On Fibromyalgia

From: Poutinen, Jay (jpoutine@uwsp.edu)
Tue Jan 2 19:39:24 2001


>From Medical College of Wisconsin newsletter:

(1) Diagnosis and Treatment of Fibromyalgia ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Fibromyalgia is a poorly understood medical condition ---------------------------------------------------------------------- characterized by soft tissue pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and ---------------------------------------------------------------------- widely distributed areas of tenderness known as tender points. It is a chronic condition with no cure that affects about 3.4% of women and 0.5% of men. This information comes from Medical College of Wisconsin faculty Paul J. Millea, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine, and Richard L. Holloway, PhD, Professor of Family and Community Medicine. Their article on fibromyalgia appeared in the Oct. 1, 2000, issue of American Family Physician.

There is no laboratory test to diagnose fibromyalgia, but fibromyalgia patients typically have altered sleep patterns and brain chemistry. One-third of patients with fibromyalgia also have low insulin growth factor levels, which indicates low growth hormone secretion.

Researchers have also found that fibromyalgia patients have elevated levels of a neurotransmitter -- cerebrospinal fluid substance P -- which is associated with enhanced pain perception. In essence, pain is not caused by inflammation or damage, but is instead associated with a central defect in pain processing. Some speculate that physical or psychological trauma may cause such changes in the central nervous system, leading to fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia tender points are painful to the touch and will shift location over time. Fibromyalgia is often accompanied by other conditions such as migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, depression and temporomandibular joint syndrome.

An active exercise program, low-dose anti-depressants, acupuncture, psychotherapy, behavior modification therapy, prescription opioid painkillers, chiropractic care, growth hormone therapy, massage and physical therapy, used alone or in conjunction with one another, may provide some relief of symptoms. A treatment plan should be tailored to the needs of the individual patient.

>> http://healthlink.mcw.edu/content/article/3579/977865667.html


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