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 ...
You are correct in saying that people who make judgemental statements about this add to the problem. No matter how much I suck it up and carry on, I still have the pain. My sister's is far worse than mine, and I really feel bad for her.
Yeah.... It's called 'being a chick'.
I'll bet this 'disease' strikes Radio America listening chicks disproportionately.
My MD pal cals it: 'Mystic Fibrosis'. Ha!
Well I sure hope you can find some medicine that will help your pain. I have RA and Osteo besides FMS and sleeping is a huge problem. I find that a product called "nerve" by "Solaray" is great for helping your muscle spasms and tension that make the pain worse and prevent your ability to sleep. It is an herbal blend and only cost $7.99 in the Health food stores, the only drawback is that it smells like stinkweed because it has Valarian Root in it. I hold my nose or put it in apple sauce or pudding to disguise the smell. Often the pain of Arthritis will cause the joint support systems like the muscles,tendons, and ligaments to spasm and cause as much pain as the Arthritis. Try lots of Fish oil, Flaxseed oil and primrose oil, they are all great for inflammation and pain and they are also good for heart and menopause type symptoms. Hard to weed a garden with painful Arthritis.
Chronic pain sucks...I don't have Fibro, but I get arthritis in my hand, and I also get spasms in my biliary system which hurt like a heart attack. Had that for over a year now.
Between the pain and my teenager's problems, I got really depressed, and they put me on welbutrin, which amazingly helped with the chronic pain from the bile duct...I felt like I was let out of pain prison.
My poor grandma has lupus and fibro and several other syndromes...hurts like the dickens.
Doctors are in the stone age when it comes to nerve pain. You think they would be humble enough to admit it?
Has anyone ever told you that you were a female hating, insensitive, Troglodyte? You think people in pain are to be laughed at? I will bet that a Cancer ward with terminal patients would have you laughing your a$$ off. you would be an absolute scream at a serious injury accident scene, hysterically laughing while victims cried out in pain from their injuries. Try to stay off posts that are for humans with feelings that are trying to help others out and go to the ones where you don't have to think or feel about anyone but yourself.
I do not know if you know this but if your Grandmother had Lupus, you are predisposed to it also. Sometimes Lupus skips a generation like my friend who is 43 and has it, yet her Mom does not and her Grandmother died of it mainly because she was misdiagnosed with depression (Lupus effects the brain) and was not treated until it was too late. The Doctor that misdiagnosed it made a complete turnaround and now that is all he does because he has a modicum of decency. You really need to make sure you do not have it, gastro problems are one of the first signs. My friend had stomach cancer when she was in her 20's and she is lucky to still be around. You have to get with a really good Rheumatolgist and it may take a few visits and bloodwork before you have a real diagnosis, and Lupus is a Progressive disease that you have to watch carefully. Good luck.
Marking...
We do things weird in my family. Gramma got lupus at 70, my brother got Gillian Barre (which usually hits people in their mid 40s and later) when he was in his mid 20s, and I got Guttate psoriasis, which you are supposed to get in your teens, when I was 47 (only one dose, but it's enough to make me sure to go to the dr. if I even suspect strep throat, which can set it off).
But I've been making gallstones since I was 17 or 18. No gallbladder and I still make'em. I will keep an eye out for symptoms of lupus since we have autoimmune thingies in my family background, but so far, the arthritis I have is wear and tear from writing and crocheting and knitting too much...and I've had that since college, about 20 years.
Prevention magazine had a nice article this summer about 7 diseases you need to watch out for to make sure they get diagnosed properly, and Lupus was definitely one. Also included women's heart disease symptoms and the early signs of ovarian cancer. Worth reading.
I agree this is a catch-all diagnosis. I have had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis since I was seven years old and have been confined to a wheel chair since I was 10. I am now 50. It really bothers me when I see a DR make this diagnosis with very little evidence other than the patients complaints. To those that suffer from this mystery ailment, I say get as much exercise as possible and find out what you need to do to be happy. It has been my experience that almost without fail these individuals have hidden physiological issues that need resolving. Lack of attention, or unhappiness of some kind.
It isn't a "catch-all" syndrome. You have no idea what you are talking about.
If I were a vindictive B..ch, I'd wish it on you, but I'm and won't. I wouldn't want anyone to go through this. Sometimes the pain is excruciating and I can't even stand up. It affects every part of your body.
You know, it's people like you that make life harder for the handicapped or disabled. You are the type of person who would demand that I have a seizure just to prove that I'm an epileptic or have my brother go into a diabetic coma to prove he's a type 1 diabetic.
Oh rats, trying to talk to people like you just frustrates and aggravates me.
You are wrong.
I know exactly what you mean - to a T.
I also have arthritis, both Reumatoid and Osteo. Because of the Epilepsy, there are very few drugs that I can take without having a reaction of one kind or another.
I can no longer drive after having a seizure while driving and totaling my car, a fence, a telephone pole and a tree and almost landing in the wrong lane on I-26.
It angers me to hear people saying that I look "normal". Just because you can't see the disability doesn't mean it isn't there.
Even the insurance companies have the same attitude about people with diabilities - don't insure them.
KC, I'm surprised at your attitude. The pain is very real and not something made up.
You and your MD friend (and are you sure he really is a doctor?) may go suck eggs, rotten ones at that!
My doctors watch for that in me also giant cell arthritis.
Thank GOD I have a wonderful neurologist and had a great Ruematologist until he retired. I also live close to a great teaching hospital here in South Carolina - Medical University of South Carolina.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.