Aug
13
Written by:
Jane Bridgeforth
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Do you feel achy all over? Are you exhausted all the time? Have you been to doctors who are not quite sure what's going on with you? Do you have a multitude of symptoms - headaches, sensitivity to temperature or light, memory problems, tenderness, numbness, itching, insomnia, stiffness, pain, etc. that range from mild to severe?
That pain, tenderness, and fatigue may point to fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that can seriously interrupt your daily life. It is considered a rheumatic condition, just like arthritis is, because it affects the soft tissues and causes chronic pain. Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms imitate other diseases. Myositis, muscular sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis, and even diabetes are just a few of the diseases that fibromyalgia can mimic. Other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and primary Sjogren's syndrome may accompany fibromyalgia and muddy the diagnostic waters even more. Obviously this makes diagnosing even more difficult for the doctor and is extremely frustrating to the patient. Fibromyalgia is definitely hard to get a handle on.
Doctors and researchers are still uncertain of the cause of this condition, but several theories abound. One interesting theory links fibromyalgia with an abnormality of deep sleep. Research shows many fibromyalgia patients have abnormal brain waves while in deep sleep. These patients often report that not getting enough sleep makes their symptoms worse the next day. Patients have also been found to have low levels of melatonin, which is essential to maintain muscle and soft tissue health. Of note is the fact that melatonin is produced almost exclusively while in deep sleep. Studies have been done where study participants have been deprived of deep sleep for several days, resulting in fibromyalgia-like symptoms and tender points.
The American College of Rheumatology established criteria for this condition in 1990. If a person has had a minimum of three months of wide-spread pain, combined with tenderness in 11 of 18 specific tender sites on the base of the skull, above and between the shoulder blades, below the elbows, in the lower back, on the hips, and behind the knees, then a diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be made.
Because the cause(s) of this condition has not been determined and because there is no cure, minimizing the symptoms is extremely important. Massage is a great treatment option for fibromyalgia sufferers. Swedish, deep tissue and myofascial techniques are very beneficial in providing relief from many of these symptoms which can make dealing with this condition much easier. Research has shown that after getting 30 minutes of massage twice a week for five weeks people with fibromyalgia reported significant improvement. Reduced pain and stiffness, less fatigue, and less trouble sleeping were reported over time.
As always, check with your physician to see if massage therapy is appropriate for your needs. Once you get your physician's permission to proceed, it may be helpful to check with your local fibromyalgia support group to get some recommendations for massage therapists in the area. The massage therapist you choose will work with you by listening to how fibromyalgia affects you, by setting some goals together for relief, and by starting slowly to learn about your body in short 30 minute sessions. Massage is not a cure for fibromyalgia, but it can make living with it easier and improve your quality of life as well. Fight back and intimidate the imitator!