Issue 2: Differentiating Fibromyalgia from Other Syndromes
Thank you for participating in this activity. Please rate this activity and join our discussion below as we continue the conversation about fibromyalgia. To get us started, please respond to the following questions:
• What strategies do you employ and/or find most effective in differentiating fibromyalgia from other syndromes?
• How do you approach management in patients with chronic pain disorders?
You may leave your response to one of these questions below, or ask a new question and respond to other comments below. I will be available between 6/1/2011 and 7/15/2011 to participate in this discussion and I look forward to our dialogue.
Lesley M. Arnold, MD
Please feel free to rate this program below.
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Rating: 4.4/5 (10 votes cast)
Fibromyalgia iNewsletter Series - Issue 2, 4.4 out of 5 based on 10 ratings
13 Responses to Fibromyalgia iNewsletter Series – Issue 2
To increase healthcare provider awareness of the unmet needs of Fibromyalgia patients, expand their foundational knowledge of the pathophysiology of FM and its comorbidities, and raise their level of understanding of the complexities of this multifactorial disorder, a multidisciplinary state of the science educational initiative is justified to ensure that OB/GYNs, psychiatrists, neurologists, primary care physicians, and rheumatologists are equipped with the most relevant and current insights to provide appropriate pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapeutic interventions to the many patients who seek consultation and care for this debilitating condition and its comorbidities.
Farid Taymouri,M.D.
Tehran,Iran
NOT ONLY ACTIVITY DEVELOPED BY DR ARNOLD WAS VERY INTERESTNG BUT VERY PRACTICE AND RELEVANT AS WELL.IT WAS EASY TO UNDERSTAND. TOPIC IS ALSO IMPORTANT IN GENERAL PRACTICE.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS.
Your comment on page one:
“Finally, central pain disorders (non-nociceptive) include fibromyalgia, irritable bowel or bladder syndrome, chronic headache, temporomandibular disorders, and chronic pelvic pain.”
The use of “temporomandibular disorders” as a global descriptor of face pain is outmoded. When I see a patient and I note a Temporomandibular disorder , the patient will have intrinsic joint pathology with a diagnosis like synovitis or disc displacement with or with out muscle spasm. The term “temporomandibular disorders” has no diagnostic meaning. If I suspect a central pain disorder, it is addressed as a separate entity from the musculo-skeletal TMJ problem.
Thank you for this very useful, up-to-date information. I have firbromyalgia myself and am constantly searching for new techniques and treatments in order to help alleviate some of the pain and fatigue. During my 25 years of veterinary nursing, I would occasionally come upon a patient who seemed to have some of the characteristics of fibromyalgia. Our four-legged angels are unable to communicate to us in a conventional manner, and so we have to rely on body language, the way the eyes look, the way the muzzle looks, labwork, x-rays, MRIs and CATscans. It’s a tough one, but on these patients I would sneak in the 18 pressure points, and was successful; of the patients that did respond (about 75%), these patients reacted to between 9 and 13 of the pressure points. Are we now starting to notice this in our domestic animals, as well as humans? Or so others of you think this is just a fluke?
As one who has Fibromyalgia ~ the drugs ~ they are not good … I been a guine pig for all kinds of drugs which made me a lot sicker than I already was ~ alternative methods work much better & learning how to identify & deal with the real pain & how you yourself and the society around you responds to your inability to do what they want & need you to do when they want you to do it ~ is a must ~ One day I hope 2 get past all of this pain and be functional again ~ As far as low pain tolerance goes ~ I have a very high tolerance for pain ~ I can go until my body wont let me function, it gets a bit scary at times when it stops functioning or goes haywire & does bazzar things in response to me not quitting ~ yet my sensitivity to something simple as a fan blowing on me, I cant tolerate ~ nor tags in my shirts ~ sometimes cloths touching me I cant tolerate either ~ As far as depression goes, I am pretty happy with my life ~ Antidepressants make me hostile and very upset after I get past the initial drugged effect on my brain ~ I dont get how it is that they seem to be helping others and have such a bad effect on me ~ walnuts & pecans are good to help brain be happy when you arent ~ dont know why that is But it is true ~ Anyway Thank You ALL VERY MUCH for carring about all of us with this condition ~ PLEASE dont give up on us ~
As a nurse and clinical psychologist with Fibromyalgia I must say how much I appreciate this series. I see quite a few people with chronic pain and it has been very helpful to have in one place all this material
Thanks again
As a person with Fibromyalgia, that was not diagnosed until 1995 and starting having symptoms in the early 1980′s and being told it was “all in my head” and “you’re not as young as You use to be”, it is great to see that it is finally being recognized as a real disease. I am a nurse and work full time in an ICU at a busy VA hospital and I get really tired of the “stereo-typing” that occurs from others about people with Fibromyalgia such as, “they are always whinning about Pain”. I do not whine and I do my job, granted I sometimes go home after working and have to lay on a heating pad or take Ibuprofen but I manage to work fulltime and in pain alot of the time but I do not complain.
Excellent program
Excellent explanations on the similarities and differences between fibromyalgia and other pain syndromes. Well put together.
To increase healthcare provider awareness of the unmet needs of Fibromyalgia patients, expand their foundational knowledge of the pathophysiology of FM and its comorbidities, and raise their level of understanding of the complexities of this multifactorial disorder, a multidisciplinary state of the science educational initiative is justified to ensure that OB/GYNs, psychiatrists, neurologists, primary care physicians, and rheumatologists are equipped with the most relevant and current insights to provide appropriate pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapeutic interventions to the many patients who seek consultation and care for this debilitating condition and its comorbidities.
Farid Taymouri,M.D.
Tehran,Iran
NOT ONLY ACTIVITY DEVELOPED BY DR ARNOLD WAS VERY INTERESTNG BUT VERY PRACTICE AND RELEVANT AS WELL.IT WAS EASY TO UNDERSTAND. TOPIC IS ALSO IMPORTANT IN GENERAL PRACTICE.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS.
Excellent information.
Your comment on page one:
“Finally, central pain disorders (non-nociceptive) include fibromyalgia, irritable bowel or bladder syndrome, chronic headache, temporomandibular disorders, and chronic pelvic pain.”
The use of “temporomandibular disorders” as a global descriptor of face pain is outmoded. When I see a patient and I note a Temporomandibular disorder , the patient will have intrinsic joint pathology with a diagnosis like synovitis or disc displacement with or with out muscle spasm. The term “temporomandibular disorders” has no diagnostic meaning. If I suspect a central pain disorder, it is addressed as a separate entity from the musculo-skeletal TMJ problem.
Thank you for this insight. Indeed, temporomandibular disorders comprise a family of conditions and the term is something of an umbrella.
Thank you for this very useful, up-to-date information. I have firbromyalgia myself and am constantly searching for new techniques and treatments in order to help alleviate some of the pain and fatigue. During my 25 years of veterinary nursing, I would occasionally come upon a patient who seemed to have some of the characteristics of fibromyalgia. Our four-legged angels are unable to communicate to us in a conventional manner, and so we have to rely on body language, the way the eyes look, the way the muzzle looks, labwork, x-rays, MRIs and CATscans. It’s a tough one, but on these patients I would sneak in the 18 pressure points, and was successful; of the patients that did respond (about 75%), these patients reacted to between 9 and 13 of the pressure points. Are we now starting to notice this in our domestic animals, as well as humans? Or so others of you think this is just a fluke?
Thank you for your participation and comment. Unfortunately, we do not have an answer to your question. It is beyond the scope of this activity.
As one who has Fibromyalgia ~ the drugs ~ they are not good … I been a guine pig for all kinds of drugs which made me a lot sicker than I already was ~ alternative methods work much better & learning how to identify & deal with the real pain & how you yourself and the society around you responds to your inability to do what they want & need you to do when they want you to do it ~ is a must ~ One day I hope 2 get past all of this pain and be functional again ~ As far as low pain tolerance goes ~ I have a very high tolerance for pain ~ I can go until my body wont let me function, it gets a bit scary at times when it stops functioning or goes haywire & does bazzar things in response to me not quitting ~ yet my sensitivity to something simple as a fan blowing on me, I cant tolerate ~ nor tags in my shirts ~ sometimes cloths touching me I cant tolerate either ~ As far as depression goes, I am pretty happy with my life ~ Antidepressants make me hostile and very upset after I get past the initial drugged effect on my brain ~ I dont get how it is that they seem to be helping others and have such a bad effect on me ~ walnuts & pecans are good to help brain be happy when you arent ~ dont know why that is But it is true ~ Anyway Thank You ALL VERY MUCH for carring about all of us with this condition ~ PLEASE dont give up on us ~
As a nurse and clinical psychologist with Fibromyalgia I must say how much I appreciate this series. I see quite a few people with chronic pain and it has been very helpful to have in one place all this material
Thanks again
As a person with Fibromyalgia, that was not diagnosed until 1995 and starting having symptoms in the early 1980′s and being told it was “all in my head” and “you’re not as young as You use to be”, it is great to see that it is finally being recognized as a real disease. I am a nurse and work full time in an ICU at a busy VA hospital and I get really tired of the “stereo-typing” that occurs from others about people with Fibromyalgia such as, “they are always whinning about Pain”. I do not whine and I do my job, granted I sometimes go home after working and have to lay on a heating pad or take Ibuprofen but I manage to work fulltime and in pain alot of the time but I do not complain.
physical therapy and activity/exercise seem to be highly effective in treating the symptoms associated with FM in my experience.