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Fibromyalgia

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Mar. ~ 2005 May: Health Center (ARCHIVES): Fibromyalgia users admin

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Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 1:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Recopied the article---very, very sorry we lost all of your posts. Hope you'll come back and repost where you are with your condition--or with questions and advice/remarks.


Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported September 6, 2002

Fibromyalgia: A Painful Way of Life -- White Paper

THE DISORDER

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The pain is sometimes so unbearable, patients can't get out of bed. For others it's just a constant aching and stiffness in the neck, shoulder, upper back, lower back and hip areas. This pain is often a condition known as fibromyalgia. It is diagnosed by identifying specific tender points on the body. It's a disorder that affects more than 2 percent of the U.S. population, and it is most common in women of childbearing age.

There is no cure or known cause for fibromyalgia, making the quest for an effective treatment very frustrating for many patients. According to Tamara Liller, President of the National Fibromyalgia Partnership, Inc.: "There are currently no FDA-indicated drugs for fibromyalgia at all. Patients currently rely on medications, designed for other illnesses that do not tend to be very effective for pain and other symptoms."

There are however, a number of research studies being conducted trying to find effective treatments for this often disabling disorder.

THE PAIN IS REAL

Patients have been complaining of this pain for years, but a skeptical medical community thought fibromyalgia might be a psychological problem vs. a physical one. But a new study finds fibromyalgia pain is not all in a patients' head.

The results of the study were published in the May 2002 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology. For the study, researchers used a super fast form of MRI brain imaging on 16 fibromyalgia patients and on 16 people without the disease. The patients had their brains scanned for more than 10 minutes while a small device applied varying amounts of pressure on their thumbnail. The pressures were varied using pain levels that were set before the scan.

Researchers say it only took mild pressure to produce self-reported feelings of pain in the fibromyalgia patients, while the healthy patients tolerated the same pressure with little pain. Lead researcher, Daniel Clauw, M.D., of the University of Michigan, says: "In the patients, that same mild pressure also produced measurable brain responses in areas that process the sensation of pain. But the same kind of brain responses weren't seen in control subjects until the presence on their thumb was more than doubled."

This study offers proof that fibromyalgia patients' pain is real and that some pathologic process is making these patients more sensitive to pain.

MORE THAN ONE TREATMENT

Fibromyalgia pain and symptoms vary from patient to patient and so do treatments. One treatment may work for some patients and not for others. Researchers have found some success with the following treatments:

MEDITATION: Mindfulness meditation is a technique that encourages self-awareness and living in the present moment. A study done at the University of Louisville finds this type of meditation helps fibromyalgia patients. Associate professor of clinical psychology and lead research Paul Salmon, Ph.D., believes mindfulness meditation can have a profound affect on how a person approaches life. The study found this meditation was effective at reducing stress, pain, sleep difficulties, depression and the impact of fibromyalgia symptoms on the quality of life. Salmon believes meditation can help fibromyalgia patients be calm and accepting of stress and pain, rather than running and trying to hide from them.

AQUATIC EXERCISE: Water exercises could be the key for some fibromyalgia patients, according to an ongoing program at Hammons Heart Institute at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The class started in 1995 and is tailored specifically for people with fibromyalgia. Instructors say when people are in the water they are using 10 percent to 20 percent of their actual body weight; therefore the amount of stress on the tender points of a person with fibromyalgia is reduced. The water also promotes greater range of motion. Instructors say they have found people with fibromyalgia experience the dual benefit of a rigorous exercise routine followed by a period of relaxation in the water.

AEROBIC EXERCISE: British researchers report an exercise program may ease the pain suffered by people with fibromyalgia. Researchers studied the use of a community center exercise program among 136 patients with fibromyalgia. Half of the patients did aerobic exercise twice a week and the other half did relaxation and flexibility training. Researcher report those who exercised fared significantly better than those who were assigned to receive relaxation and flexibility training. Researchers also report that at the one-year follow up, fewer participants in the exercise group still had fibromyalgia.

MASSAGE THERAPY: For some fibromyalgia patients, massage therapy is beneficial. Researchers at the Touch Research Institute in Miami say that may be because massage alters the sleep pattern in patients; which then reduces the amount of pain. Researchers studied 20 fibromyalgia patients who received either massage therapy or relaxation therapy twice weekly. They found both groups of patients showed a decrease in anxiety and depression, but the big difference was found in their sleep. Only the massage therapy group reported an increase in the number of hours they slept and a decrease in sleep movement. Researchers say sleeping better after massage therapy may be why massage is beneficial for some patients with fibromyalgia.

ACUPUNCTURE: A Swiss study reports an improvement in fibromyalgia patients who received acupuncture. The study included 70 patients who either received acupuncture at the correct points or the incorrect points. Patients kept track of their pain level, medication use, sleep quality and morning stiffness. Researchers say after three weeks, around 75 percent of the correctly treated group saw improvements in seven of the eight reported areas. Researchers at the University of Washington are now conducting a United States study looking at acupuncture for fibromyalgia. The results of this study are expected in 2003.

BEHAVIORAL THERAPY: Duke University Medical Center researchers are conducting a study to look at how cognitive behavioral therapy affects those with fibromyalgia. The study specifically focuses on those patients with insomnia. Researchers say previous research has shown reducing sleep disturbances has a positive effect on patients with fibromyalgia. Researchers say the current study will be randomized and include 60 patients.

GROWTH HORMONE INJECTIONS: Some research has indicated that fibromyalgia may be due to low levels of growth hormone. New research done in Spain finds growth hormone injections can relieve pain and stiffness in patients. Researchers say they have found a high number of fibromyalgia patients have low levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Growth hormone injections increase IGF-1. In the small study, researchers report the women on the injections reported less pain. Researchers now plan to study treating patients with an oral drug that increases production of growth hormone.
While there is no simple answer when it comes to treatment for fibromyalgia patients, the fact is there are treatments that help some patients. Terry Cronan, Ph.D., from San Diego State University, has done extensive research into fibromyalgia treatments. One of her recent studies focused on evaluating treatments for fibromyalgia patients. The study was published in the Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain.

The research reports a combination treatment program can be effective for fibromyalgia patients. However, researchers say the studies conducted on this disorder need to include longer follow-ups with patients for stronger conclusions. The authors also state, "Studies should be conducted as randomized, controlled trials, so that firmer conclusions about treatment efficacy can be reached."

THE FUTURE

As patients continue to be desperate for answers, researchers continue to search for treatment options. Cypress Bioscience, Inc. focuses on the development of drugs for patients with functional somatic syndromes such as fibromyalgia syndrome. Right now, they are studying the drug milnacipran as a treatment option for fibromyalgia patients with more studies beginning in 2003. Milnacipran is already approved for treatment of depression in 22 countries and is the third best selling antidepressant in Japan. Milnacipran is said to have less side effects than other antidepressant drugs.

Besides drugs, another area of research that is up and coming for fibromyalgia patients is brain stimulation. It's called Flexyx neuropathy and essentially it resets the brain of a fibromyalgia patient. Research has shown that some of the debilitating symptoms of this disorder could be a result of brain injury. The Flexyx Neurotherapy System is being studied by researchers at Neurotherapy Center of Washington in Maryland and Rush-St. Luke's Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago.

Like many diseases, fibromyalgia could also be genetically related. The Fibromyalgia Family Study is currently underway by Jane Olson, Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. The research is focusing on the genetic aspects of fibromyalgia.

CONCLUSION

Fibromyalgia is a complex disorder that affects millions of Americans. It is a relatively young disease so research is really just beginning. Public awareness about this disease is increasing, making it easier for patients to understand that their pain is real and not in their heads. Experts say it's important for patients to understand that there is no cure for this disease, but there is help in controlling the symptoms. The trick is finding which treatment will work for each individual patient.

Sage
Member

07-20-2000

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 1:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I saved the last few posts ...

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 4:33 pm Sage, I am on traz and it really helps me sleep. That's what sucks about this, there is not one thing that works for all of us

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 5:32 pm sage, some medications take a few days to start to work, then they get up to their full usefullness. what did the doctor say after you quit them?

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 7:46 pm Hey, Kstme, Sage landi, and Pamy! (Yw, Pamy!)

landi, I really believe that attitude has sooo much to do with how you are doing. Good for you for persevering through all of the attempts to find a way to function normally again (or as close as you can get to it). And to have RA on top of that! (I never hear you complain, either. And here I am whining cuz this cast is uncomfortable.)

Kstme, if you get by without meds, it occurred to me that you must fall into what I've read is the the 'light fibro' zone in the spectrum of fibro severity and pain. But your symptoms don't sound minor! Why can't you take meds? I think it is phenomenal that you are able to do that, and I can't imagine how you do it with the two conditions hammering you simultaneously! What is the 'Fibro Burn' that you mentioned?

Sage, it sounds as though you aren't getting much relief yet. I hope the posters here can offer some helpful suggestions . . . I think landi is onto something there.

Pamy, you can't be reaching the 'deep sleep' (REM) you need to feel rested. If I were you, I'd ask about a sleep study even if you aren't making the stop-and start snorts common in apnea sufferers. Can't hurt and might help!

Sage
Member

07-20-2000

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 1:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Landi, I didn't tell the doctor I quit the med. It's a long story, but I have been mad at him. I threw away the meds in the trash can in my room, which hasn't been emptied yet. After reading your post to me, I decided to retrieve them and give it another try. It's just that the side effects were awful and this doctor took me off the meds that were working. One of them I had been taking for 5 years. I don't understand why he had to "fix what isn't broken", you know what I mean?

Anyway, I have to have a sleep study done, and in a couple of weeks I get some nerve testing done. The things a person has to do.... argh. For those of you who don't know, I'm on state assistance so I have to comply with all the doctors and the councelor in order to keep getting benefits until my SSI is approved - hopefully.

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 6:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks HP and Sage for saving this!!!!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 7:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
and i saved the whole thread, so i have what was between HP and sage!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:34 am
i also have fibro, plus i have rheumatoid arthritis. currently the fibro is in a stage of managed remission. this is due to finding out i have sleep apnea. getting the CPAP machine was my life saver. my body is getting rest. FINALLY! i suffered for 12 years with no relief. some days i couldn't get out of bed. i remember calling people one day to see if they could take holly to school. i literally could not get up without having muscle spasm so bad in my back that i could not move. mine was brought on by the extreme problems of my pregnancy with holly. also, they believe that a car accident (that i shouldn't have lived from!) when i was 8 was a huge factor.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:44 am
I think Lkunkel does too....

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:56 am
I didn't realize that, landi. Wow, it is wonderful to hear that you are in remission from fibro, even if a 'managed' one!

Sounds as if you as much as 'tripped' over the solution when the sleep apnea issue was identified and addressed. Maybe the brain stimulation info is something you will want to keep filed away for future reference-- in that it seems to fit with your car accident being a causal factor.

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:57 am
Eeyore, Lkunkel is Laurie! Sorry--should have used her screen name!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 11:58 am
i need to tell you what i've tried, i've tried modern medicine (anti-depressants, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, narcotics pain relievers); accupuncture (expensive, provided relief for a single day); massage therapy (i felt so good afterward, that i could actually function, again - EXPENSIVE!); support groups (a bunch of whiners who seem to revel in their misery). i've tried air beds, tempurpedic beds. actually a extremely good support bed with two feather beds and a down comforter on top, seems to be the best combination for me (it's like laying in a cloud!). i've also tried b-12, and guifasinen (i think that is how it is spelled) and all it did was make me cough up a lung (it was supposed to release the toxins or some dang thing.

i'll continue more as i can

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 12:05 pm
Good golly, Miss Molly, landi! So you are like The Princess and the Pea when it comes to feeling pain through a mattress? Just teasing--sounds as if seeking relief has been a lifelong pursuit. And yet you still managed to be an advocate for your dd, help her become the lovely young lady she is today, and build a career for yourself. Amazing!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 12:13 pm
funny that you put it that way. that's exactly how my family refers to my bed! but they all seem to want to be on it!

my motto is, "never give up, never surrender" i think it is what has kept me sane all these years. right before we discovered the sleep apnea, i was ready to give up. every day seemed to be getting worse. i had more and more days where i couldn't function.

okay, i gotta go, won't be back until tonight.

Kstme
Member

08-14-2000

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 1:13 pm Edit
Herc, I also have Fibro and Lupus. My motto, since the Lupus was diagnosed,(1982) has been, 'In my mind, I can do anything.' Most days, it is that way.

The drs. who diagnosed the Fibro,(1993) felt I'd had it since I was very young and it is more the Fibro than the Lupus, which creates most roadblocks for me.

I do not and cannot take the meds. I have to pace myself. It is a very hard disease for a young family or an old one to understand. It's very frustrating for the person who has it. How do you explain something that doesn't show up on x-rays, nor causes any physical sign of illness. The Lupus affects my vision and my psoraisis is caused by that. Those are tangibles, but Fibro is it's own world and seems to affect each person so differently.

When I've pushed myself, I get the Fibro-fog and will repeat myself a number of times without remembering anything. I think, because of the pain, the brain sifts out what it 'thinks' is important and it may not always be what 'I' think is important. I have a very high tolerance to pain, which is common among Fibro sufferers. This has helped when I've undergone surgeries or when I'm in a major attack. There is nothing like the 'Fibro Burn' that can make you want a new body.

I also have a coughing problem when I am in a full blown attack. Happens for no reason and drives me crazy. But, all in all, it's the tiredness that is truly the worse! The complete exhaustion from just taking a shower in the morning.

For me...I usually have a drink...a glass of wine, Bailey's or a mixed drink about an hour before bed and that helps with the pain enough to let me fall asleep. What is odd, is when I lay down to nap...I'm out in seconds! I usually wake up 55 minutes later! Very weird that it doesn't work that way at night.

Well, now, I've rambled way too long. Gentle hugs! Landi, I'm so glad your on CPAP!!!



Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 1:15 pm Edit
Thanks for the article HP!!!! So sweet of you to think of me!

Landi, thanks for your input also.

I know the sleep thing is a part of this for me, even with the sleep pill I only sleep 2-4 hrs at a time. Bill says I snore a lot, but he doesnt think it chokes me awake, so not sure if I have apnea.

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 1:24 pm Edit
Kstme, I am the same way about a nap! I have to nap during my lunch, it helps me the rest of the day. I lay down and am asleep in 5 min, at nite I will toss and turn, unless I take a pill.

Sage
Member

07-20-2000

Monday, February 21, 2005 - 1:48 pm Edit
I got it too. I can totally relate to having to pace yourself. If I overdo it, I'm so sore and exhausted I can barely move.

I was referred to a rheumetologist who decided to take me off the meds I took at night to sleep, which worked perfectly fine, and put me on Trazodone. After 2 nights of that crap and it went directly into the trash! He also wants to do a sleep study... whatever. Blech.


Kstme
Member

08-14-2000

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 7:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
OK, I am not imagining the loss of some posts!! Whew, thought it was the Fibro=fog setting in again!

I am deathly allergic to the meds used for these diseases, i.e., any pain medication. I have adverse reactions to Paxil, Zoloft and Xanax...suicidal. Think I might be a bit happy about not being able to take Celebrex and that family of meds.

No, mine is not 'light Fibro'...wish it were! When I am in pain so severe I don't think I can take another minute of it, I use alcohol. Usually, I'll have 3 or 4 very bad days which I call 'hitting the wall' and then have a few days of semi-relief before the ride begins again.

Because I've been diagnosed for so many years and rarely talk about it, our old-time friends have a tendency to forget I have Fibro and Lupus. Especially the ones we don't see that much. When they do come to town and I push myself and spend weeks recovering. For me, it's worth it. Fibro is not life-threatening, just a real pain in the butt.

Most Fibro patients were/are type A personalities. Right-sided brain thinkers. Very crafty or imaginative. I've found this very interesting.

A question...how many of us don't get sick with all those 'common' things? I can't remember the last time I had the flu and it's been over 2 1/2 years since I've had a cold. I like to say, 'I'm the healthiest sick person I know...lol'

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 7:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
YAY!! you guys are great!!

Kstme
Member

08-14-2000

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 7:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Landi, great job!!

Oh, Fibro-burn...that's what I call it. When you feel like you have fire in your veins, especially, at night when you lay down. It can happen any time of day and the pain is excruciating . It literally encompasses your whole body, on the inside. It was because of this, the drs. first diagnosed the Fibro. I kept thinking it was the Lupus.

Sage
Member

07-20-2000

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 10:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kstme, sounds like you have it more severely than I do. I'm sorry you have to suffer so much from it. I think my main problem with it is the fatigue. I'm so limited in daily activities, and have a lot of idle time that I'm trying real hard to fill with leisurely activities like crocheting and reading and playing solitaire on the puter.

I decided to take the trazodone last night and it just cements my resolve once again not to take this med again. I put in a call to the doctor who prescribed this and will hopefully get a call from him today. I feel lousy, the side effects are bad. This med is supposed to help me sleep, but it keeps me awake and I just tossed and turned all night.

Kstme
Member

08-14-2000

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 11:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sage, don't feel badly for me, please. I've lived with this for a very long time.

As far as the fatigue and filling your time, I understand how hard that can be. Your doing good, though!! Keep trying to find stuff that interests you and keeps your mind active. Although, it can seem like the worst thing to do, it's the best...walk about a half mile everyday. It may make you exhausted, but it helps the mind so much!

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 7:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
When I step outta bed in the morning it feels like I am stepping on glass, I have to tip toe for about 15 min and then it goes away

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 2:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just opened my email (way too early for me, but I am up) . . . and found new info about fibro published by Ivanhoe.com. Copied it here for you:

Reported April 20, 2005

Relief for Fibromyalgia -- In-Depth Doctor's Interview


Lesley Arnold, M.D., explains a new trial that proves the drug Cymbalta is successful in easing the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Ivanhoe Broadcast News Transcript with
Lesley Arnold, M.D., Psychiatrist,
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio,
TOPIC: Relief for Fibromyalgia

How long have you been studying fibromyalgia?

Dr. Arnold: We’ve been studying fibromyalgia since about 1996.

What is fibromyalgia?

Dr. Arnold: Well, it’s a disorder that’s characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain and also tenderness on palpation.

Is it hard to diagnose?

Dr. Arnold: It’s not difficult to diagnose. The American College of Rheumatology in 1990 established criteria for fibromyalgia that includes chronic widespread pain lasting three months or longer and associated with tenderness on palpation.

How disabling can this be for patients?

Dr. Arnold: It can be very disabling. It interferes a tremendous amount with their functioning. Many of them report difficulty sleeping, and then they have fatigue during the day, which of course makes it hard to do their daily activities.

What is the current treatment for fibromyalgia?

Dr. Arnold: There’s no FDA-indicated treatment for fibromyalgia yet. So most patients are tried on a number of different medications or other treatments. The most common treatment at this time is antidepressants. They have a moderate efficacy in fibromyalgia. Of course, we’re very interested in finding better treatments, better tolerated medications for fibromyalgia.

Why are antidepressants used?

Dr. Arnold: Depression is common in patients with fibromyalgia, but not everyone has depression. Antidepressants are used because they work on chemicals that are also thought to be involved in pain modulation. So even in patients who do not have depression, the antidepressants can help relieve pain.

I know you did a study that used Cymbalta (duloxetine) as a way to help treat patients with fibromyalgia. What did that study show?

Dr. Arnold: This was one of the largest studies conducted in the United States for fibromyalgia. It is using Cymbalta, which is indicated by the FDA for the treatment of major depressive disorder but is also indicated for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain. We decided to try it in fibromyalgia because fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition. We thought that it would possibly respond to this treatment ,and indeed, it did in our study.

What kinds of results were patients seeing?

Dr. Arnold: The most important thing is they reported a reduction in pain. We found this mostly in the female patients. We only had a few men in the study, so we have to study men some more before we conclude whether or not it will work in them. But the female patients with fibromyalgia reported a substantial reduction in pain.

Why is fibromyalgia more common among women?

Dr. Arnold: In the U.S. study, there were seven-times more women than men with fibromyalgia. So, it is much more common in women, and we don’t really know the reason for that, but there are some possibilities. One is in the involvement of serotonin. We think abnormalities in serotonin could be an important cause of fibromyalgia, and women in normal situations synthesize serotonin at a lesser rate than men. So women may be more susceptible because of that. Also, just in general, we know women have lower pain thresholds than men, so they may be more susceptible to developing pain than men. But we really don’t know the answer yet.

Do you think this study is a breakthrough in treatment possibilities for fibromyalgia?

Dr. Arnold: I think it has a lot of potential. We have to do some more studies to confirm this first study, but I think there’s a lot of hope in the results. In addition to reduction in pain, they also reported feeling better. They were able to function with more vitality, more energy, and I think that’s a very important part of the results as well.

Do we know what causes fibromyalgia?

Dr. Arnold: The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown at this time, but it’s thought to be related to abnormalities in the way the brain processes painful impulses. So, people with fibromyalgia have possibly developed something called central pain sensitization, where their brain misinterprets stimuli as painful.

What is musculoskeletal pain? Where does it occur?

Dr. Arnold: Patients with fibromyalgia report widespread pain. So many of them say the pain is really all over their body. There are certain areas that seem to be more tender to touch, but now we’re realizing patients with fibromyalgia really are sensitive to painful stimuli throughout the body, that there isn’t any special area. They seem to have something called hyperalgesia, which means they experience pain with stimuli that is not typically painful. Many of the patients describe that they feel uncomfortable when their family members hug them or touch them, and that’s uncomfortable. So it’s like an increased sensitivity to different kinds of stimuli, including touch.

Are you continuing to study Cymbalta?

Dr. Arnold: We are continuing to study Cymbalta. We have some new studies coming up. We’re hoping to confirm the results of this first study so that hopefully someday we’ll have a medication indicated for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

You also mentioned that you are conducting a genetic study on fibromyalgia. Tell me about some of the preliminaries of that study.

Dr. Arnold: We did a family study of fibromyalgia in which we confirmed fibromyalgia is highly familiar. The next step is to do a genetic study to try to determine what the genetic underpinnings of fibromyalgia are. We have now completed data collection for that study, and those results are now being analyzed. We have some preliminary results that suggest serotonin-related genes might be involved in fibromyalgia.

What side effects does Cymbalta have?

Dr. Arnold: There were side effects with medication, and of course there are some people who are not going to be able to tolerate Cymbalta. The most common side effects has been nausea, which fortunately for most people is mild to moderate and lasts usually about a week. But there are some other side effects such as dry mouth and constipation. Some people get tired on it, which can be a good thing because it can help with sleep but others find that disturbing. It’s not a medication for everybody, but at least in the trial so far most people have indicated the side effects were mild to moderate. Most people did not discontinue the medication because of side effects, which is very important. Obviously, you want a medication that’s tolerable so that the benefits outweigh any risks of side effects.

How many people took part in the study?

Dr. Arnold: In the first fibromyalgia study of Cymbalta, there were over 200 people involved.

How large are the subsequent studies going to be?

Dr. Arnold: We have completed the second study of Cymbalta and fibromyalgia, and the results were presented recently at the American College of Rheumatology in October, 2004. That was a larger trial; there were 350 people involved. In that study, we included only women because the first trial suggested that the drug worked particularly well for women with fibromyalgia. The second study confirmed our original findings of efficacy in patients in women with fibromyalgia. It substantially reduced pain and improved their function and some other symptoms, such as fatigue.


This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

If you would like more information, please contact:

The Women's Health Research Program
Medical Arts Building, Suite 8200
222 Piedmont Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45219
(513) 558-9477


Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 5:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks HP! very interesting read.

Cher
Member

08-18-2004

Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 9:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I wanted to say that I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia a few years ago - had some really difficult times - now that I have my sleep apnea machine and antidepressents I seem to be better. I am also in my third term of aerobics which helps with the excercise. I also haven't had to be adjusted by the back cracker for more than 4 months now. Just wanted to add some information to maybe help others.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 9:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
cher, i was diagnosed with FM 12 years ago. for the last 2 years i've been on a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. it has made all the difference in the world. i am completely off all medications. now and then i may take a motrin to help any headache pain.

Cher
Member

08-18-2004

Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 11:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Landi: Such interesting information stuff isn't it? I remember being in so much pain and on Vicoden all the time. Plus my Thyroid is underactive and has been forever, well I have been tired again and guess what the Thyroid needs more of a boost so I am up to 200 mcg now. And unfortunatly have had high blood pressure and water retention - the diretic/blood pressure med I am on now helps. Now he said by blood sugar is high, potasium low so I need to do a fast blood test in two weeks. I will tell you I love my sleep apnea machine and take it with me traveling etc. I also would like to get off the antidepressents.

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Monday, May 09, 2005 - 10:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Another Ivanhoe update in my mail this morning:

http://www.ivanhoe.com


Reported May 11, 2005
Alternative Advances: Fixing Fibromyalgia



WATERBURY, (hey, that's near me!) Conn.

(Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- There's often a battle among doctors about the value of alternative medicine. But one physician has a foot in both worlds and is hoping that can save some of his patients from a lifetime of pain.

Three years ago, Jeanne Langlais couldn't pick up a brush to fulfill her favorite pastime. "Couldn't paint anymore," she says. "I couldn't lift my arms up. Your thighs ached when you stood up, my arms ached, my neck ached. I couldn't understand why."

Langlais also could not exercise. The chronic muscle pain forced her into early retirement. After two years of tests, she finally got the diagnosis: fibromyalgia. But finding a treatment was another story. "Anti-inflammatories, pain killers, anti-depressants, and none of them worked for me."

She sought an alternative treatment called intravenous micronutrient therapy. IVMT is a cocktail of highly concentrated vitamins injected into the vein. Langlais says: "About the 5th treatment I started to feel better, and by the 6th treatment I had no pain. I was clicking my heels."

David Katz, M.D., a Yale-trained physician, is one of a few doctors using IVMT. He's treated more than 60 patients so far. About 80 percent of them have had good results.

"If I'm able to help patients who for years have suffered and couldn't find help -- it doesn't get any better than that," says Dr. Katz, who is now a preventive medicine specialist at Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby, (also near me!!) Conn.

He is conducting a clinical trial on IVMT sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. He says the treatment has few side effects, but a major drawback is cost. It's not covered by insurance ... not yet, at least.

"If we prove that this is a cost-effective therapy for fibromyalgia, it then becomes a reimbursable commodity," Dr. Katz tells Ivanhoe.

For Langlais, the $55-weekly injections are a hardship. But she'll continue them, she says, because of the promising picture they paint for a future without pain.

You can join Ivanhoe's online discussion on this treatment and other alternative treatments for patients with fibromyalgia by visiting their website.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Lauren Liberti
Integrative Medicine Center
252 Seymour Ave.
Derby, CT 06418
(203) 732-1370
lauren.liberti@yalegriffinprc.org

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