Living with Chronic Pain
People in Pain Learning from each other
Valuable Pain Information
Pain Management: TENS and Electrothermal Therapy
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/electrothermal-therapy
The most common form of electrical stimulation used for pain management is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy, which provides short-term pain relief. Electrical nerve stimulation and electrothermal therapy are used to relieve pain associated with various conditions, including back pain. Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) is a treatment option for people with low back pain resulting from intervertebral disc problems.
TENS
In TENS therapy, a small, battery-operated device delivers low-voltage electrical current through the skin via electrodes placed near the source of pain. The electricity from the electrodes stimulates nerves in the affected area and sends signals to the brain that "scramble" normal pain perception. TENS is not painful and has proven to be an effective therapy to mask pain.
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)
Intervertebral discs act as cushions between the vertebrae. Sometimes the discs can become damaged and cause pain. IDET uses heat to modify the nerve fibers of a spinal disc and to destroy pain receptors in the area. In this procedure, a wire called an electrothermal catheter is placed through an incision in the disc. An electrical current passes through the wire, heating a small outer portion of the disc to a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius.
IDET is performed as an outpatient procedure while the patient is awake and under a local anesthesia. Early studies indicate that some patients may have continued pain relief for up to six months or longer. The long-term effects of this procedure on the disc have not been determined.
Radiofrequency Discal Nucleoplasty
This is a newer procedure which utilizes a radio frequency probe instead of heating wire to disintegrate a small portion of the central disc material.. The result of this intervention is partial decompression of the disc, which may help relieve pain caused by bulging discs pressing on nearby spinal nerve roots.
Reviewed by Adrian Zachary, DO, MPH at The Cleveland Clinic Spine Institute, April 2006.
The Following is New News for treatment of all types of Chronic Pain
Swimming in Warm Water Eases Fibromyalgia Pain
Sunday, August 17, 2008 by: David Gutierrez
Key concepts: Fibromyalgia, Water and Swimming
http://www.naturalnews.com/023886.html
(NaturalNews) A regular, guided exercise regimen in warm water can relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Extremadura, Spain and the University of Evora, Portugal, and published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.
Fibromyalgia is an unexplained medical condition with no known cure. It is characterized by chronic, severe muscle pain and tenderness, pain in the shoulders and neck, sleep trouble, anxiety and depression. Approximately 90 percent of fibromyalgia patients are women.
Researchers studied 33 female fibromyalgia patients between the ages of 37 and 71. Seventeen of the women were assigned to take part in one hour of supervised aquatic exercise sessions for eight months. The women were guided through a warmup, strength exercises, aerobics and a cool down session in waist-deep warm water for one hour, three times per week. The 16 women in the other group were told to remain sedentary.
The researchers found that women in the exercise group experienced a reduction in their fibromyalgia symptoms and an improvement in their overall health-related quality of life.
Prior research has indicated that fibromyalgia symptoms can be eased by an exercise regimen, but that symptoms return if patients become sedentary again.
"The addition of an aquatic exercise program to the usual care for fibromyalgia in women is cost-effective in terms of both health care costs and societal costs," the researchers wrote. "Appropriate aquatic exercise is a good health investment."
Fibromyalgia is most commonly treated with painkillers, exercise, relaxation therapy and low doses of antidepressants. Because the disease does not respond well to standard painkillers, the FDA recently approved a new type of painkiller for the condition. The drug, known generically as pregabalin and marketed by Pfizer as Lyrica, targets the nerve cells that produce the sensation of pain.
The current study did not distinguish between the effectiveness of aquatic versus other gentle exercises, such as walking or Tai Chi.
A Quadriciser for all different types of pain
http://www.quadriciser.com/
Go to blog talk radio to hear more about the quadriciser!!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/winninglifethroughpain
Combination Treatment for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Induces Remission, Prevents Progression
Find Article at:http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF68525748700648D1B?OpenDocument&id=1616AF5C32A5BCA5852574420050E83A&c=&count=10
LONDON -- July 15, 2008 -- Methotrexate in combination with etanercept improves remission and radiographic nonprogression rates in patients with early, moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) within 1 year compared with treatment of methotrexate alone, according to study published early online and in an upcoming edition of The Lancet.
This combination treatment also increases the ability of patients to remain a productive member of the workforce, which has implications for patients, employers, and society as a whole, according to the authors.
Paul Emery, University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom, and colleagues, did the Combination of Methotrexate and Etanercept in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis (COMET) study to test the effects of combination treatment with methotrexate and etanercept compared with methotrexate alone.
The randomised trial included 542 outpatients who had not previously used methotrexate and had early moderate to severe RA for 3 to 24 months. Patients were randomised to receive either methotrexate 7.5 mg a week, to a maximum of 20 mg a week by week 8 (n = 268), or methotrexate (same dosage pattern) plus etanercept 50 mg a week (n = 274).
The 1-year endpoints of the trial were remission measured by the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) and radiographic nonprogression measured with modified total Sharp score.
Researchers found that 50% of patients given combination treatment achieved clinical remission (94% had a good/moderate response) compared with 28% given methotrexate alone, making those given combined treatment almost twice as likely to achieve remission.
In the combined treatment group, 80% of patients achieved radiographic nonprogression, compared with 59% in the methotrexate-only group, a difference of 21% favouring combined treatment. Serious adverse events were similar between groups.
"The COMET trial showed that patients who received combination therapy have a nearly 3-fold reduction in work stoppage compared with those who took high-dose methotrexate alone. The effect of RA is especially significant for women aged 55 to 64 years, because they have a high incidence of stopping work early ... nearly a quarter of patients who were in employment at baseline in the COMET trial had stopped working at least once by the end of 1 year compared with about a tenth in the combination group," the authors wrote.
"The results of the COMET trial suggest that remission is an achievable goal in patients with early severe RA within the first year of therapy with etanercept plus methotrexate. Furthermore, these outcomes appear to be achieved without exposing patients to significant additional risk."
What is Prolotherapy
Ross Hauser, M.D.
http://www.prolotherapy.org/prolotherapy/what-is-prolotherapy.asp
Prolotherapy is a simple, natural technique that stimulates the body to repair the painful area when the natural healing process needs a little assistance. Notice I said "a little assistance". Because often, that's all the body needs, the rest it can take care of on it's own. In most cases, commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory medications and more drastic measures like surgery and joint replacement may not help, and often hinder or even prevent the healing process.
The basic mechanism of Prolotherapy is simple. A substance is injected into the affected ligaments or tendons, which leads to local inflammation. The localized inflammation triggers a wound healing cascade, resulting in the deposition of new collagen, the material that ligaments and tendons are made of. New collagen shrinks as it matures. The shrinking collagen tightens the ligament that was injected and makes it stronger. Prolotherapy has the potential of being 100 percent effective at eliminating and chronic pain due to ligament and tendon weakness, but depends upon the technique of the individual Prolotherapist. The most important aspect is injecting enough of the solution into the injured and weakened area. If this is done, the likelihood of success is excellent.
Prolotherapy involves the treatment of two specific kinds of tissue: tendons and ligaments. A tendon attaches a muscle to the bone and involves movement of the joint. A ligament connects two bones and is involved in the stability of the joint. A strain is defined as a stretched or injured tendon; a sprain, a stretched or injured ligament. Once these structures are injured, the immune system is stimulated to repair the injured area. Because ligaments and tendons generally have a poor blood supply, incomplete healing is common after injury. This incomplete healing results in these normally taut, strong bands of fibrous or connective tissue becoming relaxed and weak. The relaxed and inefficient ligament or tendon then becomes the source of chronic pain and weakness.
The greatest stresses to the ligaments and tendons are where they attach to the bone, the fibro-osseous junction. The most sensitive structures that produce pain are the periosteum (covering of the bone) and the ligaments. It is important to note that in the scale of pain sensitivity (which part of the body hurts more when injured), the periosteum ranks first, followed by ligaments, tendons, fascia (the connective tissue that surrounds muscle), and finally muscle. Cartilage contains no sensory nerve endings. If you are told that your cartilage is the cause of your pain, you have been misinformed; the cartilage cannot hurt because they contain no pain sensing nerves. If there is cartilage damage, the ligaments are typically the structures that hurt. Ligaments are weakest where they attach to bone. The periosteum is the most sensitive area to pain and the ligaments second. It is now easy to understand why this area hurts so much. This is where the Prolotherapy injections occur, and thus eliminate the chronic pain of many conditions including arthritis, mechanical low back pain, degenerative disc disease, cartilage injury, and sports injuries.
Prolotherapy works by exactly the same process that the human body naturally uses to stimulate the body's healing system, a process called inflammation. The technique involves the injection of a proliferant (a mild irritant solution) that causes an inflammatory response which "turns on" the healing process. The growth of new ligament and tendon tissue is then stimulated. The ligaments and tendons produced after Prolotherapy appear much the same as normal tissues, except that they are thicker, stronger, and contain fibers of varying thickness, testifying to the new and ongoing creation of tissue. Yes, you heard me right. The ligament and tendon tissue which forms as a result of Prolotherapy is thicker and stronger than normal tissue, up to 40% stronger in some cases!
In 1983, Y. King Liu performed a study using the knee ligament in rabbits. This study was done in order to quantify the strength of the tissue formed by Prolotherapy. In this study, a proliferant was injected into the femoral and tibial attachments of the medial collateral ligament, the inside knee ligament. The ligaments were given five Prolotherapy treatments and then compared to non-injected ligaments. The results showed that in every case Prolotherapy significantly increased ligamentous mass, thickness, and cross sectional area as well as the ligament strength. In a six-week period, ligament mass increased by 44 percent, ligament thickness by 27 percent, and the ligament bone junction strength by 28 percent. This research was yet another attestation to the effectiveness of Prolotherapy, showing that Prolotherapy actually causes new tissue to grow. Imagine what it would mean to an athlete to run 40 percent faster, jump 40 percent higher, or be 40 percent stronger? This new growth of stronger, healthier tissue is the normal and desired outcome with Prolotherapy.
The concept behind Prolotherapy
The term Prolotherapy was coined by George S. Hackett, M.D., the "father of Prolotherapy", in 1956. He describes Prolotherapy as follows:
"The treatment consists of the injection of a solution within the relaxed ligament and tendon which will stimulate the production of new fibrous tissue and bone cells that will strengthen the weld of fibrous tissue and bone to stabilize the articulation (where the bone and ligament meet) and permanently eliminate the disability. To the treatment of proliferating new cells, I have applied the name 'Prolotherapy' from the word 'Prolo' (Latin) meaning offspring; 'proliferate' - to produce new cells in rapid succession (Websters Dictionary). My definition of Prolotherapy as applied medically in the treatment of skeletal disability is 'the rehabilitation of an incompetent structure by the generation of new cellular tissue."
Dr. Hackett, after 20 years of experience, arrived at the conclusion that injured ligaments were the primary cause of chronic pain. Injured tendons were the second most common cause. He referred to this weakness in the ligaments and tendons as laxity. Prolotherapy involves the injection of substances that stimulate new tissue growth at the junction between the fibrous tissue (ligaments and tendons) and the bone. Most things break down at a junction site because this is the weakest part of the structure; this is especially true in weight bearing joints. A good example of this is when the leg of a chair is wobbly or loose. This is usually due to a loose connection where the leg attaches to the seat of the chair. By tightening the attachment of the leg to the seat, the chair becomes more stable.
Dr. Hackett used the word "weld," which is a very accurate description of Prolotherapy. Prolotherapy welds the ligaments and tendons to the bone. When welding steel, the welder is applying a very hot probe or flame to melt two pieces of metal together. Two large pieces of metal would require welding many areas all along the long seam. Why do so many spots need to be welded? The reason is to make a stronger connection. If one area weakens in the future due to wear and tear, the others will hold the structure together.
This is the concept behind Prolotherapy. All of the injured tissue must be treated for injuries for chronic pain to be eliminated. Prolotherapy causes the proliferation of new ligament and tendon tissue exactly where the injections are given. It is just like spot welding. It strengthens the exact spot where the weld or injection takes place. The more injections, the stronger the weld.
Steroid for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Doctor Says He's Had Success With Hydrocortisone for CFS and Fibromyalgia Patients
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Find article at:
http://www.webmd.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/news/20080321/steroid-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome
March 21, 2008 -- Boosting levels of the stress hormone cortisol with low doses of hydrocortisone could help patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia feel better, a California doctor says.
Kent Holtorf, MD, says the simple treatment carries significantly less risk and greater potential for benefit than widely accepted treatments for the two conditions. But chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia experts who spoke to WebMD were not so sure.
Holtorf believes the majority of CFS and fibromyalgia patients have low levels of the steroid hormone cortisol due to dysfunction in a brain system that regulates response to stress, known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
The problem is that very sophisticated testing is needed to identify this dysfunction.
As a result, while a number of studies have shown lower-than-normal cortisol levels to be common in CFS and fibromyalgia patients, many others have failed to show the association.
"The overwhelming majority of these patients have [cortisol] dysfunction, whether testing shows this or not," he tells WebMD. His review of the research is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Low-Dose Treatment
Holtorf routinely treats patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia with low doses (5 to 15 milligrams a day) of the steroid hydrocortisone, in addition to other treatments, to boost cortisol levels.
Of 500 consecutive patients treated with the steroid at his Torrance, Calif., clinic, Holtorf says 94% showed some improvement and 62% showed substantial improvement by the fourth visit.
William C. Reeves, MD, director of the chronic viral diseases branch of the CDC, believes that most patients with CFS and fibromyalgia could benefit from taking low-dose hydrocortisone, but he says the treatment is not without risks.
Reeves and CDC colleagues recently published a study showing that women with CFS symptoms tend to have lower-than-normal cortisol levels upon waking in the morning -- a time when levels typically spike.
"It does appear that there is something different in HPA axis function in these patients, but that doesn't necessarily mean that this treatment is the answer," Reeves says.
Hydrocortisone Benefits and Risks
He cites a 1998 study from the National Institutes of Health examining low-dose hydrocortisone for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Although the treatment was shown to have some benefit, a significant number of patients also exhibited a common side effect seen with higher steroid doses -- adrenal suppression, a reduction in the amount of hormones made by the adrenal glands
The researchers concluded that "the degree of adrenal suppression precludes [the steroid's] practical use for CFS."
"This idea of using low-dose steroids has been around for a long time, but it may not be as simple as simply raising cortisol levels. And even if it does help, it is not without risks," Reeves says.
Fibromyalgia researcher Lesley Arnold, MD, agrees.
"The evidence in favor of using steroids to treat these conditions just isn't there," the University of Cincinnati associate professor of psychiatry tells WebMD. "We just don't have enough consistent data about abnormalities in the HPA axis."
Arnold points out that some studies in fibromyalgia patients have shown the HPA axis activity to be increased and some have shown it to be decreased. "The only thing that has been consistent is that there is usually some kind of abnormality in function."
View Article Sources Sources
SOURCES:
Holtorf, K. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, vol 13: pp 1-14.
Kent Holtorf, MD, medical director, Holtorf Medical Group Inc., Torrance, Calif.
William C. Reeves, MD, director, chronic viral diseases branch, CDC.
Lesley Arnold, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, University of Cincinnati.
McKenzie, R. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Sept. 23, 1998; vol 280: pp 1061-1066.
Look at all the Benefits for the following Nutrient:
You can buy these at the Dollar Stores as well as Vitamin Stores.
The Miracle Nutrient
What do gum disease, obesity, and congestive heart failure have in common? It could be a deficiency of Co-enzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10). A lack of CoQ-10 has also been implicated in arrhythmias, strokes, hypertension, heart attacks, atherosclerosis, muscular dystrophy and AIDS and many of these diseases can be prevented and treated successfully with CoQ-10. Since its discovery and isolation 40 years ago hundreds of clinical research studies have been done on CoQ-10 and it is now clear that this nutrient is vital to good health and well being.
Coenzyme Q-10 (ubiquinone/ubiquinol) is a fat-soluble quinone with a structure similar to that of vitamin K. It is a powerful antioxidant both on its own and in combination with vitamin E and is vital in powering the bodies energy production (ATP) cycle. CoQ-10 is found throughout the body in cell membranes, especially in the mitochondrial membranes and is particularly abundant in the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas and adrenal glands. The total body content of CoQ-10 is only about 500-1500 mg and it decreases with age.
Essential to the heart
Coenzyme Q-10 has received particular attention in the prevention and treatment of various forms of cardiovascular disease. It is highly effective in preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) which leads to atherosclerosis(2,6-8). Several studies have shown that patients with congestive heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases have significantly lower levels of CoQ-10 in their heart tissue than do healthy people and supplementation with as little as 100 mg/day has been shown to markedly improve their condition.
Heart attacks and strokes produce a burst of free radicals (ischemia- reperfusion) which can result in extensive tissue damage. Patients with high CoQ-10 levels suffer less damage from these events and Japanese researchers have found that CoQ-10 supplementation prior to and immediately following open heart surgery is highly beneficial in preventing reperfusion injury - a common complication in heart surgery. Supplementation with CoQ-10 has also been found beneficial in patients with chronic stable angina, material valve prolapse and irregular heart beat (arrhythmias).
Coenzyme Q-10 has also proven useful in the treatment of various cardiomyopathies (diseases of the heart muscle that reduces its pumping capacity). Studies have shown that supplementation with as little as 100 mg/day for 12 months results in better pumping capacity (increased ejection fraction), increased muscle strength, improved breathing, and positive signs of healing.
Several studies indicate that CoQ-10 may be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). A study of 109 patients with long-standing, essential hypertension, who were on antihypertensive drugs, concluded that supplementation with an average of 225 mg/day of CoQ-10 improved functional status, allowed about half the patients to discontinue most of their blood pressure medications and resulted in an average decrease of systolic blood pressure from 159 to 147 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure decrease from 94 to 85 mm Hg.
It stands to reason that CoQ-10 may also be beneficial in any condition where circulation is a concern.
Boosts energy and brain power
Coenzyme Q-10 is a great boost to heart health, but it has many other beneficial effects. Strenuous physical exercise reduces blood levels of CoQ-10 and supplementation with 60 mg/day has been found to improve athletic performance. Administration of CoQ-10 alone or in combination with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) boosts the immune system and may be useful in the treatment of AIDS and other infectious diseases. An adequate level of CoQ-10 in the body is essential to proper muscle functioning and several studies have indeed shown that supplementation with 100-150 mg/day of CoQ-10 markedly improves the condition of people suffering from muscular dystrophy.
Many overweight people have very low levels of CoQ-10 and supplementation may enable them to lose weight due to the effect of CoQ-10 in speeding up the metabolism of fats.
Keeps your gums healthy and fights cancer
CoQ-10 has been used with success in combatting periodontal diseases, especially gingivitis (gum disease). Tissue affected by gingivitis is deficient in CoQ-10 and experiments have shown that supplementation with as little as 50 mg/day can decrease inflammation and improve healing.
Suggested Dosage:
The body can synthesize Coenzyme Q-10 and it is also found in several dietary sources, notably organ meats. The level of CoQ-10 in human organs peaks around the age of 20 years and then declines fairly rapidly. The decrease in CoQ-10 concentration in the heart is particularly significant with a 77-year-old person having 57 per cent less CoQ-10 in the heart muscle than a 20-year-old. Some experts involved in CoQ-10 research believe that many people, especially older people and people engaging in vigorous exercise may be deficient in CoQ-10 and may benefit from supplementation. The recommended daily dosage for health maintenance is 30 to 100mg. Considerably higher amounts are required in the treatment of the various diseases for which supplementation has been found beneficial. These amounts will vary with the seriousness of the condition. Periods of three to six months at theraputic levels are not uncommon. CoQ-10 should be taken with a meal containing some fat or even better, in combination with Flas Seed Oil, raw organic Chia Seeds (highest in omegq 3 efa's) or Essential balance oil which enhances its absorption quite substantially. CoQ-10 is readily absorbed by the body and no toxic effects have been reported for daily dosages as high as 300 mg.
REFERENCES
The Miracle Nutrient, Co-Enzyme Q-10 by Emile G. Bliznakov, M.D.
To read the article and get more information on RA
Arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis Basics
Reviewed by the doctors at
The Cleveland Clinic Department
of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases
How Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated?
There are many different ways to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Treatments include medications, rest and exercise, and surgery to correct damage to the joint.
The type of treatment will depend on several factors including the person's age, overall health, medical history and severity of the arthritis.
Medications
There are many medications available to decrease joint pain, swelling and inflammation. Some of these medications prevent or minimize the progression of the disease.
Medications that offer relief of arthritis symptoms (joint pain, stiffness and swelling) include:
* Anti-inflammatory painkiller drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen
* Topical (applied directly to the skin) pain relievers
* Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
* Narcotic pain relievers
There are also many strong medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. These medicines usually work by interfering with or suppressing the immune system attack on the joints. They include:
* Plaquenil (originally used to treat malaria)
* Immune suppression drugs such as methotrexate, Imuran, Cytoxan, and cyclosporin
* Biologic treatments, such as Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, Orencia, and Rituxan
* Other drugs, uch as Azulfidine and Arava
Why Is Rest and Exercise Important?
A balance of rest and exercise is important in treating rheumatoid arthritis. During flare-ups (worsening of joint inflammation), it is best to rest the joints that are inflamed. This may be accomplished by the temporary use of a cane or joint splints.
When joint inflammation is decreased, guided exercise programs are necessary to maintain flexibility of the joints and to strengthen the muscles that surround the joints. Range-of-motion exercisesshould be done regularly to maintain joint mobility.
When Is Surgery Necessary?
When joint damage from the arthritis has become severe or pain is not controlled with medications, surgery may be an option to help restore function to a damaged joint.
Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Be Cured?
Although there is not yet a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, early, aggressive treatment has been shown to help prevent disability.
SOURCES: Arthritis Foundation. American Academy of Family Physicians. National Institutes of Health. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD Medical News: "Rituxan OK'd for Rheumatoid Arthritis." Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Genentech, Inc.
Edited by William C. Shiel, Jr., FACR, FACP, MD on May 01, 2007.
'Portions of this page The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2005.
Below is a link loaded with Information about Chronic Pain. Gives a list of good pain doctors in your area. Also, learn more about a Spinal Cord Stimulator, can be done on a trial basis first. It is used for many different types of Chronic pain , works especially well for people with spinal problems. Has been helping RSD patients as well.
Please look:
http://www.ans-medical.com/patient/basicsofscs/index.cfm
Coping with Fibromyalgia |
|
Many people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia experience episodes of unclear thinking or cognitive dysfunction. They become forgetful, lose their train of thought, forget words or mix them up. This is what is popularly called “brain fog” or “fibro fog.”
Following are some basic memory and communication tips that can help you deal with episodes of minor cognitive dysfunction.
Here are some common-sense pointers that can help you clear the fog:
1. Repeat yourself. Repeat things to yourself over and over again. Repetition will keep thoughts fresh in your mind.
2. Write it down. Whether you write in a calendar, in a notebook or on sticky notes, if you're afraid you won't remember something, putting pen to paper can help.
3. Pick your best time. If there is something you need to do that requires concentration and memory, such as balancing your checkbook or following a recipe, pick your best time to do it. Many people with fibromyalgia say they perform best early in the day.
4. Get treated. Depression, pain and sleep deprivation can influence your ability to concentrate and remember. Getting your medical problems treated may indirectly help your memory.
5. Engage yourself. Reading a book, seeing a play, or working a complex crossword or jigsaw puzzle can stimulate your brain and your memory.
6. Stay active. Physical activity, in moderation, can increase your energy and help lift your fibro fog. Speak to your doctor or physical therapist about an exercise program that is right for you.
7. Explain yourself. Explain your memory difficulties to family members and close friends. Memory problems often result from stress. Getting a little understanding from the ones you love may help.
8. Keep it quiet. A radio blasting from the next room, a TV competing for your attention, or background conversation can distract your attention from the task at hand. If possible, move to a quiet place and minimize distractions when you are trying to remember.
9. Go slowly. Sometimes memory problems can result from trying to do too much in too short a period of time. Break up tasks, and don't take on more than you can handle at once. Stress and fatigue will only make the situation worse.
The Arthritis Foundation http://www.arthritis.org
Drugs to be approved for Fibro.
Fibromyalgia Network
Dear Kris,
Did you know that pain, muscle weakness, concentration difficulties, and depressed mood are all symptoms made worse by vitamin D deficiency? This misunderstood vitamin is becoming recognized for the many important roles it plays in the body:
* maintains strong healthy bones
* improves muscle strength and balance
* prevents painful bone diseases
* enhances reaction time and other cognitive processes
* aids immune system function, potentially preventing autoimmune diseases and cancers
* improves mood
Based on the above roles, is it any surprise that researchers believe low levels of vitamin D can aggravate the already difficult-to-handle symptoms of fibromyalgia? Join Fibromyalgia Network to learn more!
Studies described in the July 2007 issue of the Fibromyalgia Network Journal show that more than 50% of fibromyalgia patients are deficient in this essential vitamin. This four-page feature article includes possible causes, common risk factors, and three methods used to treat (or avoid) vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D requires calcium to perform many of its important functions in the body. If you join before October 16, 2007, you will also receive our free guidelines on “How to Meet Your Body’s Calcium Needs.”
Just enter Purchase Number 707 when you join Fibromyalgia Network and get the calcium supplementation guidelines free!
Your Membership begins with the current issue. Topics include:
* Talking to others about your symptoms
* Prevalence of sleep disorders in fibromyalgia
* Is chest or abdominal pain caused by your muscles or your organs?
* Guidelines for obtaining a quality sleep study
* Managing opioid-related side effects
* and more!
Key Fibromyalgia Network Membership benefits:
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Articles are for informational purposes only. You must consult your physician for treatment.
Fibromyalgia Network ... Helping Patients Since 1988
Add us (kthorson@fmnetnews.com) to your e-mail address book to
ensure that you receive updates on services and savings!
New Drug approved by FDA for Fibromyalgia:
http://healthday.com/printer.asp?AID=605814
First FDA Approval for FM Treatment Drug Expected by 2008
by Editor
ImmuneSupport.com
01-10-2007
Pharmaceutical companies are “racing” to gain regulatory approval for their drugs to serve the virtually untapped Fibromyalgia market, according to an industry update from Reuters news dated January 7, 2007.
The contenders “are looking to seize on a market now dominated by older anti-depressants as well as painkillers and other drugs,” the report states. These competitors are mostly major players – the likes of Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Forest Laboratories Inc. And they have their eyes on a market that the research firm Decision Resources predicts will reach $1 billion in less than a decade.
The race, of course, is to be first to win FDA clearance for use of their drugs specifically as Fibromyalgia treatments. And the winning approval is expected as early as 2008. Some FM-targeted drugs already have FDA approval for other applications, and are being prescribed “off-label” for some Fibromyalgia patients.
But until positive results with FM patients are produced via clinical trials and to the FDA’s satisfaction, the drug companies are barred from actively marketing their drugs as FM-specific therapeutics. Once the makers are able to market openly to consumers and the physician community, the FM market will be “a nice way to tack on $200 million to $300 million more in sales,” a Decision Resources spokesperson told Reuters.
High-profile examples of contenders in the FM therapy race include the following drugs for pain:
Pfizer’s pregabalin (Lyrica®)
Recently approved by the FDA to treat nerve pain and seizures, this drug has been progressing swiftly through the clinical trial process, as last reported in late November 2006. See “Major Trial Concludes Pregabalin (Lyrica®) Promising FM Pain Therapy,” at http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/7535
Next steps now in progress are that:
n FM patients who participated in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial are currently being recruited for a 12-week follow-up “open label safety trial” of pregabalin. That is, in the double-blinded phase of the trial, one randomly selected group of patients received a “placebo” or fake dose, but neither the patients nor those administering the doses knew which group was which until the study was completed. In the current phase, all patients will openly receive pregabalin.
n Pfizer is also seeking more than 700 other FM patients at 50 trial sites in 10 nations outside the U.S. - including Canada, the UK, and Australia. This 14-week Phase III trial will track both primary (pain) and secondary (sleep, fatigue, mood, etc.) outcomes of pregabalin therapy administered twice daily. It, too, will be randomized, placebo-controlled, and double blinded. For more information about the trial (Number NCT00333866) and a link for local contact information, visit the ClinicalTrials.gov site at http://clinicaltrial.gov/ct/show/NCT00333866?order=13
Eli Lilly’s duloxetine (Cymbalta®)
Duloxetine is a drug approved as an anti-depressant that regulates two brain transmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine. Lilly’s recent trial of duloxetine (Cymbalta®) for patients with chronic pain and/or major depression indicated that for the Fibromyalgia patients, “80 percent of the observed effect on pain is a direct analgesic effect rather than an indirect antidepressant effect.” See an abstract of the November 2006 article “Efficacy of duloxetine in painful symptoms: An analgesic or antidepressant effect?” at http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/7382
Other recent reports on Lilly’s duloxetine trials for FM pain include “Duloxetine Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain: Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Management,” at http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/7037
And three Phase III studies of duloxetine for treatment of Fibromyalgia pain focused on comparative dosages and safety are listed as “No Longer Recruiting Patients” at ClinicalTrials.gov. (The drug is also being studied as a potential therapy for patients with CFS, RLS, IBS, low back pain, and more.)
Forest Laboratories’ Milnacipran®
Another serotonin/norepinephrine regulating drug that like duloxetine has been approved as an anti-depressant and is now completing Phase III FM pain trials is Forest Laboratories’ Milnacipran®. See for example “Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Cypress Bioscience, Inc. to Commence Third Milancipran Phase III Trial” at http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/6932
Abuse-Resistant Opioids Next?
Meanwhile, some new modes of pain relief that may prove effective for Fibromyalgia patients’ pain are hurrying through the clinical trial process. Just one example is Remoxy® – the first of DURECT Corporation’s two Oradur®-based “abuse-resistant opioid pain medicines” – now in Phase III trials. See “Positive Phase I Results Reported for DURECT’s Second Abuse-Resistant Opioid Pain Medicine,” at http://www.durect.com/wt/durect/page_name/pr_1164847961
Note: This information has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure any disease, condition, or illness. It is essential that you never make a change in your health support plan or regimen without thorough research and review in collaboration with your professional healthcare team.
by Editor
Fibromyalgia.com
11-22-2006
Research presented at the 2006 American College of Rheumatology Scientific Meeting points to significant, extended pain relief for many FM patients with the drug pregabalin (Lyrica®).
A series of large clinical trials at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, indicates the drug pregabalin (Lyrica®) - already approved in the U.S. to treat nerve pain and seizures - is also an effective pain relief therapy for many Fibromyalgia patients, with generally mild to moderate side-effects.
Further, the researchers report, their latest 6-1/2 month placebo controlled, double blinded study indicated that for a significant proportion of the FM patients the drug's therapeutic benefit endured for an extended period of time.
As Crofford, et al. explained in presenting their findings* to the annual American College of Rheumatology meeting in Washington, DC, November 10-15, 2006:
In Phase One, 1,051 Fibromyalgia patients received daily does of Pregabalin for 6 weeks. These patients had been diagnosed with FM for an average of 7.8 years, all had "washed out" other forbidden medications from their systems, and measured their baseline pain severity at an average of 78 on the 100-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS). This overall study cohort was 93 percent female and 88 percent white, with an average age of 50 years.
The patients received daily doses of either 300, 450, or 600 mg, depending on which proved best given tracking of the individual's pain control/medication tolerance.
At the end of the six-week program, 63 percent (663 of the 1,051) reported a reduction in pain severity of more than 50 percent - and assessed their pain as either "much improved" or "very much improved." But how much of this was owing to a common phenomenon - the "placebo effect," reflecting patients' belief that the therapy is working? And would the drug's pain relieving effect endure for an extended period? A second phase was designed to help answer these questions.
In Phase Two, which lasted 6-1/2 months (26 weeks), 556 of the patients who had reported pain reduction of more than 50 percent were randomly assigned to receive either the optimal dose of pregabalin they'd received in Phase One, or a daily placebo (fake) dose. The assignment was "double-blinded," which means neither the patients nor the researchers who worked with them knew during Phase Two which patients were taking pregabalin and which the fake dose.
Then the researchers conducted ongoing VAS pain severity scoring, to determine the extent to which patients in the pregabalin and placebo groups maintained their initial pain improvement over time. They defined "loss of therapeutic response" as an increase of 30 percent vs. the patient's final Phase One VAS score - "or subjective worsening of FM symptoms" - for two consecutive weekly visits.
Overall, at the end of Phase Two, the group receiving pregabalin was much more likely than the group receiving fake doses (68 percent versus 39 percent) to retain a significant positive improvement in FM pain compared with the pre-Phase One baseline.
The most common "adverse effects" noted among the 1,051 patients who received pregabalin during Phase One were somnolence/sleepiness (22 percent of participants) and dizziness (35 percent) - both "mostly mild to moderate in intensity."
And during the 6-1/2 month double blinded trial, the only adverse effects that were more common among the patients receiving pregabalin than those receiving placebo doses were sinusitis (5 percent of the pregabalin patients, 3 percent of the placebo patients) and arthralgia/joint pain and anxiety (5 percent of the pregabalin patients, 2 percent of the placebo patients).
Although two of the 1,501 participants died during the study, their deaths were not considered associated with the treatment.
_______
* See an abstract of the presentation - "A Six-month, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Durability of Effect Study of Pregabalin for Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia," by L.J. Crofford, et al., at http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/7521
Cold Laser Therapy
Other common name(s): Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Low Power Laser Therapy (LPLT), Soft Laser, Biostimulation Laser, Therapeutic Laser, Laser Acupuncture
Scientific/medical name(s): None
Description/Overview
The term cold laser refers to the use of low-intensity or low levels of laser light. Proponents claim that cold laser therapy can reduce pain and inflammation. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers these laser devices investigational (experimental), and allows them to be used in studies based on some evidence that they may provide temporary pain relief. Cold laser treatment is thought to help some types of pain, inflammation, and wound healing, although stronger proof is needed. These lasers are used directly on or over the affected area.
Cold lasers are also sometimes used for acupuncture, with laser beams to stimulate the body's acupoints rather than needles (see Acupuncture). This treatment regimen appeals to those who want acupuncture but who fear the pain of needles.
Cold laser therapy providers advertise this method as a way to help people quit smoking, and some TV stations have reported this as news. The treatment is supposed to relax the smoker and release endorphins (naturally-occurring pain relief substances) in the body to simulate the effects of nicotine in the brain, or balance the body’s energy to relieve the addiction. Despite claims of success by some cold laser therapy providers, there is no scientific evidence that shows this is an effective method of helping people stop smoking.
There is a great deal of variation in types of lasers that are used and how they are used. Some devices do not have the output that they promise, and others are little more than light-emitting diodes (LED lights). Some advertise that they can help herpes, high blood pressure, migraines, wrinkles, cerebral palsy, and other conditions for which there is little or no evidence. The FDA forbids statements that a treatment can help or cure diseases if scientific studies have not found it to be true. It has warned at least one seller of low level lasers to stop making such claims.
Well-controlled scientific studies are underway using reliable low level laser devices for pain, wounds, injuries, and other conditions. Certain types of cold laser treatment may eventually become part of conventional medical care.
This method should not be confused with conventional laser surgery, which is used as a valid treatment for some cancers. Hot lasers may be used to shrink or destroy tumors on the skin or on the surfaces of internal organs. They are sometimes used to remove colon polyps or tumors that are blocking the windpipe, colon, or stomach. They can help relieve symptoms of cancer, such as bleeding. Laser surgery for cancer is usually combined with other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Additional Resources
More Information from Your American Cancer Society
The following information on complementary and alternative therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
* Guidelines for Using Complementary and Alternative Methods
* How to Know What Is Safe: Choosing and Using Dietary Supplements
* American Cancer Society Operational Statement on Complementary and Alternative Methods of Cancer Management
References
National Cancer Institute. Lasers in Cancer Treatment: Questions and Answers. Available online at http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/7_8.htm. Accessed 5/5/05.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Energy Medicine: An Overview. Available online at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/energymed.htm. Accessed 3/11/05.
Rindge D. Laser Acupuncture. Acupuncture Today. 2005 May; 06(5). Available online at http://www.acupuncture today.com. Accessed 5/4/05.
Swedish Laser Medical Society. Laser World Web Site. Available online at http://www.laser.nu/lllt/LLLT_critic2_on_critics.htm. Accessed 5/5/05.
Tuner J. Low level lasers in dentistry. Laser World Website. Available online at http://www.laser.nu/index.htm. Accessed 5/5/05.
US Food and Drug Administration. Laser Facts. Available online at: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/laserfacts.html. Accessed 5/5/05.
White AR, Rampes H, Ernst E. Acupuncture for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(2). CD000009.
White AR, Rampes H, Campbell JL. Acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD000009.
Note: This information may not cover all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is familiar with your medical situation.
Revised: 03/23/2006
Information about Buying a Cold Laser Below:
LTU 1000 Laser Treatment therapy unit - Pain Management
Buy now and receive 30% off ($300 value) and FREE shipping!
Arthritis, fibromyalgia, back and neck pain can be extremely difficult to control. With this in mind, we've done extensive research to find you a tool to help with pain management. We've found the LTU 1000 Laser Treatment to be an excellent treatment for pain for a variety of conditions.
LTU 1000 Laser Treatment Benefits:
* Versatile: Treats chronic and acute pain conditions in every part of the body; back and neck pain, muscle and joint pain, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, busitis, neuropathy, migraine headaches, sprains and strains, carpal tunnel and other RSIs, TMJ, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), and many, many others. Reduces inflammation and scarring.
* Effective: The laser, at 680 nanometers and 1 milliwatt, mimics solar radiation, producing collagen and Vitamin D, and increasing epithelial cell activity and capillary blood vessel formation at the treatment site. The electric pulse delivers150 millivolts at a width of 80MHz, matching the pulse at which the body perceives pain, thus increasing serotonin levels. The body is guided into healing itself as pain is alleviated.
* Safe: Non-thermal and non-invasive, the LTU-1000 is an FDA-approved Class II device.
* Convenient: Fits in your pocket or on your belt; Simple to use; Powered by three 1.5 volt N batteries. Use anywhere in your office, by yourself or another assistant.
* Economical: Insurance reimbursable; Saves money, time, and energy. Adds new income to your practice; One year warranty.
* Better: The LTU-1000 is the most advanced technology on the market today. As the only device combining cold laser and electric stimulation, it is most effective in healing and eliminating pain.
* Practice-Builder: Your patients will be so pleased by relief from long-standing pain, they will surely tell friends, relatives, colleagues, and neighbors.
People that have used the LTU 1000 Laser Treatment have reported rapid pain relief, reduction of swelling and inflammation, increased mobility or range of motion, immediate analgesia and improved sleep quality.
The LTU 1000 Laser Treatment has proven to be an excellent treatment for carpal tunnel by reducing inflammation when focusing on points in the wrist in three to eight 30-second sessions.
Laser Specifications:
* Wavelength 670nm
* Power density 100mW/cm2
* Frequency 22ml sec
* Power <1mW
* Class 2 laser
Tens Specifications:
* Amplitude 150V
* Pulse width 3 - 80 usec adjustable
* Frequency 22 msec
* Pulse repetition rate 45Hz
Manual: LTU 1000 Manual
Standard CPT Codes for use of the LTU 1000 Laser Treatment:
* Manual electrical stimulation: 97032
* Neuro-muscular re-education: 97112
The LTU 1000 Laser Treatment includes a hard plastic case, electrostatic gel, batteries (1.5v Sum5 R1), and treatment protocols and practices.
It's small and compact fitting right in your shirt pocket.
Click here to see what others are saying about the LTU 1000 Laser Treatment.
12 month warranty.
Compared to most laser tens treatments that cost more than $5000.
Buy now and receive 30% off ($300 value) plus FREE Ground Shipping
Enter "LTU" as your ActiveForever Buyer's Pass code in the shopping cart to receive this special offer.
http://www.activeforever.com/Products.asp?Action=View&ID=1036&source=google-adwords
This site lists laser pain clinics
http://md.laserpainclinics.com/?gclid=CK_AovDag4kCFQU-UAod5EBZRQ
