Fibromyalgia Relief
Fibromyalgia, pronounced feye-bro-my-AL-juh, is a collection of symptoms characterized by muscle pain, stiffness and fatigue. It is called a “syndrome” rather than a “disease” because there is no specific diagnostic test that confirms or denies its existence. There is no known cause…or cure. Rather, it is a confusing and frustrating collection of syndromes, which come and go and vary in intensity. Its chief characteristic is widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, stiffness, fatigue and non-restorative sleep.
While it is not life threatening it totally redefines a person’s quality of life. It can be as debilitating as rheumatoid arthritis. The pain is diffuse and widespread. It is not the kind of pain and stiffness that results from a weekend of overdoing it in the yard or on the golf course. Persons with Fibromyalgia (FMS) report that they ache all over. FMS sufferers are tired all the time and have reported the need to rest from the exertion of getting out of bed in the morning. FMS sufferers are always tired and in many cases FMS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are confused with each other. Many who have FMS also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. FMS sufferers sleep poorly and are stiff when they wake up or sit for extended periods of time. It is frustrating because sufferers appear healthy and normal on the outside and feels so miserable on the inside.
Causes,
FMS has no known cause and it affects 5% to 10% of the population. Eight times more women are affected than men and it strikes all ages. It is often found in the company of other conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), spastic bladder (urinary urge incontinence), headaches, Myofascial pain, mitral valve prolapse, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ) and chemical sensitivities. Even though the cause remains elusive, there are many common triggering events thought to precipitate the onset of the illness. Some possible influencing factors are infections (viral or Bacterial), automobile accidents, a hysterectomy, surgery, or the development of another disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or hypothyroidism.
Symptoms
The most important clinical features of FMS are widespread pain or diffuse aching which has lasted for a period of three or more months, stiffness and fatigue coupled with a physical examination that demonstrates multiple tender points in specific areas. In many cases a diagnosis of FMS is made when eleven of eighteen possible tender points are reported as painful.
There are many other symptoms, which vary from patient to patient both in severity and occurrence. These include headaches, memory and concentration problems, dizziness, numbness, and tingling, itching, fluid retention, and abdominal and pelvic cramps.
Treatment
Traditional treatment is aimed at improving the quality of sleep and reducing pain. Research confirms that a multidisciplinary approach to treating FMS provides the greatest relief from symptoms and the best prognosis. This approach includes improving the quality of sleep, proper nutrition, physical conditioning, deep relaxation and positive imagery. The National Institutes of Health research concluded that the deep relaxations from Hypnotherapy and the physical response to massage are the two most effective non-traditional treatments for Fibromyalgia pain relief.
A study published in the Journal of Rheumatology reported that 40 Fibromyalgia patients were randomly assigned treatment with either hypnotherapy or physical therapy for 12 weeks with follow up at 24 weeks. The patients in the hypnotherapy group showed a significant reduction in pain, fatigue on awakening, and sleep disruptions. From this study the authors concluded that hypnotherapy is effective in relieving the symptoms of Fibromyalgia leading to a significant improvement in quality of life.
A resent study by the Navy Dental Command in considering the relationship of Temporomandibular Joint pain and Fibromyalgia concluded that a major contributing factor to chronic pain is stress. Therefore any stress reducing activity is going to help.
Summary
About the Author: Michael R.
“Ron” Eslinger, Captain, U.S. Navy, Retired is a Board Certified Hypnotherapist, Advanced Practice Nurse, Certified Hypnotherapy Instructor and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. He has served as Chief Nurse Anesthetist, Assistant Department Head for Administration Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA. and is the Past President, Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthetists. He is Owner/Director of Healthy Visions Wellness Center in Oak Ridge, TN USA. For more information regarding hypnosis as an adjunct therapy, Ron Eslinger can be reached at The Healthy Visions Wellness Center. Go online to http://www.eslinger.net for more information.
by Ron Eslinger