Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by restless sleep, awakening feeling tired, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and disturbances in bowel function. Fibromyalgia is sometimes referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome and abbreviated FMS. Fibromyalgia was formerly known as fibrositis.
(Source: medicinenet.com)
Fibromyalgia Awareness Bracelets!
They are beaded bracelets with the words “Fibromyalgia Awareness” and finished with a purple bow. They are made on elastic string, so it virtually fits most people.
All profits will be going to the National Fibromyalgia Association. You can find this organization at http://www.fmaware.org. You can also make a direct donation on that website.
You can find these bracelets at www.fibrobracelets.bigcartel.com
I hope you guys will purchase a bracelet, not only for yourself, but for your loved ones. This will spread awareness faster than you might realize.
Rest - If possible, take 10-30 minutes after lunch to lie down and rest. You don’t have to sleep—just slow your mind down and think peaceful thoughts. At one of my jobs, I used to lock my office door, turn off the lights and lie down on the floor for 10 minutes. It was the only way I could make…
(Source: fms-help.com)
Fibromyalgia is definitely not a new illness, and doctors have been aware of this condition for centuries. In 1843, a physician named Robert Froricep described a condition he observed in his patients as “rheumatism with painful hard places.” In the early 1900s, Sir William Gowers observed symptoms in his painful muscular symptoms in his patients, and called this disease fibrositis.
(Source: fibrofactpage.com)
I just joined. But I know how important it is for FMS’ers to support one another in order to cope.
November 22, 2011: Researchers in China, Japan, Germany, South Korea and the United States have started studying the effects of STEM CELL infusions in autoimmune patients. The good news? IT WORKED. The treatments were successful in Lupus/RA patients, MS patients and for patients whose hearing was lost due to autoimmune disease (their hearing RETURNED COMPLETELY) without any side effects. Though this is not a cure, it is a huge step towards better disease management and a better understanding of these diseases. Hopefully this treatment will become more accessible to the rest of us that don’t have $25,000 laying around.
“Other autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, atopic dermatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis were not able to be treated with existing medication. However, these illnesses became manageable with stem cell treatment.” It has also been used for Crohn’s and various other AA diseases, even Fibromyalgia.
To read a detailed account of one man’s treatment experience with this new therapy, check out this article.
This has some personal meaning for me, so I’d love some responses. Do any of you with RA or SLE have a subsequent diagnosis of Fibromyalgia? If so, would you be willing to share with me how you came about the diagnosis?
I started going to therapy a few months after I was diagnosed. I didn’t like the thought of therapy at first and I wasn’t too fond of my therapist, but I decided to give it a shot anyway. I put up a little bit of a fight, but my parents forced me to go because they knew it was the best thing for…
Mental Relaxation- Let your mind unwind in the evening. Listen to soft, soothing music. Avoid mentally stimulating activities such as intense conversations, balancing the checkbook, doing serious study or getting yourself into a “hurrying” mode for any reason. Do calming things like ironing (leisurely) or enjoy some light reading (not mystery thrillers or highly technical material). The brain has an arousal mechanism that once you get it going, it’s hard to slow it down! You don’t want to get into this state before trying to fall asleep. Some people can stay extremely active and animated until the very minute they fall asleep; however, people with FMS are generally not able to do this.
(Source: fms-help.com, via fibrosupport)
I enjoy photography and writing :)
Some scientists think that a gene or genes might be involved in fibromyalgia. The genes could make a person react strongly to things that other people would not find painful.
(Source: niams.nih.gov)
Heat - Sometimes a warm or hot bath can relieve the stiffness and soreness of fibromyalgia for awhile, perhaps by increasing circulation to muscle tissue. Sometimes a heat pack feels good on a cold day and is very relaxing. Or, try a hot bath followed by a cold gel pack on the back of the neck and some soft music when you retire. (For some sufferers, however, extremes of heat and cold worsen symptoms.)
(Source: fms-help.com, via fibrosupport)
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