The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire is something that I encounter a lot when reviewing research into fibromyalgia as it is often used in studies to see how something affects a person's fibromyalgia symptoms. This explains what it is, what it scores and how it is measured and you can also get a copy. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) is an assessment and evaluation tool developed to measure fibromyalgia (FM) patient status, progress and outcomes. It has been designed to measure the areas of health that are believed to be most affected by FM. It is in the form of a two page questionaire with a further two pages of description and scoring. It is designed for the FM patient to fill out themself. HOW THE FIQ WAS DEVELOPED. The FIQ was developed for adults with fibromyalgia. Doctors used patient reports, functional status instruments, and clinical observations to create it. The original Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was developed in the late 1980s by Drs. Carol Burckhardt, Sharon Clark and Robert Bennett at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon USA. At that time the clinical features of fibromyalgia were just being described, and the FIQ was an attempt to capture the total spectrum of problems related to fibromyalgia and the responses to therapy. The FIQ was first published in 1991 and since that time has been extensively used as an index of disease activity and therapeutic efficacy. Its development is described in separate reviews by Dr. Burckhardt and Dr. Bennett. Several issues regarding ethocultural usage, symptom relevance and arcane scoring became apparent and these issues have been addressed in the revised version FIQR. ~ American College of Rheumatology WHAT THE FIQ MEASURES It measures physical functioning, work difficulty, including housework, morning tiredness, pain, stiffness, fatigue, and well-being including depression and anxiety, over the past week. HOW THE FIQ IS SCORED There are 20 questions in total. The first 11 relate to physical functioning and are rated on a 4 point scale. Most of the other questions use a horizontal linear scales marked in 10 increments on which the patient rates how they felt overall. The FIQ is scored in such a way that a higher score indicates a greater impact of the syndrome on the person. Each of the 10 items has a maximum possible score of 10. Thus the maximum possible score is 100. The average FM patient scores about 50, severely afflicted patients are usually 70 plus. Get the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) pdf. The FIQ is a useful measure of disease impact in patients with fibromyalgia. It has shown good responsiveness to change in clinical studies. It is a useful instrument for measuring the changes in groups of patients in treatment programs and clinical trials. Whether it is beneficial for helping individuals and their health care providers plot changes as a result of individual treatment has not been formally tested but many clinicians use it for that purpose. ~ Dr. Carol Burckhardt. Learn more about fibromyalgia. Join our friendly private facebook group. Follow on twitter for fibro humor and information. Follow Fibro Files on facebook. Follow me on pinterest. Follow me on tumblr.

Chronic Pain May Be Effectively Treated Using Placebo Effect: 60 patients with osteoarthritis and 79 patients with fibromyalgia as well as 98 healthy individuals were given an inert cream to be applied on their forehand. Pavankumar Kamat, July 16, 2020, Medscape. Cancer and Fibromyalgia: Addressing the Needs of Patients Despite Limited Research. Mary Hanley, LMSW CancerCare, July 15, 2020, Oncology Nurse Advisor. Having either cancer or fibromyalgia is a challenge that millions of Americans face every year. But how do those with comorbid cancer and fibromyalgia fare? Addressing comorbidity between cancer and fibromyalgia is an emerging, but still lacking, area of research. Development for Bedtime Treatment of Fibromyalgia. Tonix Pharmaceuticals. Tonix is developing TNX-102 SL as a potential treatment for the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. It is currently in Phase 3 clinical development. TNX-102 SL targets mechanisms which are associated with disturbed sleep. It is believed that increasing sleep quality in fibromyalgia may facilitate the body's adaptive ability to modulate the perception of pain. Patients with fibromyalgia, OA, RA at increased risk for self-harm: according to findings published in Arthritis Care & Research. Carrie Beach, July 08, 2020, Healio. “Our interest lies in examining and comparing the risk of self-harm in specific rheumatological conditions (ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis),” James A. Prior, BSc, MSc, PhD, of Keele University, in Staffordshire, UK.

This post is about humor and if it helps to dispel pain. Also does it only work while you are laughing or does it have longer lasting effects? Humor or humour, however you spell it, can be a powerful anecdote to pain according to the research. A 1995 study demonstrated that a significant increase in pain tolerance was seen in the groups being shown a humorous film compared to the other groups that were not. In 2011 research led by Oxford University’s Robin Dunbar conducted experiments in the lab and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to discover laughter's effect on pain. They found that genuine laughter releases endorphins in the brain - chemicals that activate pain-killing effects. There was also a "dose-related" response to laughter, meaning that people who laughed more felt less pain later on. In 2013 it was reported, at The European Pain Federation Congress, that humor can increase pain tolerance and improve quality of life. According to Thomas Benz (RehaClinic Zurzach, Switzerland), targeted humor interventions should be part of pain therapy. So humor activates the release of endorphins and it also helps lessen muscular tension, meaning its effect on pain is both mental and physical. "As a result, humor helps to reflect pain, thus helping both the patients as well as their carers to deal better with stress," said Professor Willibald Ruch, Zurich University. "Humor can be used specifically as a cognitive technique, for example in terms of a distraction to control the pain and increase pain tolerance." Also the helpful effects can last longer than just the time you are laughing due to the endorphins. For your laughing pleasure we have included a collection of jokes relating to chronic illness.

I love sharing #FunnyFibro humor on twitter each and every day and often on facebook. For those of you who are not on those platforms I am sharing some of the Funny Fibro's I shared on them last month here and hope you enjoy them. Seeing the humorous side of things can help us overcome many of the stressful situations we may face when we live with chronic illness. When you see or read a joke that relates to what you are experiencing, or have experienced, it makes you feel connected to a wider community as you see that others understand and are going through the same things. Humor is a great tool for dealing with life's ups and downs. Being able to see the lighter side of things is a great skill for helping us overcome problems and research has shown that it can actually support both emotional and physical health. I also have a Fibromyalgia humor board on PINTEREST and I share other Funny Fibro jokes about fatigue here.

Discovering what works to help Fibromyalgia

As a fibro sufferer, and someone who always looks to what we eat as being important, I thought it was time I talked a bit more about diet and fibromyalgia. Many people have turned to diet to help reduce their symptoms when other methods do not work. I have discovered that Fibromyalgia Syndrome requires a multi pronged attack and food is just one of those prongs. Please keep in mind that what works for one person very frequently does not work for another. This holistic approach may include strategies such as meditation, exercise, massage, acupuncture, pain medications, time in nature, homeopathy, supplements and much more. So back to diet... Here is the basis of what I have done to help reduce my own symptoms: Remove Aspartame (NutraSweet), MSG (monosodium glutamate), Yeast and Nitrates from my diet. Eat more vegetables Eat one fruit at a time Eat a more varied diet Eat less foods out of packets Eat less bread Drink lactose free milk and not much of it These are the things that have helped me and it has been a process of trial and error to work them out. Eating a more varied diet and eating more vegetables can help everyone. The other points may be more specific to me. There are a number of co-existing health conditions that have a tendency to occur in people with fibromyalgia. Many of these have overlapping symptoms. These include gluten intolerance, gout (a form of arthritis), and restless leg syndrome. Some doctors believe food sensitivity itself could sometimes be responsible for some of the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia. MedicineNet I can go into more detail about these points, if there is any interest over the next few weeks, otherwise here are some other links about the importance of diet in reducing fibro symptoms. Fibromyalgia: The Diet Connection on MedicineNet.com Learn about foods to avoid when you have fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia and Diet: What's the Link? - WebMD Certain foods might trigger fibromyalgia symptoms. WebMD tells you how diet can help you avoid fatigue and boost your energy. Diet Tips For Fibromyalgia | Prevention Fibromyalgia, a chronic disease that causes pain and swelling in more than a dozen points all over the body, affects as many as 5 million ... Fibromyalgia Diet: Eating to Ease Symptoms - Healthline Eating a healthy diet may ease your symptoms by helping you lose ... Fibromyalgia: Foods That Help, Foods That Hurt ... While no magic food will prevent every patient's fibromyalgia flare-ups, a few dietary improvements can make a world of difference and may ... Food Rules for Pain - Health.com Although there is little clinical research on fibromyalgia and food, many patients say that following a careful diet can help ease aches and discomfort. Fibromyalgia Diet - Tips & Advice on what to eat - A.Vogel A fresh look at your diet can help you manage the condition of fibromyalgia – a condition giving rise to pain in muscles and other tissues in the body. Diet and Exercise for Fibromyalgia - Fibromyalgia Network Diet and exercise guidelines to help optimize function for fibromyalgia patients. LINKED UP AT FIBRO FRIDAY N0. 26 and NO. 331 (in revised form)

Fibromyalgia (FM) is one of the most common musculoskeletal pain conditions. Although the cause of FM is still unknown, mitochondrial dysfunction and the overproduction of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) are common characteristics in its development. ROI's play diverse roles in inflammation Mitochondria are the “energy factory” of our body. Mitochondrial diseases are long-term, genetic, often inherited disorders that occur when mitochondria fail to produce enough energy for the body to function properly. CLEVELAND CLINIC The reserpine experimental model can induce FM-related symptoms in rodents by depleting biogenic amines. However, it is unclear whether reserpine causes other processes associated with the disease characteristics of FM. So far, no one has investigated the relevance of mitochondrial dysfunction in the reserpine-induced experimental FM model using protection- and insult-based mitochondrial modulators. What are mitochondria? Mitochondria are the “energy factory” of our body. Several thousand mitochondria are in nearly every cell in the body. Their job is to process oxygen and convert substances from the foods we eat into energy. Mitochondria produce 90% of the energy our body needs to function. METHODS Reserpine (1 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected once daily for three consecutive days in male Swiss mice. We carried out analyses of reserpine-induced FM-related symptoms, and their modulation by using mitochondrial insult on ATP synthesis (oligomycin; 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) or mitochondrial protection (coenzyme Q10; 150 mg/kg/5 days, orally). We also evaluated the effect of reserpine on mitochondrial function using high-resolution respirometry and oxidative status. RESULTS Reserpine caused: nociception, loss in muscle strength, and anxiety- and depressive-like behaviours These symptoms were consistent with the clinical symptoms of FM. They did not induce body weight and temperature alterations or motor impairment. Reserpine-induced FM-related symptoms were increased by oligomycin and reduced by coenzyme Q10 treatment. Reserpine caused mitochondrial dysfunction by negatively modulating the electron transport system and mitochondrial respiration (ATP synthesis) mainly in oxidative muscles and the spinal cord. These results support the role of mitochondria in mediating oxidative stress and FM symptoms in this model. In this way, reserpine-inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and increased production of ROI contribute to the development and maintenance of nociceptive, fatigue, and depressive-like behaviours. References: PHYSICIAN'S WEEKLY

I love sharing #FunnyFibro humor on twitter each and every day and often on facebook. For those of you who are not on those platforms I am sharing some of the Funny Fibro's I shared on them last month here and hope you enjoy them. Seeing the humorous side of things can help us overcome many of the stressful situations we may face when we live with chronic illness. When you see or read a joke that relates to what you are experiencing, or have experienced, it makes you feel connected to a wider community as you see that others understand and are going through the same things. Humor is a great tool for dealing with life's ups and downs. Being able to see the lighter side of things is a great skill for helping us overcome problems and research has shown that it can actually support both emotional and physical health. I also have a Fibromyalgia humor board on PINTEREST and I share other Funny Fibro jokes about fatigue here.

At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can. Frida Kahlo Frida Kahlo (1907 - 1954) Frida Kahlo was an amazing artist. In her short life she created over 50 self-portraits and many other paintings. She often used imagery in her paintings and her drawings and her diaries to describe the pain she lived in every day. Here is a little about the pain she endured and a collection of what she said about her pain. No one really knows if Frida had fibromyalgia or not but she did suffer from chronic pain. She contracted polio at age 6. This caused curvature of the spine. She was in a horrific tram accident at 17. Her leg was amputated. She had a history with many surgeries and miscarriages. She lived much of her life on pethidine which is an opioid pain-relief medicine. Many of her paintings starkly portray this pain. She expressed the emotional, psychological, and physical aspects of pain in many of her self-portraits and in her words as well. Read more about Frida and her pain journey in my other article about her. Frida in her bedroom in the 1950's In this post, I am sharing some of Frida Kahlo's pain-related quotes, from her diary, and also some of her artwork relating to pain. When talking about polio she said It all began with a horrible pain in my right leg from the muscle downward. The pain. The pain of heartbreak, the pain of sickness, the pain of betrayal. I take this pain, I express this pain, and I change it into something positive and beautiful. In these paintings, I am free of my suffering. I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality. This is how it feels to be in this broken female body. This is how it feels to be alone... This is how it feels to be me. I dare you to look...and once you look, I’m going to make sure you cannot look away. They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality. Since my subjects have always been my sensations, my states of mind and the profound reactions that life has been producing in me, I have frequently objectified all this in figures of myself, which were the most sincere and real thing that I could do in order to express what I felt inside and outside of myself. Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, was painted by Frida Kahlo in 1940. Image from FridaKahlo.org She uses the imagery of a thorn necklace which is cutting into her neck. My painting carries with it the message of pain. I must fight with all my strength so that the little positive things that my health allows me to do might be pointed toward helping the revolution. The only real reason for living. Frida displaying one of her self-painted body casts. She was often confined to bed after operations and painted her own casts. This one shows the communist symbol and a foetus "Espero Alegre la Salida – y Espero no Volver jamás– Frida" which translates to "I joyfully await the exit – and I hope never to return – Frida" This last quote was written a few days before her death. Her death certificate states that she died from a pulmonary embolism. But this quote and other information makes many people think that it was from an overdose. This video below, from the Frida Kahlo organization, shows many of Frida Kahlo's paintings. Most of the 30 images are her self-portraits which graphically depict her pain. She uses medical images, swords, arrows, skeletons, blood, her body laying down and internal organs frequently to depict her own personal endurance through the pain and suffering of her life. Are you looking for more information on Frida Kahlo? You can purchase a copy of Frida Kahlo's amazing diary which is full of her artworks and handwriting. It was written in the last 10 years of her life. Find out more about it here. Pages from Frida's diary which you can purchase here. If, like me, you love quotes, you can purchase Pocket Frida Kahlo Wisdom which is an inspiring collection of some of her best quotes on love, life, and art. You can also stay on this site and read more about her life at Did Frida have Fibro? Do you have a personal collection with Frida Kahlo? do you love her art, have you been to an art show of hers or seen a painting of hers at the art gallery or do you collect things with her image or designs? I would love to know. Did you know about her life of pain? before you read my short article on Frida did you know about her focus on pain?

Many people ask me what Fibro is. I think that when we have it, and know so many others with it, we forget that many people need to understand the basics of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia (fi·bro·my·al·gi·a) is a condition that causes pain all over the body. The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek words for muscle (myo) and pain (algia). But Fibromyalgia is so much more than just muscle pain in the fibrous tissues of the body. Fibromyalgia syndrome is widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. In addition to this, people who have fibromyalgia may experience a variety of symptoms including: sleep disturbances morning stiffness headaches irritable bowel syndrome painful menstrual periods numbness or tingling of the extremities restless legs syndrome temperature sensitivity cognitive and memory problems referred to as “fibro fog” a variety of other symptoms Fibromyalgia which is often called fibro or FM or FMS by researchers is a chronic condition. This means that it is long-term and it is not likely to go away. The symptoms can fluctuate, as in, you may have pain all over your body one week and then just in certain parts of your body the next week. Fibro can also easily flare up for a variety of reasons and sometimes it is not possible to work out what brings on the extra increase in symptoms. According to the American College of Rheumatology Fibromyalgia is a neurologic chronic health condition that causes pain all over the body and other symptoms. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia that patients most often have are: Tenderness to touch or pressure affecting muscles and sometimes joints or even the skin. Severe fatigue. Sleep problems (waking up unrefreshed). Problems with memory or thinking clearly. You might also like: Fibromyalgia explained by the experts (what 12 organisations say) Read full article about what Fibromyalgia is. Fibro Friday is where you can find what others are saying about fibromyalgia.

The chronic pain has taken all my spoons... every single spoon. It is exhausting, and it can be isolating. Sometimes I feel like pain takes all my energy, and all my hopes and all my motivation to do anything at all. It is hard to gather the strength to get up off the lounge let alone make the changes, that need to happen, to help myself feel better. When every day is the same it is not good. Nothing new, everything the same... less to enjoy about life. I start to focus on the pain, what else do I have, it is my constant companion. Having something to look forward to and enjoy gives me a positive focus. Having a goal gives me something to aim for, to work towards. No matter how small, I need to have a goal, even on a daily basis. This gives me a different kind of focus; one that is helpful on many levels, and one that can be empowering. Can you relate to my sad little story about living the chronic life? Do you see the tipping point in yourself where you decide to make a change towards getting back your power? Do you feel like me that it is a bit like a see-saw, this ride with constant pain? I am learning that goals need to be smart. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. So a SMART goal incorporates all of these to help keep me focused on the goal. Having cognitive issues, caused by chronic illness, means that I can use all the help I can get. I've discovered a helpful site called GoalsOnTrack which has a free newsletter, if you scroll to the bottom of their page. If you sign up for the newsletter you receive access to 4 free ebooks, about goal setting, and other resources. Just click the blue image below to find out more.

Fibromyalgia medical research is being actively performed throughout the world. It gives us hope that we see new fibromyalgia clinical trials every few months because they are the first step in getting new evidence based treatments and even a possible understanding of what causes fibromyalgia. This is the current list of clinical trials into fibromyalgia at ClinicalTrials.gov. which is a resource provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. To add a fibromyalgia clinical trial to this list, please leave a comment below. Efficacy of Electroacupuncture in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Conditions: Carpal Tunnel; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Pain; Pain Syndrome; Pain Syndrome Myofascial Interventions: Procedure: 8 sessions of electroacupuncture to the upper limb with carpal tunnel syndrome and 8 sessions of electroacupuncture to the healthy upper limb. Sponsors: Aretaieion University Hospital; University of West Attica; Lilian Voudouri Foundation. Recruiting Treatment of Fibromyalgia and CFS With Ribose, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Licorice, Schisandra and Green Tea Extract Conditions: Fibromyalgia; CFSIntervention: Dietary Supplement: Smart Energy System. Sponsor: Practitioners Alliance Network. Recruiting Treatment of CFS and Fibromyalgia With HRG 80 Red Ginseng Conditions: Fibromyalgia; CFSIntervention: Dietary Supplement: HRG 80 Red Ginseng Sponsor: Practitioners Alliance Network. Recruiting New Educational Tool for FM Condition: Fibromyalgia Interventions: Behavioral: PNE-explained group; Behavioral: PNE-read group; Behavioral: TAU groupSponsors: Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute; University of South Australia Recruiting Effectiveness of VIRTUAL FIBROWALK STUDY Condition: FibromyalgiaInterventions: Behavioral: TAU + multicomponent treatment VIRTUAL FIBROWALK; Behavioral: Treatment as Usual (TAU); Behavioral: TAU + Physiotherapy part of VIRTUAL FIBROWALKSponsor: Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute. Recruiting Expiratory Muscle Training in Stroke Conditions: Stroke; Mastication Disorder; Temporomandibular Disorders; Dysphagia; Stomatognathic Diseases Intervention: Other: Expiratory muscle trainingSponsor: Abant Izzet Baysal University. Recruiting Efficacy of Sana Treatment in Fibromyalgia Condition: Fibromyalgia Intervention: Device: Sana Sham DeviceSponsors: Sana Health; Duke University. Recruiting Spray Stretch Technique Versus Sustain Pressure for Trapezius Triggers Conditions: Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial; Mechanical Neck Pain Interventions: Combination Product: Spray and Stretch technique (Ethyl chloride); Other: Sustain pressure release. Sponsor: Riphah International University. Recruiting Effectiveness of Bowen Therapy for Pain Management in Patients With Fibromyalgia Condition: Fibromyalgia Interventions: Other: Conventional; Procedure: Bowen Sponsors: Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital; Chinese University of Hong Kong. Recruiting High-definition Transcranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Condition: FibromyalgiaInterventions: Device: HD-tCES; Device: Sham HD-tCESSponsors: Taipei Medical University; Ministry of Health and WelfareRecruiting Effects of Release and Ischemic Pressure of Trigger Points on Neck Pain. A Crossover, Controlled and Randomized Trial. Conditions: Myofascial Trigger Point Pain; Myofascial Pain; Myofascial Pain Syndrome; Neck PainInterventions: Other: Pressure Release technique; Other: Ischemic pressure technique. Sponsor: Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Recruiting An Analysis of Kinesio® Tape on Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Iliotibial Band Condition: Myofascial Trigger Point PainIntervention: Other: Kinesio® TapeSponsor: North Dakota State University. Recruiting Learn more about fibromyalgia. Join our friendly private facebook group. Follow on twitter for fibro humor and information. Follow Fibro Files on facebook. Follow me on pinterest. Follow me on tumblr.

I love sharing #FunnyFibro humor on twitter each and every day and often on facebook. For those of you who are not on those platforms I am sharing some of the Funny Fibro's I shared on them last month here and hope you enjoy them. Seeing the humorous side of things can help us overcome many of the stressful situations we may face when we live with chronic illness. When you see or read a joke that relates to what you are experiencing, or have experienced, it makes you feel connected to a wider community as you see that others understand and are going through the same things. Humor is a great tool for dealing with life's ups and downs. Being able to see the lighter side of things is a great skill for helping us overcome problems and research has shown that it can actually support both emotional and physical health. I also have a Fibromyalgia humor board on PINTEREST and I share other Funny Fibro jokes about fatigue here.

“Fibro-my-what?” Let me explain… All about the health condition FIBROMYALGIA! The 12th of May is ‘Fibromyalgia Awareness Day’ – So what better way to become awar…

The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire is something that I encounter a lot when reviewing research into fibromyalgia as it is often used in studies to see how something affects a person's fibromyalgia symptoms. This explains what it is, what it scores and how it is measured and you can also get a copy. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) is an assessment and evaluation tool developed to measure fibromyalgia (FM) patient status, progress and outcomes. It has been designed to measure the areas of health that are believed to be most affected by FM. It is in the form of a two page questionaire with a further two pages of description and scoring. It is designed for the FM patient to fill out themself. HOW THE FIQ WAS DEVELOPED. The FIQ was developed for adults with fibromyalgia. Doctors used patient reports, functional status instruments, and clinical observations to create it. The original Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was developed in the late 1980s by Drs. Carol Burckhardt, Sharon Clark and Robert Bennett at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon USA. At that time the clinical features of fibromyalgia were just being described, and the FIQ was an attempt to capture the total spectrum of problems related to fibromyalgia and the responses to therapy. The FIQ was first published in 1991 and since that time has been extensively used as an index of disease activity and therapeutic efficacy. Its development is described in separate reviews by Dr. Burckhardt and Dr. Bennett. Several issues regarding ethocultural usage, symptom relevance and arcane scoring became apparent and these issues have been addressed in the revised version FIQR. ~ American College of Rheumatology WHAT THE FIQ MEASURES It measures physical functioning, work difficulty, including housework, morning tiredness, pain, stiffness, fatigue, and well-being including depression and anxiety, over the past week. HOW THE FIQ IS SCORED There are 20 questions in total. The first 11 relate to physical functioning and are rated on a 4 point scale. Most of the other questions use a horizontal linear scales marked in 10 increments on which the patient rates how they felt overall. The FIQ is scored in such a way that a higher score indicates a greater impact of the syndrome on the person. Each of the 10 items has a maximum possible score of 10. Thus the maximum possible score is 100. The average FM patient scores about 50, severely afflicted patients are usually 70 plus. Get the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) pdf. The FIQ is a useful measure of disease impact in patients with fibromyalgia. It has shown good responsiveness to change in clinical studies. It is a useful instrument for measuring the changes in groups of patients in treatment programs and clinical trials. Whether it is beneficial for helping individuals and their health care providers plot changes as a result of individual treatment has not been formally tested but many clinicians use it for that purpose. ~ Dr. Carol Burckhardt. Learn more about fibromyalgia. Join our friendly private facebook group. Follow on twitter for fibro humor and information. Follow Fibro Files on facebook. Follow me on pinterest. Follow me on tumblr.

These are random Fibro facts that I have collected over the years and shared on my twitter account. I thought it would be good to put them altogether in one place Fibromyalgia is a disorder with widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and sleep and memory disturbance. Fibromyalgia (FM) is a medical condition characterised by chronic widespread pain and a heightened pain response to pressure. Fibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue, and interfere with a person’s ability to carry on daily activities. The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek ones for muscle (myo) and pain (algia). Although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritis-related condition, it is not truly a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) because it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints. Symptoms of Fibromyalgia most usually arrive between the ages of 35 and 45. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia use to be made on specific tender points in certain areas of your body. Now diagnosis is: widespread pain lasting three months, fatigue and/or waking up feeling unrefreshed, problems with thought processes like memory and understanding. Neurological symptoms of fibromyalgia include: dysfunctions of muscles, ligaments and joints; numbness, tingling; muscle twitching, muscle cramps, muscle weakness; headaches, generalised weakness, dizziness, and sensory overload. People with Fibromyalgia can be hypersensitive to external stimuli such as smells, lights and sounds. Fibro Fighters often suffer from abnormalities in reaching deep sleep. Fibromyalgia symptoms may change throughout the day while - for many 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tends to be when they feel the best. Arthritis Research UK suggests that as many as one in every 25 people suffer from the condition in the UK! Fibromyalgia is a long-term (chronic) condition that can cause widespread pain and tenderness over much of the body. It's quite common – up to 1 person in every 25 may be affected. Arthritis Research UK. Fibromyalgia affects about 2 percent of people in the US by age 20, which increases to approximately 8 percent of people by age 70. Cognitive Fibromyalgia symptoms include: impaired concentration, short-­term memory problems, inability to multi-­task, slow mental performance, easily distracted, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty finding words. Disrupted sleep, insomnia, and poor quality sleep occur frequently in FM, and may contribute to pain by decreased release of IGF-1 and human growth hormone, leading to decreased tissue repair. Three medications are FDA-approved to treat fibromyalgia: Cymbalta (duloxetine) Lyrica (pregabalin) Savella (milnacipran) Non-celiac gluten sensitivity may be an underlying cause of fibromyalgia symptoms but further research is needed. A 2015 review revealed potential benefit of specific dietary interventions in FM Stiffness is part of Fibromyalgia - when we wake up or after sitting for long periods of time. The sensations of pain experienced by patients with fibromyalgia are thought to result from multiple levels in the central nervous system. (CNS) The CNS is part of the nervous system and consists of the brain and the spinal cord. Fibromyalgia should be considered as a diagnostic possibility in all cases of persistent, significant musculoskeletal pain, fatigue or sleep disturbance, particularly when such symptoms seem out of proportion to the severity of any background chronic illness. Guymer & Littlejohn It is estimated that about 10 million Americans have Fibromyalgia. Research has shown that people with Fibromyalgia who participated in gentle yoga classes experienced improved mood, less pain and fatigue. Fibromyalgia can be difficult to treat. Not all doctors are familiar with fibromyalgia and its treatment, so it is important to find a doctor who is.

Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain condition. Because its symptoms are nonspecific it is difficult to diagnose. There have been talks of a blood test for diagnosing fibromyalgia but unfortunately, the final stages of the clinical trials were never completed and the test is surrounded by controversy. Many people who do research into fibromyalgia dismiss the blood test. I have reached out to a few but at this point have had no responses. According to the research study I am reporting today no objective test exists to confirm its diagnosis. This is of January 2, 2022. One potential diagnostic measure could be a blood test that showed biomarkers. This would be a way of detecting if someone had fibromyalgia through a blood test. This would provide an objective medical sign as opposed to how a person feels. Having a biomarker for Fibromyalgia would be a major step forward in both its diagnosis and acceptance. AIMS OF THE STUDY: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review studies assessing blood biomarkers’ levels in patients with FM compared with a healthy control group. METHODS: A systematic search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases. Fifty-four studies reporting the levels of biomarkers in blood in patients with FM were included. Data were extracted, and the methodological quality of the studies was assessed independently by 2 researchers. 40 of these studies were analyzed using a random-effects model. The rest were not included as they were not comparable given differences in methods and other reasons. RESULTS: The meta-analysis showed that patients with FM had significantly different levels of certain blood markers compared with the healthy control groups: lower levels of interleukin-1 β higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, C-reactive protein, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. CONCLUSION: The researchers could not support the notion that these blood biomarkers are specific biomarkers of FM. Our literature review, however, revealed that these same individual biomarkers may have the potential role of identifying underlying pathologies or other conditions that often coexist with FM. Future research is needed to evaluate the potential clinical value for these biomarkers while controlling for the various confounding variables. MY OPINION: I am pleased that there is continued research into Fibromyalgia and also many clinical trials are being conducted, even during the last two years. Research moves slowly but at least this is heading in the right direction. You can read some of the other research, into fibromyalgia, I have reported on here. SOURCE: Potential role of blood biomarkers in patients with fibromyalgia: a systematic review with meta-analysis. By Dinesh Kumbhare, Samah Hassan, Dion Diep, Felipe C K Duarte, Jasper Hung, Sreekant Damodara, Daniel W D West, P Ravi Selvaganapathy. Jan 3, 2022

Don't you just love it when you read that your fibromyalgia can be cured with exercise, diet and relaxation? These articles must be written by people who do not have fibromyalgia or who had a mild dose, of something similar, for 3 months. I especially love the websites that ask you to pay money to get the secret cure! Sorry, enough of the sarcasm. The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (NFMCPA) states "While there is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, better ways to diagnose and treat the chronic pain disorder continue to be developed." Read more... Arthritis Australia says "Currently there is no cure for fibromyalgia. While there are ways you can control your symptoms, you should be wary of any products or treatments that claim to cure fibromyalgia." Read more... Of course there are a variety of things that can help manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia from pain management to sleep management to Complementary therapies and supplements including acupuncture, massage, movement therapies such as yoga, and dietary supplements such as calcium, vitamin D.

This article is about the ancient technique of skin brushing, how to do it and one of it's little know benefits. So many of us with chronic illness have talked about ITCHINESS lately on our social media platforms. We often put on creams and lotions to stop this issue but the thing that has helped me the most is skin brushing. For those who aren’t familiar with the technique, it involves daily body brushing with a dry, stiff-bristled brush. According to the Cleveland Clinic it "is wonderful for exfoliating dry winter skin. It also helps detoxify by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymph flow/drainage. Dry brushing unclogs pores in the exfoliation process. It also stimulates your nervous system, which can make you feel invigorated afterward." It also is the best thing for me in reducing itchiness and that's why it is my Product Of The Month! I use a natural stiff-bristled brush with a long handle. The stiffness of the bristles is essential. Also I do have peripheral neuropathy in my feet and find the skin brushing does NOT aggravate it. This obviously is something you would have to try for yourself and see how it goes. When you live with chronic illness. For a variety of reasons including muscle weakness and muscle pain in the wrists or arms you may want to start slowly. By this I mean just choose one area of the body to start to try skin brushing instead of doing the whole body. This is how I started, just with the arms, and it was still beneficial. It reduced the itchiness on my arms, exfoliated the dead skin and got the pores breathing better, reduced the lumps and bumps, on my upper arms, and eventually even made my skin less dry. Over about 2 months I went from someone who would never show their upper arms in public to happily wearing singlet style tops. This was a big thing for me! Here is my morning skin brushing technique. Use a dry brush on dry skin. Avoid any broken skin areas or varicose veins. Stroke moving towards the heart. Quick strokes are energizing. Repetition over the same area is fine. Start at the feet. Stroke on the bottom of the feet from the toes to the heel. Then on top of the feet and up the legs to the knees. Then long strokes from the knees up the thighs. Then work up the butt, on one side, to the small of your back and then the other side. Then up the stomach area. Start with the hands and do the same as moving up your legs ie strokes up the hands to the elbows and then from the elbows to the shoulders. Use very light pressure on the underarms. Some people suggest circular motions on the underarms. Be gentle with your neck and chest area. Start with the jaw and move down to the heart area. Now the back area - first using the brush in one hand, to reach as far as you can and then with the brush in the other hand. Take a shower as usual but do NOT use body exfoliates because skin brushing has done that for you. Here is a great short video that shows a mini version of my technique as it only does some areas of the body and does not show the back. For me the back and the arms are the most important areas to reduce itchiness. It is difficult to do the back yourself but the long handle of the brush really helps and the technique turns into just trying to reach all the areas of your back the best you can. How often should you brush? I brush every second day but some people suggest to do it every day. It's really up to you. In Ayurvedic medicine, garshana or dry brushing is prescribed every morning to stimulate blood circulation, refresh the skin and revive the mind. How to clean your brush. I wash my brush, once a week, in warm soapy water, and rinse it till all the soap is gone and then put it in the sun to dry completely. Where to purchase a brush. You can buy them at The Body Shop, some chemists/drugstores or on Amazon (where I am an affiliate) Here is my affiliate link to my favourite brush at the moment. Being an affiliate means I would receive a tiny percentage if you purchase through this link at no extra cost to you. I hope you will try skin brushing and that you find it an enjoyable part of your health routine. I would love to hear from you about your experiences.

I have decided to lay off the medications for a while and try what are sometimes called Complementary or Alternative Therapies. These include: Ayurvedic medicine Homeopathy Naturopathy Acupuncture Acupressure Magnet therapy Shiatsu Herbalism Meditation Aromatherapy Bach Flower Remedies Chromo therapy Diet therapy Hydropathy Reiki Yoga First of all I am going to investigate the ancient Chinese system of Acupuncture in which fine needles are inserted in the skin at points along lines of energy called meridians. .Has anyone tried acupuncture for their fibromyalgia? I would love to hear from you. I am trying acupuncture to reduce the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia. This is amazing information about Fibro and Acupuncture: A trial, conducted by the Mayo Clinic, found that acupuncture "provided significant improvements in a variety of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, with the effects of care often lasting several months". ACUPUNCTURETODAY In this trial 50 patients who had tried other treatments for relief, without success, either had acupuncture or simulated acupuncture. They were not told which treatment they received. After 6 sessions they reported improvement in symptoms of pain, anxiety and fatigue. I personally do not get anxiety but have decided to try acupuncture for my pain and fatigue. I will keep you posted. I would love to know what alternative therapies you have tried. I have sometimes used homeopathy, magnets, meditation, diet, and my favourites myofascial massage and hydrotherapy. I am trying alternative therapies to reduce the pain of fibromyalgia. You might also like to read: Homeopathy for Fibromyalgia

Here you will find a list of over 25 Fibromyalgia books. Come on now, how many of these books listed have you read? Any? Oh, at least we can not complain about a lack of information. On the flip side if you know of any extras that you would like to recommend please post them in comments. Also if you have read any of these books I would love to hear if they were beneficial to you. Fibromyalgia: A Comprehensive Approach What You Can Do About Chronic Pain and Fatigue by Williamson, Miryam Ehrlich Published in 1996, it was the first book on the disorder for people who have it. It is still an excellent introduction for people newly diagnosed. The FibroManual A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor by Ginevra Liptan. CFS Unravelled: Get Well By Treating The Cause Not Just The Symptoms Of CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS And Related Syndromes by Dan Nueffer. Fibromyalgia Controversy by M. Clement Hall. The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Fibromyalgia by William S. Wilke. Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current science and the most effective treatments by Ginerva Liptan, MD. The Complete Guide to Healing Fibromyalgia: How to Conquer Pain, Fatigue, and Other Symptoms - And Live Your Life to the Fullest by Deborah Mitchell. The First Year: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Claudia Craig Marek Reversing Fibromyalgia: The Whole-Health Approach to Overcoming Fibromyalgia Through Nutrition, Exercise by Joe M. Elrod The Chronic Fatigue Healing Diet (Overcoming Common Problems) by Christine Craggs-Hinton The Fibromyalgia Healing Diet by Christine Craggs-Hinton Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual by Mary Ellen Copeland and Devin Starlanyl The Fibromyalgia Help Book: Practical Guide to Living Better with Fibromyalgia by Jenny Fransen What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Fibromyalgia by Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pediatric Fibromyalgia - A Safe New Treatment Plan For Children by Dr. R. Paul St. Amand and Claudia Craig Marek What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia Fatigue The Powerful Program That Helps You Boost Your Energy and Reclaim Your Life by R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. and Claudia Craig Marek, published by Warner Books. The Fibromyalgia Cure by Dr. David Dryland. From Fatigued to Fantastic by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. Living Well with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know by Mary J. Shomon. Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. The Fibromyalgia Relief Book: 213 Ideas to Improve Your Quality of Life by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson. Fibromyalgia: The Cause and The Cure by Annesse Brockley and Annesse Brockley. Cure Your Fibromyalgia without Medication: Fibromyalgia Treatment and Pain Relief with Diet and Exercises by Jeff Robson. Foods that Fight Fibromyalgia: Nutrient-Packed Meals That Increase Energy, Ease Pain, and Move You Towards Recovery by Deirdre Rawlings. Exercises for Fibromyalgia: The Complete Exercise Guide for Managing and Lessening Fibromyalgia Symptoms. Fibromyalgia: Hope Beyond The Pain: by Kelly Hemingway who is both a nurse and a fibromyalgia patient. Fibromyalgia for Families and Friends by Janet Black who is both a nurse and a patient. Treating Fibromyalgia: What You Can Do When Your Doctor Doesn't Know What Else to Do.by Janet Black who is both a nurse and a patient. You may also be interested in visiting OUR FIBRO PRODUCT SHOP. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”

While weight gain, or the inability to lose weight, is not painful it is such a frustrating symptom in an already over flowing list of symptoms that make up Fibro. Weight gain is a common problem for those of us with fibromyalgia. It can be frustrating and challenging to manage, but there are steps you can take to address it. I personally struggle with this and have been searching for helpful information. These are some of the sites (and 1 book) with interesting information about fibromyalgia and weight gain and their solution to this frustrating problem. I hope you find something that helps you. Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain at Health Central. Lack of Sleep, Neuroendocrine Abnormalities, Decreased Activity, Medication and Weight-loss Strategies. Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain at Fibromyalgia Symptoms - fatigue and diet and exercise. Foods that Fight Fibromyalgia: Nutrient-Packed Meals That Increase Energy, Ease Pain, and Move You Towards Recovery by Deirdre Rawlings. In addition to exercise and diet, managing stress levels is crucial for individuals with fibromyalgia. Stress can impact hormone levels and lead to weight gain. Finding effective stress-management techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or engaging in hobbies can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. It's important to remember that weight gain with fibromyalgia is a complex issue that can vary from person to person. I hoe you have a good healthcare provider who will discuss any concerns or questions you may have about fibromyalgia and weight gain. They may be able to provide personalized recommendations and guidance based on your specific needs and medical history or send you to a specialist who can. As an example I have been sent to a dietician who discovered I have food intolerances and an endocrinologist for my thyroid issues which are also connected to weight gain. See my more personal story on weight gain with Fibromyalgia and how it makes me feel here.

Easy and Simple exercises for fibromyalgia may spark some thoughts on how you too can exercise to help with fibromyalgia pain.

It doesn't matter what the occasion or how excited I am about set plans, I am in constant fear of how my fibromyalgia symptoms are going to be come the day of the plans. Even though I know others feel this way, it's comforting to hear another's similar fears. It makes me feel "less crazy". Sarah, from A Life Less Physical, shares her fibro fears in preparing for her big wedding day, and it's a feeling fibro thrivers are all too familiar with.

Many people with Fibromyalgia get fever that stays for weeks and months together. Sometimes it's milder and sometimes higher. Here are some tips to manage life with constant fever.

Lately I have been experience more migraines than normal and any extra pain when living with fibromyalgia is upsetting. This sent me in search of both information and help about migraine relief and I have found some wonderful resources that I wanted to share for anyone experiencing migraines. Image thanks to to Nik Shuliahin What is a migraine? (scientifically speaking) Migraine is a genetically determined recurrent pain syndrome accompanied by neurological and gastrointestinal features, involving interaction of external triggers and internal pathophysiology. Migraine is currently considered a complex interplay of different processes such as an alteration of pain and sensory input, increased sensitivity of the cortex leading to aura phenomena, central pain facilitation, neurogenic inflammation and brainstem nociceptor sensitisation. ~ Menken M, Munsat TL, Toole JF. Migraine affects mainly the brainstem and diencephalon4 and is considered an abnormal amplification and sensitisation of pain pathways in these areas of the brain. Fibromyalgia and migraines (the statistics) Migraines are common in people with fibromyalgia. The frequency of migraine in patients with FM ranges from 45% to 80%. However, no explanations have been provided for the rate of co-occurrence. According to the Rheumatology Network the frequency of fibromyalgia is significantly higher among patients who have chronic migraine headaches than in patients who have chronic tension-type headaches. Also patients with chronic migraines experience more severe symptoms of fibromyalgia. What fibro migraineurs want? People living with both fibromyalgia and migraines are living with severe and chronic pain. They do not particularly want explanations of migraines, or more research into the connection, or a bunch of statistics, unless it brings solutions to the problems they are living with. As a person living with these conditions, somedays I can barely take in any information let alone complex scientific diagrams and information. Processing is a part of the problem of FMS and having a migraine, however low grade makes it even more difficult. So what do I, and countless others want? We want simple easy to understand information told to us by someone we trust... someone who has done the research and found out what can help relieve our migraines symptoms. we want this information told to us by a person because this is the best way we can process information... hearing it from the lips of another person. If that cannot happen then we would like it written in simple to understand language, preferably in large font. That's why I am so pleased to present the information from The Migraine Trust. For over 50 years The Migraine Trust has been championing migraine research and supporting everyone affected by the condition. They have wonderful, helpful and thorough resources including: Seeking medical advice: From diagnosis, to follow-up GP appointments and being referred to a specialist Treatments: There are numerous migraine treatment options available from conventional medicines to supplements, herbs and other options. Coping and managing: Information on coping and managing with migraine. Best of all you can listen to expert doctors telling you ways to manage your migraines here I hope you find their site and their videos as helpful as I have. RESOURCES Menken M, Munsat TL, Toole JF. The global burden of disease study: implications for neurology. Arch Neurol 2000;57:418–20. Jacques Joubert MRCP, MD, FRACP, consultant neurologist, Epworth and Royal Melbourne Hospitals, Victoria, Australia. Migraine Diagnosis and treatment. PDF Penn I-W, Chuang E, Chuang T-Y, Lin CL, Kao CH. Bidirectional association between migraine and fibromyalgia: retrospective cohort analyses of two populations [published online April 8, 2019]. BMJ Open. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026581.

Here you will find a list of over 25 Fibromyalgia books. Come on now, how many of these books listed have you read? Any? Oh, at least we can not complain about a lack of information. On the flip side if you know of any extras that you would like to recommend please post them in comments. Also if you have read any of these books I would love to hear if they were beneficial to you. Fibromyalgia: A Comprehensive Approach What You Can Do About Chronic Pain and Fatigue by Williamson, Miryam Ehrlich Published in 1996, it was the first book on the disorder for people who have it. It is still an excellent introduction for people newly diagnosed. The FibroManual A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor by Ginevra Liptan. CFS Unravelled: Get Well By Treating The Cause Not Just The Symptoms Of CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS And Related Syndromes by Dan Nueffer. Fibromyalgia Controversy by M. Clement Hall. The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Fibromyalgia by William S. Wilke. Figuring out Fibromyalgia: Current science and the most effective treatments by Ginerva Liptan, MD. The Complete Guide to Healing Fibromyalgia: How to Conquer Pain, Fatigue, and Other Symptoms - And Live Your Life to the Fullest by Deborah Mitchell. The First Year: Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Claudia Craig Marek Reversing Fibromyalgia: The Whole-Health Approach to Overcoming Fibromyalgia Through Nutrition, Exercise by Joe M. Elrod The Chronic Fatigue Healing Diet (Overcoming Common Problems) by Christine Craggs-Hinton The Fibromyalgia Healing Diet by Christine Craggs-Hinton Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual by Mary Ellen Copeland and Devin Starlanyl The Fibromyalgia Help Book: Practical Guide to Living Better with Fibromyalgia by Jenny Fransen What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Fibromyalgia by Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pediatric Fibromyalgia - A Safe New Treatment Plan For Children by Dr. R. Paul St. Amand and Claudia Craig Marek What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia Fatigue The Powerful Program That Helps You Boost Your Energy and Reclaim Your Life by R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. and Claudia Craig Marek, published by Warner Books. The Fibromyalgia Cure by Dr. David Dryland. From Fatigued to Fantastic by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. Living Well with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know by Mary J. Shomon. Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. The Fibromyalgia Relief Book: 213 Ideas to Improve Your Quality of Life by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson. Fibromyalgia: The Cause and The Cure by Annesse Brockley and Annesse Brockley. Cure Your Fibromyalgia without Medication: Fibromyalgia Treatment and Pain Relief with Diet and Exercises by Jeff Robson. Foods that Fight Fibromyalgia: Nutrient-Packed Meals That Increase Energy, Ease Pain, and Move You Towards Recovery by Deirdre Rawlings. Exercises for Fibromyalgia: The Complete Exercise Guide for Managing and Lessening Fibromyalgia Symptoms. Fibromyalgia: Hope Beyond The Pain: by Kelly Hemingway who is both a nurse and a fibromyalgia patient. Fibromyalgia for Families and Friends by Janet Black who is both a nurse and a patient. Treating Fibromyalgia: What You Can Do When Your Doctor Doesn't Know What Else to Do.by Janet Black who is both a nurse and a patient. You may also be interested in visiting OUR FIBRO PRODUCT SHOP. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of healing which means "science of life and longevity." It is one of the most renowned traditional systems of medicine that has survived and flourished since the 2nd Century BC and yes it does have treatments for fibromyalgia! (scroll down to see these) Ayurveda has its foundations laid by the ancient schools of Hinduism. The information about the healing properties of the herbs was composed in the form of poems, called “Shlokas”. These were used by sages to describe the use of medicinal plants and passed down through oral tradition. IMAGE: From Brief history of ayurveda by Assistant Professor at Govt. Pharmacy College, Sajong East Sikkim Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health through close attention to balance in one’s life, right thinking, diet, lifestyle and the use of herbs. Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, each person has a particular pattern of energy—an individual combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics—which comprises their own constitution. This constitution is determined at conception by a number of factors and remains the same throughout one’s life. THE AYURVEDIC INSTITUTE Ayurveda is an ancient and complex system but here are some of the basics explained: The entire universe is composed of 5 elements: Vayu (Air), Jala (Water), Aakash (Space or ether), Prithvi (Earth) and Teja (Fire). These 5 elements form the three basic humors of human body in varying combinations. The three humors; Vata dosha, Pitta dosha and Kapha dosha and these control the basic functions of the body. Vata dosha maintains the cellular transport, electrolyte balance, elimination of waste products and its effect is increased by dryness. (I have only mentioned vata here as it concerns fibromyalgia) FIBROMYALGIA and AYURVEDA In Ayurveda, Fibromyalgia is seen as an imbalance of Vata and accumulated toxins. When Vata is out of balance it creates hypersensitivity that causes tenderness and pain. Vata deals with the nervous system and with movement. The five senses are used to treat conditions in the Ayurvedic system. For fibromyalgia treatment this means warm colours and aromas and foods, calming music, and soothing body activities such as yoga, meditation and massage. The aggravation of Vata dosha and accumulation of Ama (toxins) are the primary causes and should be treated mainly. Associated weak digestion, constipation, and effects of chronic stress should also be tackled. AYURVEDA FOR YOU RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIBROMYALGIA When treating a Vata disturbance special daily massages are prescribed with specific oils. Meditation,Yoga, especially stretching and Pranayama (breathing exercises) are all recommended for healing and relaxation of the mind. Also certain foods are suggested to eat to re-balance the body such as cooked vegetables and soups and foods to avoid such as tea, coffee and alcohol. Herbs are also recommended such as cumin, ginger, tumeric and garlic. Also recommended to eat are: Coconut water and Coconut milk Carrot, Cucumber, and Beetroot juice Cooked vegetables Green salad with a dressing of lemon juice and a little salt Discover more, in detail, about Ayurvedic Treatment for Fibromyalgia [CFS] from Ayurveda for you See the food guidelines for Vata You might enjoy my recommended online class of Seated Breath-Focused Yoga for Fibromyalgia Class by my friend Melissa. It is a 6 minute video which I personally do sitting in a chair. THANKYOU avidads for the photo of the script

The 16-week study at the University of Sao Paulo, in Brazil, was to observe the effects of creatine on women with fibromyalgia. The 32 women were assigned either creatine or a placebo. The creatine group started with 20 grams a day for five days and then progressed to 5 grams a day. The study was double-blind, which means no one knew who was taking which substance. Muscle function was assessed by strength tests and muscle phosphorylcreatine levels were checked by MRI. WHAT IS CREATINE? According to Healthline Creatine is a substance found naturally in muscle cells. It helps your muscles produce energy during heavy lifting or high intensity exercise. Athletes and bodybuilders often take a creatine supplement to enhance strength and improve performance, while older adults and vegetarians might take it to support brain health and quality of life. RESULTS OF THE STUDY: The Creatine improved muscle function in the upper and lower body of the women with fibromyalgia by up to 10 percent on average. “It means that creatine can improve the patient’s physical capacity, which may be impaired in fibromyalgia.”says Professor Bruno Gualano. “We observed that creatine supplementation can promote a substantial increase in muscle phosphorylcreatine,” says Gualano. “Creatine improves the transfer of energy, which ultimately results in better muscle functioning.” Researchers had expected improvements in overall fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain and fatigue but this was not seen. Most fibro sufferers, like me, will be happy for any improvements available even if we start to feel like walking pill bottles! I am definitely going to try Creatine as a 10% increase in muscle function is better than nothing. I have very weak muscles and any more strength would be greatly appreciated. Read more at the Arthritis Foundation This study was published in the September issue of Arthritis Care and Research. FOOD SOURCES OF CREATINE: herring, salmon, tuna, and red meat contain creatine but cooking does destroy some of it. DOSAGE OF CREATINE: A typical adults dosage of creatine is between two to five grams per day. Purchase unflavoured, water soluble creatine with 5 gram scoop LINKED UP AT FIBRO FRIDAY

You can watch the video or read the transcript below. TRANSCRIPT: A new study shows that distraction can be an effective tool in reducing pain in patients with fibromyalgia just the same as it is in healthy people. We all know that when we are in pain it has an impact on our ability to function well. People with Fibromyalgia usually live in constant pain as just one of their symptoms. The study - Task interference and distraction efficacy in patients with fibromyalgia: an experimental investigation - was conducted at the Institute for Health and Behaviour, INSIDE, University of Luxembourg and printed in Ovid in June 2018. All people who participated in the study experienced the pain stimulus as less intense when directing attention away from the pain than when focusing on the pain. So distracting themselves from the pain actually lessened the pain. This is what I have always thought and why I spend so much time researching on the computer, reading, watching television and drawing. When I do these things the pain recedes and it is not in the forefront of my awareness. The actual task performance of patients with Fibromyalgia (FM) in the study was slower than the task performance of the healthy control group. (as I would expect) In contrast to what researchers thought, patients with FM and healthy volunteers did not differ in the effect or efficacy of the distraction. In conclusion, the study reported that they support contemporary theories claiming that attention modulates the experience of pain and vice versa. However, no evidence was found for an altered attentional processing of pain in patients with FM. So using distraction in whatever form it takes is a valid tool for coping with FM pain. Do you agree that distraction helps in coping with pain? So far 7 people have commented and said that distraction does help them cope with the pain of fibromyalgia... what about you?

I am writing about my experience with what has reduced my migraines to help others who are living with migraine. Obviously my experience does not replace the advise of a medical expert. What I am suggesting has been suggested by a neurologist and you can run it by your doctor. Back in May I was having migraines that went for days. Migraine with aura. Migraine with pain. Migraine with nausea. I was scared due to severe pain and increased visual symptoms. Living in a darkened, quiet room did not help. Lying down actually increased the aura. My Dr gave me anti inflammatory meds and anti nausea meds that gave some relief from a week of constant migraines. He also referred me to a neurology clinic. I have VSS which is a neurological condition that causes many visual symptoms. Both my GP and the 2 neurologists I saw, at the clinic, said the symptoms I was experiencing were not connected to VSS. They said it was migraine with aura. They prescribed strong medications. I am not good with most medications as I get side effects. I then discovered 3 vitamin/minerals that help migraines. I am not sure why we are not told about this but they have really helped me and have not had a migraine for 2 months. I was having migraines weekly. It is actually written on the B2 bottle and the Tri-magnesium citrate bottle that they help prevent migraine. "To reduce duration of mild migraine...", "helps reduce the duration and occurence of headache symptoms associated with migraine...". I would not call the migraines I was experiencing mild but taking these 3 different vitamin/mineral supplements has stopped me from having any migraine for 2 months. They started providing me relief after just 3 days of taking them. The key to trying supplements for me was to use the medications prescribed by my doctor first to get rid of the migraines and then use the supplements as a preventative. ‘Strong medications would be used for acute migraine attacks,’ says Dr Sam Chong, a consultant neurologist at King’s College Hospital. ‘But when it comes to long-term prevention, a holistic approach can be effective.’ HERE IS MY PROTOCOL FOR PREVENTING MIGRAINES: CoQ10 - 300 mg total - divided between 2 doses morning and night Magnesium Citrate - 600 mg total - divided between 2 doses B2 Riboflavin - 400mg total - 2 110mg tablets in morning and 2 tablets at night. It was important for me as a person with multiple food intolerances that these supplements had no gluten, sulphites, milk derivatives, yeast, colours or preservatives. As I live in Australia the brands that I use may not be available to you. The specialists recommending these supplements are not recommending specific brands but they are recommending specific amounts of each. If you click on the 3 supplements above you will see my recommended brands for USA. In Australia I use Blackmores CoQ10, Henry Blooms Tri- Magnesium Citrate and Nature's Own B2. HERE IS WHERE MY PROTOCOL COMES FROM: 1. The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine by Mark W. Weatherall, Princess Margaret Migraine Clinic, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, London. Table 1 Preventive headache treatments for chronic migraine. Supplements Riboflavin (vitamin B2) 400 mg daily Magnesium citrate (or taurate) 600 mg daily 2. Dr Chong, consultant neurologist at King’s College Hospital: Co-Ezyme Q10 reduces the frequency and severity of migraine. It works in the ‘mitochondria’ of cells where energy is produced so happily, many people report an improvement in their energy levels as well as their headaches. Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, taken in the morning has also been shown to keep migraines and headaches at bay. A three month Belgian study found that taking vitamin B2 cut headache attacks by over a third. Try taking about 400 mg of Riboflavin in the morning. 3. British Association for the Study of Headaches (BASH): Reducing the Impact ofMigraine in the Workplace ii) Preventing the attack. When attacks are quite frequent then preventative medication aims to stop the migraine centre from firing. A number of medications can be purchased from health food shops that can be effective in the prevention of migraine although the evidence base is poor compared with prescribed medications. You will need to check with your GP or pharmacist if you are on any other medication for potential drug interactions. Riboflavin - 400mg a day Magnesium – 600 mg a day in divided doses. Co-enzyme Q10 - 100mg 3 times a day All medications should be taken for at least eight weeks before a benefit is judged. There is also evidence to support the effectiveness of a course of acupuncture in preventing attacks. 4. The Migraine Trust sites and agrees with No. 3. HERE IS SOME EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THIS PROTOCOL: Improvement of migraine symptoms with a proprietary supplement containing riboflavin, magnesium and Q10: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial. HERE IS SOME EVIDENCE ABOUT THESE VITAMINS/MINERALS: Magnesium: The best evidence comes from a 1996 study in Cephalalgia of 81 patients who were given either 600 mg of magnesium or a placebo every day for 12 weeks. In the magnesium group, the frequency of attacks was reduced by 41.6 percent. Coenzyme Q10: This is a substance found in the body that cells use to produce energy needed for growth and maintenance. How it helps prevent migraines is not known, but a small trial published in Neurology in 2005 that compared 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) taken three times daily to placebo showed that CoQ10 reduced migraine frequency in half of those who took it; only 14 percent in the placebo experienced fewer migraines. A study at Jefferson University found that migraine sufferers who took 150 mg daily could reduce the number of migraine attacks they had each month.Vitamin B2: Also known as riboflavin, it helps convert food into fuel and helps metabolize fats and protein. It is unknown why B2 helps reduce migraines, but it could be because some people who are deficient in it are more prone to migraine. In a small study in the European Journal of Neurology, 23 people who took daily doses of 400 mg of riboflavin for six months reported half the number of headaches per month—from four to two—and reduced their use of medications. NICE Clinical Guidelines for managing headache state that riboflavin (400mg a day) may be effective in reducing migraine frequency and severity in some people. 1.3.23 Advise people with migraine that riboflavin (400 mg once a day) may be effective in reducing migraine frequency and intensity for some people. FINAL WORDS: If you’re considering taking any new supplements speak to your GP to make sure there are no reasons it may be unsafe for you and that it does not interact with other medications you are taking. For most people, most supplements are unlikely to cause any harm. If you notice a change in your symptoms or other potential side effects speak to your GP. As with other preventive treatments for migraine it is likely to take time to see if it is helping (usually 6-8 weeks). It may take up to three months to see the full benefit. The Migraine Trust 2021 Three of the links in this article take you to Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate which means that I receive a small percentage of any purchase you may make. I am not writing this article to make sales. I am writing it as I have seen so many people online, with both fibromyalgia, VSS and other conditions complaining about ongoing migraines. these supplements taken together is what has helped me prevent my migraines. REFERENCES: American Academy of Neurology: Brain & Life. British Association for the Study of Headaches (BASH) The Migraine Trust. NICE Clinical Guidelines Healthista

Blame it on the weather? Self-reported pain levels in patients with fibromyalgia may change according to weather conditions. Previous studies suggest that atmospheric pressure also called low barometric pressure (BMP) is significantly related to increased pain, but that has limited clinical relevance. Some studies report that there is a significant association between pain levels, temperature, BMP and/or relative air humidity in chronic pain conditions, whereas other studies failed to find such relationships This study examined whether BMP influenced changes in perceived stress, and if stress levels affected the pain. Forty-eight patients with fibromyalgia enrolled in a randomized controlled trail. They reported their pain and emotional state three times daily for 30-consecutive days before the start of the treatment in the RCT. . The patients were unaware that weather data were collected simultaneously with pain and emotional reports. Both the experimenters and patients in the present study were uninformed about the plan to investigate the effects of meteorological variables on pain and stress levels. The results showed that: both lower BMP and increased humidity were significantly associated with increased pain intensity. only BMP was associated with stress levels. higher stress was associated with higher pain. significant individual differences were present shown by a sub-group of patients (n = 8) who reacted opposite compared to the majority of patients (n = 40) with increased pain reports to an increase in BMP. in summary, lower BMP was associated with increased pain and stress levels in the majority of the patients, and stress moderated the relationship between BMP and pain at the group-level. Significant individual differences in response to changes in BMP were present, and the relation between weather and pain may be of clinical relevance at the individual level. METHODS The study included data from the 48 patients The mean age of the sample was 48.6 years. The patients had to be 18 years of age or older, diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to the ACR-90 criteria, and a manual examination of the patients’ tender points was performed before inclusion. If patients were using prescribed medication, the use had to be stable for 3 months before inclusion. Depression and anxiety, general symptoms of psychological distress , impact of fibromyalgia on daily functioning and health-related quality of life were measured at baseline (day 1) before the measurement period. In the morning (9 AM), afternoon (3 PM), and evening (9 PM), the patients received an SMS consisting of the following 4 questions: “what is your pain level now?,” “how unpleasant is the pain now?,” “how tense are you now?,” and “how anxious are you now?.” The response to the questions was delivered through a reply SMS containing the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) values (0–10). Meteorological data All meteorological data were obtained from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute of Tromsø. The station was operated in compliance with the ICO-certified quality control procedure Obskval. Air temperature was measured at 2m above ground level using a standard PT100 sensor. Relative humidity was measured at 2 m above ground level using a HMP45D. Atmospheric pressure (BMP) at station ground level was measured using a digital barometer PTB220A . Both barometric pressure and relative humidity had a significant impact on the individual slopes for pain reports. Increased barometric pressure was the only weather parameter that significantly affected emotional measures. Meteorological variables during the period of measurement, obtained at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute of Tromsø, latitude: 69.6537, longitude: 18.9373. Meteorological variables Mean (SD) Min—Max Median Mode Barometric pressure–milibar (mbar) 1012.65 (16.06) mbar 965–1047.7 mbar 1013.3 mbar 1031 mbar Air temperature–degrees Celsius (°C) -1.85 (5.02)°C -18.2–27.4°C -2.6°C -3°C Relative humidity–percent (%) 74.92 (13.99) % 22–95% 76% 92% DISCUSSION - Pain and emotional data a decrease in barometric pressure was associated with increased pain an increase in relative humidity was associated with higher pain reports The interaction between BMP by humidity reached significance in the pain intensity data, but was non-significant in the pain unpleasantness data. Higher BMP and higher levels of humidity were associated with increased pain intensity humidity had no impact on pain intensity levels when BMP was lower. The interaction between BMP and temperature was significant in both the pain intensity and the pain unpleasantness data. The combination of lower BMP and reduced temperature was associated with heightened pain unpleasantness compared to when BMP was higher and increased temperature. No other interactions including the three-way interaction between the weather variables reached significance. CONCLUSIONS The results from the present study showed that data for pain levels, emotional measures and weather conditions were significantly associated. In summary, the present study suggests that barometric pressure influences pain in fibromyalgia but on an individual basis that is associated with emotional factors. STUDY Blame it on the weather? The association between pain in fibromyalgia, relative humidity, temperature and barometric pressure. Fagerlund AJ, Iversen M, Ekeland A, Moen CM, Aslaksen PM. Author information 1 Norwegian Center for E-Health Research, Tromsø, Norway. 2 Department of Psychology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway UiT, Tromsø, Norway. 3 Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Regional Unit for Eating Disorders, The University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. 2019; 14(5): e0216902. Published online 2019 May 10. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216902 PMCID: PMC6510434 PMID: 31075151

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84 Possible Fibromyalgia Symptoms Of those who respect fibromyalgia as a legitimate medical condition, most of them associate chronic wide spread pain as the primary symptom. Some also recognized c…

Breaking through the fitness ‘pain barrier’. This article was written by Em who is fighting fibro with fitness. If this is something that intrigues you, read on for her 13 tips. If you live with Fibromyalgia then I think you instinctively know what I talk about when I talk about a pain barrier. After all for many of us it’s what we do every single day when we want to curl up and find some peace but our commitments mean that we have to keep moving, drawing on reserves and strength that we often forget we have. There aren’t many positives of living with fibro but for me my enhanced self awareness is one. The pain barrier for me is pushing through when mentally and physically you don’t want to. Now of course I’m not talking about ignoring what the body needs and pushing myself too hard, that would be foolish and lead me to a worse place faster (yes of course I learnt this the hard way – I question if really there is any other way??) I’m referring to re-starting or beginning to implement a challenging life change such as exercise. I’m referring to the active challenging of our negative thinking patterns and habitual behaviours. Working hard to get to the point where we finally start to feel the benefits and overcoming the worry that every body ache is doing us harm. So here are my top tips for breaking through the pain barrier. 1. Prioritise this time for you. Tell yourself if you feel better, everyone around you will feel better too. Explain to your significant others what you’re seeking to achieve and ask for their support and/or join an online community (like this one!) 2. If you stop now, when will you start? Keep your mind on your goals – picture them in your head. Remember how good you feel when you do physical activity: I think all of the times I am convinced I myself I wasn’t up to it but went and felt better for it. Equally think of all the times you quit something and regretted it. 3. Consider your timetable and needs and devise a realistic training plan – one that is manageable but consistently heads to where you want be. At first, your plan can be simple as “Go Exercise” – the rest will follow. 4. Examine your self awareness. My Grandmother used to say “you’ll never die for the want of an excuse!” That can be me to a tee! If you really don’t feel it up to it -don’t do it, but don’t give into your excuses either. Try to be honest with yourself and learn the difference. 5. Challenge your negative thoughts or fears – examine the truth of your thoughts. Because of the symptoms of chronic illness we often feel “I can’t” rather than “I can”. Don’t accept your thoughts without looking at them and don’t allow “ I can’t” to become your default. For example, what evidence do you have that exercise is bad for you? If you do have evidence, how can you adapt? – e.g. cycling is bad for my hip…. ok I’ll use the rowing machine instead. Em exercising at home using here stairs to strengthen her calves. 6. Sometimes I compromise by not going to the gym but exercising at home instead; 30 minutes at home is better than nothing at all. It doesn’t matter quite so much what you do; consistency is most important in these early days. I often find that giving myself these compromises usually gets me doing some form of exercise, because I’ve put no pressure on myself I perform better than I planned to, not because I forced myself but because I wanted to. 7. I’ve said it before but take your progress shots, they’ll inspire you. One you have a comparison set, they’ll remind you of your success and you can see what you’d like to work on. Once you see a difference, ask yourself do “do I want to go back to where I started?” 8. For further motivation, follow people whose fitness you admire, you tube, social media and of course blogs are excellent sources of advice and inspiration. 9. If you can afford to, buy yourself some snazzy gym wear that you feel good in. You’ll want to go the gym to wear it! 10. Don’t be impatient – if you expect instant results you’re going to be disappointed. Every bit of the journey is progress. Celebrate your success every time you work out. Reward yourself with a soak in the tub or your favourite TV show for a job well done. 11. Learn from your sessions, identify how your body feels after each workout and use it to inform how you train next time. For example, if you’re fatigued in one area, train another, if a certain exercise doesn’t feel right, try a variation. If you find you didn’t recover very well from a session, do less next time (of course that works in reverse too!) 12. Try to fuel and hydrate your body with healthy foods and water. Don’t starve yourself, fatigue is already a factor for us, so help yourself by boosting your energy with good food and fluids. A fuel empty body will seriously affect your motivation and ability. 13. Remember it take 28 days to make and break a habit, in sheer days you can alter your mindset and change the pain barrier to routine and routine to fun, energy and good health. Lastly feel proud that you’re doing this for you. Walk your journey held held high. There will be pitfalls but change often comes from challenge. From Em who use to blog at Fibro My Story and who is @Fibromystory1 on twitter. Em is concentrating on exercising and fighting fibro with fitness.

What are the main fibromyalgia symptoms? Anyone living with fibromyalgia will tell you there are so many symptoms. In fact, before I was diagnosed I use to try to remember them all when I went to a new specialist by working through the parts of my body and listing all the symptoms in each part. For example head was scalp pain, blurry vision, tingling in lips and jaw pain and a feeling I could not relax my jaw. As you can see there are a lot of unrelated, unique symptoms and not every person will get all of these and they will not get them all at the same time as the symptoms fluctuate. So here I will be listing the main symptoms that most people get. 18 Tender Points of Fibromyalgia (scroll down for image with more detail) One unique thing about fibromyalgia is the 18 tender points on the body. These are specific locations, in the diagram above, that hurt when pressed. People who do not have fibro only feel pressure, not pain, when touched on these points. These are the main symptoms of Fibromyalgia: Widespread, chronic, muscle pain and tenderness (tender points) · pain in arms, legs, neck, shoulders, back, hips Often with: · Morning stiffness · Headache · Fatigue · Sleep disturbances including insomnia, inconsistent sleep patterns, unrefreshed sleep · Memory problems · Light sensitivity · Dizziness · Numbness/tingling in arms/legs Sometimes also: · Irritable bowel syndrome · Bladder control problems · Depression · Anxiety American College of Rheumatology (ACR) fibromyalgia tender points 1990 classification criteria If you are trying to get a diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FMS) you may want to see the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia. This was endorsed in 2010. Prior to this the tender points were used as a major diagnostic tool. Now that we have the 2010 criteria it does not mean that the tender points have magically gone away. They can still be used as a diagnostic tool but they are only part of what is needed. Here is an excerpt from the ACR. If you are looking for a more in-depth list I suggest you go to MORE INFORMATION ON SYMPTOMS OF FIBROMYALGIA Thanks for dropping in today and if you have just been diagnosed you may want to sign up for my coping tips for living with fibromyalgia. I have been living with fibro for 20 years and have found many helpful ideas to help you reduce the many symptoms you may have.

The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire is something that I encounter a lot when reviewing research into fibromyalgia as it is often used in studies to see how something affects a person's fibromyalgia symptoms. This explains what it is, what it scores and how it is measured and you can also get a copy. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) is an assessment and evaluation tool developed to measure fibromyalgia (FM) patient status, progress and outcomes. It has been designed to measure the areas of health that are believed to be most affected by FM. It is in the form of a two page questionaire with a further two pages of description and scoring. It is designed for the FM patient to fill out themself. HOW THE FIQ WAS DEVELOPED. The FIQ was developed for adults with fibromyalgia. Doctors used patient reports, functional status instruments, and clinical observations to create it. The original Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was developed in the late 1980s by Drs. Carol Burckhardt, Sharon Clark and Robert Bennett at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon USA. At that time the clinical features of fibromyalgia were just being described, and the FIQ was an attempt to capture the total spectrum of problems related to fibromyalgia and the responses to therapy. The FIQ was first published in 1991 and since that time has been extensively used as an index of disease activity and therapeutic efficacy. Its development is described in separate reviews by Dr. Burckhardt and Dr. Bennett. Several issues regarding ethocultural usage, symptom relevance and arcane scoring became apparent and these issues have been addressed in the revised version FIQR. ~ American College of Rheumatology WHAT THE FIQ MEASURES It measures physical functioning, work difficulty, including housework, morning tiredness, pain, stiffness, fatigue, and well-being including depression and anxiety, over the past week. HOW THE FIQ IS SCORED There are 20 questions in total. The first 11 relate to physical functioning and are rated on a 4 point scale. Most of the other questions use a horizontal linear scales marked in 10 increments on which the patient rates how they felt overall. The FIQ is scored in such a way that a higher score indicates a greater impact of the syndrome on the person. Each of the 10 items has a maximum possible score of 10. Thus the maximum possible score is 100. The average FM patient scores about 50, severely afflicted patients are usually 70 plus. Get the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) pdf. The FIQ is a useful measure of disease impact in patients with fibromyalgia. It has shown good responsiveness to change in clinical studies. It is a useful instrument for measuring the changes in groups of patients in treatment programs and clinical trials. Whether it is beneficial for helping individuals and their health care providers plot changes as a result of individual treatment has not been formally tested but many clinicians use it for that purpose. ~ Dr. Carol Burckhardt. Learn more about fibromyalgia. Join our friendly private facebook group. Follow on twitter for fibro humor and information. Follow Fibro Files on facebook. Follow me on pinterest. Follow me on tumblr.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether duloxetine is safe and effective in the treatment of adolescents with Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome (JPFS). Here you can read a summary of the report. Efficacy and safety of duloxetine versus placebo in adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia: results from a phase 3b, randomized study. Presented at the World Congress on Pain 2018; September 12-16, 2018; Boston, MA. Poster 64517. JPFS is a musculoskeletal pain syndrome characterized by multiple tender points, fatigue, and sleep problems in children and teenagers. Girls are more likely than boys to be diagnosed with JFMS. Up to 75 percent have a family member with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. JPFS is diagnosed in 25 to 40% of children with musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Duloxetine, also known as Cymbalta, Ariclaim, Xeristar, Yentreve, Duzela, is a long-acting medication used to treat depression or generalized anxiety disorder or the pain of diabetic neuropathy or fibromyalgia, in adults, or ongoing bone or muscle pain. The trial consisted of two distinct study periods. A blinded treatment period of 13 weeks and an open label extension period of 26 weeks. 184 participants aged from 13 to 17 participated in this randomized study. The study's primary endpoint was the mean change on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain severity rating from baseline to week 13. Secondary endpoints included BPI-Modified Short Form: Adolescent Version severity and interference, treatment response (30% and 50% reductions in BPI average pain severity), and scores on the Pediatric Pain Questionnaire, Clinical Global Impression of Severity: Overall and Mental Illness scales, Functional Disability Inventory: child and parent version scales, Children's Depression Inventory, and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, as well as safety and tolerability. Of the 184 participants, 149 (80.98%) completed the 13-week treatment. CPA The results of this study indicate that Duloxetine may not be effective in treating JPFS when compared to a placebo. No new safety concerns relating to Duloxetine were found. FULL STUDY REPORT This is interesting because Duloxetine is effective in treating pain in adults with Fibromyalgia.

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The non-pharmacological management of Fibromyalgia (FM) has been the focus in many studies recently and seems to have a stronger impact on symptoms and quality of life than pharmacologic treatment. New psychological support therapy showing promising results in FM includes virtual Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT). BBAT is a movement awareness training programme that teaches patients how to correctly move, increasing awareness of body coordination. They are everyday movements such as sitting, standing, walking, and lying down and standing up. The movements are simple, small and soft, and are meant to foster more functional movement quality and habits. IMAGE thanks to Amber Life Clinic RESEARCH In a randomised study, 20 FM patients assigned to BBAT and followed-up for 24 weeks showed a significant reduction in pain and anxiety scale scores compared to 21 people in the control group. Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess whether Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) improves musculoskeletal pain, movement quality, psychological function, and quality of life. Methods: The effects of BBAT in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) were studied in a randomized controlled trial. Forty-one patients were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 21) and an intervention group (n = 20). Both groups received TAU including pharmacological therapy. The intervention group took part in 10 BBAT sessions. Outcome variables were measured regarding pain, movement quality, psychological function, and quality of life. Outcome measures were assessed before intervention, in post test, and in follow-ups at 12 and 24 weeks. Results: The BBAT group showed significant improvement in 'pain' after the testing and in 'movement quality' from baseline to 24 weeks. Within the group analysis showed significant improvements in the SF-36 body pain subscale at 12 and 24 weeks, Hospital Anxiety Depression scale in anxiety subscale at 12 weeks, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory anxiety questionnaire at 12 and 24 weeks, and STAI state at 12 and 24 weeks. Conclusion: This study showed that BBAT is an effective intervention in patients suffering from fibromyalgia in relation to pain, movement quality, and anxiety. MORE RESEARCH BBAT has also shown significant effects in areas such as: Stroke (Lindvall, Anderzén, Carlsson, and Forsberg, 2016), Rheumatic diseases (Olsen and Skjaerven, 2016), Traumatized refugees (Madsen, Carlsson, Nordbrandt, and Jensen, 2016; Stade, Skammeritz, Hjortkaer, and Carlsson, 2015), Major depression (Danielsson and Rosberg, 2015), Chronic whiplash associated disorders (Seferiadis, Ohlin, Billhult, and Gunnarsson, 2016), Eating disorders (Catalan- Matamoros, 2007; Catalan-Matamoros et al., 2011; Thörnborg and Mattsson, 2010), Borderline personality disorders (Skatteboe, Friis, Hope, and Vaglum, 1989), Chronic pelvic pain (Mattsson, Wikman, Dahlgren, and Mattsson, 2000; Mattsson et al., 1997, 1998; Olsen et al., 2017), Long-lasting chronic pain (Bergström, Ejelöva, Mattsson, and Stålnacke, 2014) If you are interested in doing BBAT you need to find a physiotherapist who has been trained to teach it. FM RESEARCH SOURCE: BRAVO C, SKJAERVEN LH, ESPART A, GUITARD SEIN-ECHALUCE L, CATALAN-MATAMOROS D: Basic Body Awareness Therapy in patients suffering from fibromyalgia: A randomized clinical trial. Physiotherapy Theory Pract. 2018. OTHER RESOURCES: International Association of Teachers in Basic Body Awareness Therapy Fysioterapeuten One year in review 2019: fibromyalgia

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Fibro fog is the term used to describe the brain fog or cognitive dysfunction associated with fibromyalgia. It is the feeling of being in a daze, making

This article is about my sleep issues, when living with fibromyalgia. If my thoughts seem unorganised it is most probably due to lack of sleep! (this is not a joke.) I think that most people would know that pain and sleep affect each other: pain can be made worse by lack of sleep and also our sleep can be affected by having pain. Studies have been done on this. (See 1 and 2 below). People have been tortured (for real) by not letting them sleep! Apparently over 90% of people with fibromyalgia report having non- restorative sleep i.e. waking unrefreshed after a night's sleep. It is now included amongst the diagnostic criteria as "waking unrefreshed". "In fibromyalgia, all treatments are geared toward helping people sleep better. If we can improve their sleep, patients will get better." Steven Berney, MD, chief of rheumatology at Temple University Health System in Philadelphia via WebMD. MY SLEEP PROBLEMS. I think my sleep problems started after I gave birth to twins. I had difficulty getting them in a routine with each other so that they both awoke for feeds at the same time. Which meant I was woken up more often at night than a mother with 1 child. Hey, I even went to a residential place, run by nurses, to help babies and mothers when the twins were 9 months old. I stayed for 5 days but even these wonderful nurses could not get them to sleep or wake at the same time! I struggled on as you do and 4 years later I was a mess of aches and pains and restless legs and fatigue. I also believe that being a mother of 5 children has taught me to be a light sleeper. IMPROVING SLEEP. Pregabaline (GABA) which has analgesic and sleep-modulating activities, has been an advance for the management of non-restorative sleep in fibromyalgia, and odium oxybate, a metabolite of dopamine, which increases GABA, has recently been proposed to increase slow-wave sleep and decrease sleep disruption. But what about people like me who don't fair well with medications in general? Researchers, supported by NIAMS*, are investigating ways to improve sleep for people with fibromyalgia whose sleep problems persist despite treatment with medications. One team has observed that fibromyalgia patients with persistent sleep problems share characteristics with people who have insomnia, such as having erratic sleep and wake schedules and spending too much time in bed. (Yes, I could have told them about this erratic sleep and the love hate relationship I have with my bed.) This team is testing whether strategies developed to help insomnia patients will also help people with fibromyalgia achieve deep sleep, which eases pain and fatigue. Preliminary results show that sleep education, which teaches good sleep habits, and cognitive behavioral therapy, which includes sleep education and a regimen to correct poor habits and improper sleep schedules, both reduce insomnia. MY CONTINUING SLEEP PROBLEMS. Now that my children are all grown I still have problems with sleep. I am even considering sleeping in a separate bed from my husband for my own health. This is a big step both emotionally and economically but I do notice I sleep so much better when I visit my mother. After about 4 days there, sleeping in my own bed by myself, my pain reduces. This is amazing occurence to anyone who suffers from chronic pain. So all the teaching about good sleep habits and providing cognitive behaviour therapy really does not help if you are a light sleeper yourself and sleep with a snorer, who has sleep apnea who constantly wakes and is rolling around the bed and pulling the covers off you! Now I just have to work out if I can afford a new bed and where I can put it. But I still have the dilemma of the distancing from my husband... QUESTIONS TO RESEARCHERS. Why is it that we need sleep but cannot sleep at night when we have Fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses? Why do people with Fibromyalgia often feel a bit better late at night and get more energy, making getting to sleep more difficult? Are we better to take medications that "knock us out" and gives us a good night sleep or do these medications have long term bad side effects? What effect does not sleeping with your partner in the same bed, or even the same room, have on you marriage? Is anyone studying these? * National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases REFERENCES 1. Poor sleep and depression are independently associated with a reduced pain threshold. Results of a population based study. Pain. Chiu YH, Silman AJ, Macfarlane GJ, Ray D, Gupta A, Dickens C, et al. 2005;115:316–321.[PubMed] 2. Relationship between chronic painful physical condition and insomnia. J Psychiatr Res. Ohayon MM. 2005;39:151–159. [PubMed] 3. Pain-related diseases and sleep disorders. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2012 Aug; 45(9): 792–798. M. Roizenblatt, N.S. Rosa Neto, S. Tufik, and S. Roizenblatt [NCBI] 4. What Are Researchers Learning About Fibromyalgia?

The Evidence: Fibromyalgia may be an autoimmune condition In a paradigm shifting new study, researchers were able to trigger fibromyalgia symptoms in healthy mice by injecting them with blood from …

I love sharing #FunnyFibro humor on twitter each and every day and often on facebook. For those of you who are not on those platforms I am sharing some of the Funny Fibro's I shared on them last month here and hope you enjoy them. Seeing the humorous side of things can help us overcome many of the stressful situations we may face when we live with chronic illness. When you see or read a joke that relates to what you are experiencing, or have experienced, it makes you feel connected to a wider community as you see that others understand and are going through the same things. Humor is a great tool for dealing with life's ups and downs. Being able to see the lighter side of things is a great skill for helping us overcome problems and research has shown that it can actually support both emotional and physical health. I also have a Fibromyalgia humor board on PINTEREST and I share other Funny Fibro jokes about fatigue here.