What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. The pain tends to be felt as diffuse aching or burning, often described as head to toe. It may be worse at some times than at others. It may also change location, usually becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used most.

The fatigue ranges from feeling tired, to the exhaustion of a flu-like illness. It may come and go and people can suddenly feel drained of all energy – as if someone just “pulled the plug”.

Fibromyalgia is a common illness. In fact, it is more common than rheumatoid arthritis and can even be more painful. Prevalence of Fibromyalgia: A Survey in Five European Countries (see www.fmauk.org/prevalence for details) put the prevalence of FM at between 2.9 and 4.7%. People with mild to moderate cases of fibromyalgia are usually able to live a normal life, given the appropriate treatment.

If symptoms are severe, however, people may not be able to hold down a paying job or enjoy much of a social life. The name fibromyalgia is made up from “fibro” for fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments; “my” indicating muscles; and “algia” meaning pain.

Besides pain and fatigue fibromyalgia symptoms often include:

• unrefreshing sleep – waking up tired and stiff
• headaches – ranging from ordinary types to migraine
• irritable bowel – alternating diarrhoea and constipation, sometimes accompanied by gas in the abdomen or nausea
• cognitive disturbances including lack of concentration, temporary memory impairment and word mix up
• clumsiness and dizziness
• sensitivity to changes in the weather and to noise, bright lights, smoke and other environmental factors
• allergies

Fibromyalgia is not new, but for most of the last century it was difficult to diagnose. Part of the problem has been that the condition could not be identified in the standard laboratory tests or x-rays. Moreover, many of its signs and symptoms are found in other conditions as well – especially in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Two Canadian doctors developed a way of diagnosing fibromyalgia in the 1970s and in 1990 an international committee published requirements for diagnosis that are now widely accepted. Once other medical conditions have been ruled out through tests and the patient’s history, diagnosis depends on two main symptoms:

• pain in all four quadrants of the body for at least three months together with
• pain in at least 11 out of 18 tender point sites when they are pressed. The “tender points”, or spots of extreme tenderness, are rarely noticed by the patient until they are pressed.

 The information above is taken from The Fibromyalgia Association uk website.

I would recommend having a look at the Fibromyalgia Association Uk website for further and regularly updated information at fibromyalgia-associationuk.org

There are similarities and cross over symptoms with Fibromyalgia, ME, Chronic fatigue, and post viral fatigue. Some people have Fibromyalgia and Chronic fatigue.

 On a personal note

As someone who has suffered from fibromyalgia for a number of years now, I have a deep personal understanding of the condition and it impact on daily life.

Amongst the range  nutritional suppliments that help me, including Vitamin B,C, Magnesium, and zinc, I have found Aloe Vera and bee pollen to be most helpful for lifting my energy levels.

I drink 'Organic no caf and herbl teas (not fruit teas) to reduce/replace caffeine.

I use Aspall's organic cider vinegar and I have Manuka Honey almost every day.

I use 'Pernaton green lipped muscle extract cream for localised pain.

I also use the vegepa pure fish oil capsules, I get them by mail order, and they are an excellent pure source of omega 3 and 6, and I have noticed pain reduction and have stuck to these for over a year now. You can find out more by visiting the research charity that speciaIises in research into chronic condition. For further information  from their webisite www.igennus.com 

I have also learnt ( the hard way) to pace myself- to excercise (by walking) and to rest when my body tells me to.  I have also worked out what works for me dietry wise. Recent research suggests that there may be a number of different strain/types of fibromyalgia which would explain why those who have fibromyalgia may not have all the same symptoms.

NB-IMPORTANT- I am not suggesting you follow my regime. I am anecdotaly sharing what works for me and will continue to share under the 'blog' page of this website and on my facebook page "Annette Boden wellbeing".

Always check with your GP before undertaking any course of treatment.

Hypnotherapy and counselling support  

The key significant help in my daily life has been Self -hypnosis, and this I recommend to anyone who has fibromyalgia and /or chronic fatigue. I see many people for these conditions and work with them through a combination of cognitive counselling and Hypnotherapy to create balance in their lives, to reassess goals and objectives, and to address the emotional impact so that people can give themselves permission to rest when they need to and not feel guilty. For further information or to book an appointment call me on 01663 750323 or email me from my 'contact me' page.

I also find mindfulness based meditation and excellent way to rebalance and to help settle the 'brain fog'.

I also recommend Jan Sadler's excellent book with accompanying CD "Pain relief without drugs" ISBN: 978-1-59477-151-4 and her helpful and informative website www.painsupport.co.uk

   Reverse Therapy

 I would also recommend a look at the pioneering work of Dr John Eaton and his work on 'reverse therapy' especially developed to address the mind-body connection with chronic fatigue, ME, and Fibromyalgia. I was trained under Dr Eaton and have the upmost respect for is work and research. You may find something of value to help you on the revere therapy website www.reverse-therapy.com.

Exert from Dr Eaton's homepage:

"Reverse Therapy was developed by John Eaton between 1996-2002. It is a simple approach which teaches people how to use Bodymind to recover from illness, regain mental health and stay well. 

Although it has many imitators it is still a leading-edge solution for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other stress-related illnesses.

In the early days we used the approach to help people with Anxiety, Panic, Stress and Depression. Then we discovered that Reverse Therapy is also a powerful solution for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and many other non-specific illnesses. Since that time we have gone on to experiment with our treatment strategies and we are proud of the fact that Reverse Therapy is now a complete alternative to Psychotherapy."

The FaMily magazine is also an excellent source of information and support and I highly recommend subscribing. For more information go to www.ukfibromyalgia.com