia's mysteries, researchers look to the central nervous system, gaining deeper insight into why we suffer.
...A groundswell of research has begun to expose the underpinnings of the baffling disorder that affects an estimated 6 million to 10 million Americans, most of them women. Not only do the findings have the potential to ease the condition's stigma, they also may provide clues to other illnesses for which there is no clear clause.
Fibromyalgia, experts now believe, is a pain-processing disorder — arising in the brain and spinal cord — that disrupts the ways the body perceives and communicates pain.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Kava is still available at health food stores and such. However, there has been some concern that it may cause liver damage in a very small percentage of regular users. It may have something to do with concommitant alcohol use and/or viral infections, or it may have to do with the extraction/preparation method of some manufacturers. It should definitely not be taken by those with liver disease.
bump
are you sure? i know someone who suffers from this and takes a low dose naltrexone, and claims it works for her.
ping to #23
Thanks for the ping y'all.
I'd do about anything to see my wife have some relief from the constant pain I see her in and doctors find absolutely nothing.
see #23
www.lowdosenaltrexone.com
Thanks
Bookmarking.
I also forgot.....Milnacipran is another possibility, it's a norepinephrine serotonin reuptake inhibitor...although Im not sure if it's available in the US.
My friend hasn't tried it but it was on her "list", so if low dose naltrexone doesnt work that might be another avenue.
Some of you may find this site useful http://www.remedyfind.com/hc-Fibromyalgia.asp
The trigger points are specific sites on the body that feel like bruises but are not visible bruises there are about 20 of them. I have about 16 of them, and you only need about 11 to be diagnoised as having FMS.
I've had FMS for over 10 years and find mild exercise helps. As does treating my low thyroid.
I've heard emotional trauma triggers FMS, etc. I've had sore/stiff muscles since HS, and I'm 57. I went for years being untreated for hypothryroidism because I was considered just 'border line'. It had to get critical before the medical profession would treat me.
Here is an older thread on FMS FMS
Ping, ping, ping... we have a winner. It's just like Chronic Fatigue syndrome, etc....take your (insert med name..vicodin, percocet, elavil, neurontin, prozac) and let me know how you do. If this doesn't work I have the PDR and about 10,000 other meds we can throw down your throat and see if it helps you.
Now what was your pain scale between 1-10? You say it's a 7-8...hmmm. Well that's some progress.
It's a perfect disease, no objective lab test, no definitive "cure" just an ongoing "evaluation, treatment and response cycle". The lawyers and the bureaucrats love this one.
Thanks Bill. Maybe this is a step ahead. Since I already take Dilantin for my seizures, I am going to talk to my neurologist about the other medication for Epilepsy as a possible use for the Fibromylgia.
Lady, it is a miserable thing to have.
My wife had this. Its very painful. Your body tells you that there is pain when there really is not.
My sister suffers from fibromyalgia, as does one of my friends. My sister gets knots in her muscles; I have felt them. It is NOT just "aches and pains."
Yep, it's a mental illness! (sarc)
Prescribe life-long drugs? Try taking Dilantin your whole life or insulin - those are life-long drugs. I've been fighting Fibromyalgia since I was in my twenties and it hasn't been fun, it's been depressing more than anything else especially in combination with the epilepsy.
Spondylitis is not fun either, try having it in both the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine - it's quite painful.
Try rejection by the people that you love and say love you because of these problems - t'aint easy, in fact is very hard.
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