Just read an article on the FM blog site called, "How is FM Population Determined?" I found it interesting that depending on where and when the sampling is done you can have such a large difference in numbers.
In a post I received today from the National FibroMyalgia and Chronic Pain Association(NFMCPA) I was amazed again at how low a percentage of people have FM world wide but we are one of the most discriminated group of people in the medical field of care. It all goes back to there not being a group of tests or lab that can support the symptoms and reasons for them. Here is a copy of the post.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 August 2011 02:30
Around the world, fibromyalgia (FM) affects approximately three (3) percent of the population. Characterized by widespread chronic pain, tender points, sleep abnormalities, morning stiffness, fatigue, diffuse tenderness, those with FM often have overlapping conditions such as TMJ, IBS, migraine headaches, and neck pain. Managed by the central nervous system, these signs and symptoms cause the "fight-flight-or freeze" of the autonomic nervous system to remain active. Amplification of sensory input occurs--a heightened sensitivity to sound, light, pain, and touch.
Does it hurt to stub a toe more to a person with FM than when a person without FM stubs his toe? The answer is unequivocally "yes." In research both positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) clearly show the increase of cerebral activation (painful experience) to a person with FM during the application of painful stimuli when compared to the same painful stimuli to a control subject. This generalized increase in pain sensitivity could be attributed to altered central pain processing.
1 comment:
Hi, I just stumbled across your post and felt the need to comment so here it is, just my 2 cents! When I read your posts it reminds me of how I felt two years ago; basically housebound, fatigued, joint pain, memory loss etc although the problems had been going on for some while before that. I went to my GP who, after many tests, diagnosed me with ME/CFS and said that there was nothing they could do really except manage pain etc.
I refused to accept that as I had four young chilren to look after and started on a long road of researching my illness and discovered that it was possible to be biochemically euthyroid but clinically hypothyroid and, as the symptoms were similar to mine, I decided to investigate futher and revisited my GP to ask for a trial of thyroxine. She said [reading between the lines] that it was more than her job was worth to give me a trial and referred me to a specialist consultant. He said that my suggestion was proposterous and that despite my symptoms and having an enlarged thyroid gland I wasn't hypothyroid however he would refer me to a colleague who was a psycologist with an intereest in fatigue....I said thanks but no thanks!
I also had doctors tell me to lose weight and exercise more and I would be OK...they didn't believe that I wasn't overeating and was physically incapable of exercising. It was heart rendering and humiliating. I even had one doctor say 'I don't know what is wrong with you but I know it's not hypothyroidism', can you believe it?
Anyway, research continued and I found a doctor who was basically standing up to the whole medical community and saying that is was possible to be biochemically euthyroid and clinically hypothyroid and he was willing to treat me. I am now taking thyroxine and liothyronine (T3) daily and am back to full health, thank God. I have to pay for my meds {I'm based in the UK and would normally receive my meds free on the NHS} which I can not really afford however, my GP still refuses to prescribe them for me...despite the fact that she feels I look great and am much better, go figure that one! Anyway what I am trying to say is that maybe, if you haven't already, you should investigate this route - it may not be your problem but I feel we should try all avenues, don't you? Don't give up searching for a cure, sometimes they are in the strangest of places. Please forgive the long post but keep well & God bless x
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