If you are currently suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome, then you probably spend a lot of your time worrying about your fibromyalgia symptoms, including widespread pain, chronic fatigue, and sleep difficulties. Unfortunately, for people with fibromyalgia there is also another complication that you need to contend with - osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes your bones to become weak and brittle. This can leave you at risk for multiple fractures and even permanent disability. A large percentage of fibromyalgia patients develop osteoporosis, so it is a good idea to find out more about the disease and how it can be treated.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to become thin and brittle. This leaves you at a high risk of developing bone fractures or breaks that could end up causing you even more pain and disability. As you grow, you gradually lose bone mass throughout your body. This bone mass is typically replaced, in order to keep you healthy and strong. As you age though, bone replacement can’t keep up with bone loss. Osteoporosis only adds to this bone loss, increasing the likelihood that you will suffer from painful fractures in areas like your hip, wrists, and spine. Osteoporosis does get worse over time, so it is essential that you find appropriate treatment from your health care provider.
Fibromyalgia and Osteoporosis
Fibromyalgia seems to be associated with osteoporosis. A large percentage of fibromyalgia patients suffer from decreased bone mass, leading to bone fractures. A variety of studies have been performed on this topic. In these studies, Fibromyalgia sufferers show lower-than-normal bone mass in their necks, spinal columns, and hips. This is particularly true if you have fibromyalgia and are between the ages of 51 and 60.
It is thought that fibromyalgia sufferers get osteoporosis because of reduced growth hormones. Fibromyalgia syndrome suppresses the production of growth hormone, thus limiting the production of bone. As a result, bones become very fragile and osteoporotic.
What Causes Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis usually develops as a result of a variety of factors. The causes of osteoporosis include:
•calcium deficiency, due to poor diet
•old age
•loss of estrogen, due to menopause, period irregularities, or eating disorders
•certain diseases, including Cushing’s Syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis
•genetics
Who Gets Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis currently affects about 40 million Americans. It can affect both men and women, though women are much more likely to develop the disease because of the role that estrogen plays in bone formation. Certain factors can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, including:
•being over the age of 50
•having family members who have had osteoporosis
•being a smoker
•being of non-Hispanic Caucasian or Asian descent
•taking certain drugs, such as prednisone and certain anticonvulsants
Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Unfortunately, symptoms of osteoporosis are difficult to detect in its early stages. This is why osteoporosis is often referred to as "the silent disease". Most people generally don’t realize that they have osteoporosis until they suffer from a break or fracture. Severe osteoporosis is generally associated with:
•fractures of the wrist, vertebrae, or hip
•repeated fractures
•neck pain or back pain
•tender bones
•decreased height
•poor posture
Osteoporosis Treatment
Osteoporosis can be treated in an effort to reduce further bone loss or to encourage bone growth. Treatment is recommended for sufferers in order to increase mobility, comfort, and prevent further fractures. Treatment for osteoporosis includes:
Exercise: Exercise can strengthen the muscles and increase bone mass. Weight bearing exercise like walking and jogging are recommended.
Calcium Replacement: Calcium is necessary to bone health. Calcium supplements can be given to encourage bone formation and increase bone strength.
Medications: There is a wide variety of medication available to treat osteoporosis. Some commonly used medications are:
•estrogen replacement therapy
•calcitonin, to prevent fractures
•bisphosphonates, to slow bone loss
•teriparatide, to stimulate bone formation
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Smoking Makes Fibromyalgia Symptoms Worse
Two unrelated studies show that smoking cigarettes and using tobacco in other forms appears to make fibromyalgia symptoms more severe.
In a Mayo Clinic study, people using tobacco in any form had higher pain-intensity scores on the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, had fewer good days, and missed more days of work.
In a Turkish study, cigarette smokers with fibromyalgia had more severe symptoms and higher rates of anxiety and depression.
A new study out of Korea provides further evidence that smoking can heighten symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Researchers looked at how cigarette smoking impacted pain, fatigue, function and psychiatric features of fibromyalgia. When compared to non-smoking fibromyalgia patients, the smokers had more tender points, and female smokers were more likely to be depressed.
Researchers didn't determine why smoking was linked to depression, so the question remains: does smoking worsen depressive symptoms, or are depressed people more likely to smoke?
Previous studies have shown that tobacco use appears to heighten fibromyalgia pain, lead to fewer good days and more missed work. At least one has also linked smoking to higher rates of anxiety and depression.
It remains unclear whether kicking the habit can help improve symptoms, although it could certainly improve overall health.
Do you smoke? Have you quit smoking or using tobacco since you developed fibromyalgia? Did it help? Do you think smoking makes it easier to deal with some of your symptoms? Leave your comments below!
check out The V2 electronic cigarette is technology's answer to the smoking epidemic. V2 electronic cigarettes offer an authentic cigarette experience without the tar, smoke, ash and thousands of toxins typically found in tobacco cigarettes. The key to the technology is the elimination of combustion. V2 Electronic cigarettes do not burn to create smoke like traditional cigarettes. The V2 electronic cigarette is a personal vaporizer device. V2's proprietary nicotine liquid is literally atomized into a vapor/steam at comparatively low temperatures when compared to burning tobacco. The vapor feels and tastes like smoke, though it is anything but smoke. V2 vapor contains no tar and no carbon monoxide. Your lungs will feel the difference!
www.v2cigs.com
i use this my self and have noticed a difference. this is the 2nd leading company that makes them. there are manny other companys and i did try 1 other and got riped off. not all v-cigs are the same. if you smoke i recomd you use a v-cig and follow there quite program. im doing great and ill keep you all informed on my prograss.
In a Mayo Clinic study, people using tobacco in any form had higher pain-intensity scores on the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, had fewer good days, and missed more days of work.
In a Turkish study, cigarette smokers with fibromyalgia had more severe symptoms and higher rates of anxiety and depression.
A new study out of Korea provides further evidence that smoking can heighten symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Researchers looked at how cigarette smoking impacted pain, fatigue, function and psychiatric features of fibromyalgia. When compared to non-smoking fibromyalgia patients, the smokers had more tender points, and female smokers were more likely to be depressed.
Researchers didn't determine why smoking was linked to depression, so the question remains: does smoking worsen depressive symptoms, or are depressed people more likely to smoke?
Previous studies have shown that tobacco use appears to heighten fibromyalgia pain, lead to fewer good days and more missed work. At least one has also linked smoking to higher rates of anxiety and depression.
It remains unclear whether kicking the habit can help improve symptoms, although it could certainly improve overall health.
Do you smoke? Have you quit smoking or using tobacco since you developed fibromyalgia? Did it help? Do you think smoking makes it easier to deal with some of your symptoms? Leave your comments below!
check out The V2 electronic cigarette is technology's answer to the smoking epidemic. V2 electronic cigarettes offer an authentic cigarette experience without the tar, smoke, ash and thousands of toxins typically found in tobacco cigarettes. The key to the technology is the elimination of combustion. V2 Electronic cigarettes do not burn to create smoke like traditional cigarettes. The V2 electronic cigarette is a personal vaporizer device. V2's proprietary nicotine liquid is literally atomized into a vapor/steam at comparatively low temperatures when compared to burning tobacco. The vapor feels and tastes like smoke, though it is anything but smoke. V2 vapor contains no tar and no carbon monoxide. Your lungs will feel the difference!
www.v2cigs.com
i use this my self and have noticed a difference. this is the 2nd leading company that makes them. there are manny other companys and i did try 1 other and got riped off. not all v-cigs are the same. if you smoke i recomd you use a v-cig and follow there quite program. im doing great and ill keep you all informed on my prograss.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Fibromyalgia in Children
I have just been told that my child has Fibro so im starting a child section.
Fibromyalgia affects over 5 million Americans. About one in six of those are under 18. Fibromyalgia was once considered an adult disorder, but that’s obviously not true. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by fatigue, stiffness in many areas, tenderness in at least 11 out of 18 pressure points which are located in the hips, thighs, buttocks, neck and chest. Fibromyalgia does not show up on laboratory diagnostics such as x-rays, blood tests and scans. Therefore, a person with this condition will test normal while feeling less than that. It’s important to note that the criterion for diagnosis of FMS in children is a little different from that of adults. Only 5 - 11 tender points need to be sensitive for a child to be deemed fibromyalgic.
Girls are more likely to develop this condition than boys. The symptoms of FMS usually start during adolescence, which occurs roughly between the ages of 13 – 15. Children with sleep disturbances are more likely to become fibromyalgic as are those with preexisting conditions such as Raynaud’s Phenomenon, PMS, irritable bowel syndrome and restless leg syndrome. Although no one yet knows how this condition is triggered, it is known to have a genetic component. So, if you are a parent with FMS, your child is more likely to develop the condition too.
Of course, it’s hard for a parent to watch their child struggle. Because children don’t know how to quantify or qualify pain, many of us have a hard time understanding just how much pain our child is dealing with. Complaints of chronic pain should not be ignored or dismissed as ‘mere growing pains.’ Many experts know now that it shouldn’t hurt to grow. If it does, then your child may need some medical attention.
The good news about juvenile fibromyalgia is that it is treatable and, the prognosis for the condition in children is more favorable than it is with adults. Some studies have shown that children improve more rapidly than adults with fibromyalgia and, in some instances, may even outgrow the syndrome.
Treatments for fibromyalgia in children include: education, therapy, medication and exercise. If your child has fibromyalgia, chances are you’ll have some explaining to do. Fibromyalgia is a difficult enough condition to grasp if you are an adult who has it. You and your doctor will need to talk honestly with the child and give him or her age-appropriate facts. This requires that you have more than a working knowledge of the condition. There are a variety of internet-based support groups as well as more formal, face-to-face groups that can help you learn about and deal with this condition. There are also a variety of books, pamphlets and brochures you can browse through too. Your doctor and/or specialist will most likely provide you with reading materials and a basic overview of the condition.
Soon, you will find that you and your family will be living with the condition day-to-day (or day-by-day may be more like it, especially at first). It’s imperative that your entire family maintains as normal a lifestyle as possible while still being sensitive to your ill child’s needs. That’s a delicate balance to maintain. Depending upon the severity of the child’s condition, you may need to adjust his or her schedule by changing or eliminating certain activities.
Priorities will probably change. Unfortunately, the child should never be made to feel that they are to blame for the condition or these lifestyle changes. Others may think and say that he is just lazy or she’s faking it to get out of certain activities, but you, as the parent, will have to hold firm and be an advocate for your child. Fibromyalgia is a painful and debilitating condition. It’s no joke and your child may be facing criticism at school, on the playground and just about everywhere else. Home should be a safe haven for him or her.
Therapy may be necessary for your child especially if they are exhibiting signs of depression. It’s best to choose a therapist who has expertise in dealing with chronic illnesses so that they can assist your child in dealing with the negative feelings they may have. Family counseling may benefit everyone because the child isn’t facing fibromyalgia alone. The condition does affect the entire family and may cause tension. Having an objective third-party to intervene will usually improve the situation.
Therapy can also help the fibromyalgic child cope with tension and/or stress in more healthy ways. Many children with this condition don’t know how to manage their stress and are often high-achievers who try to do too much. They are also hard on themselves and may be prone to other self-esteem related problems too. Some studies have shown that therapy, specifically of the cognitive-behavioral type, can help improve fibromyalgia symptoms in some children. Therapy can also help to alleviate the anxiety and depression symptoms which often accompany this disease.
Antidepressants such as Elavil, which is of the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) variety, are often given to fibromyalgics to help decrease the intensity of the pain and improve the quality of the child’s sleep. Restoring normal sleep rhythms is a major goal of the treatment process as it can improve many of the symptoms of this condition.
Muscle relaxants like Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) also help stimulate sleep, much like antidepressants do. They generally work in conjunction with each other and pain medications such as NSAIDs. NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen and Motrin. Each of these medications can have negative interactions with others so, if your child is prescribed anything, it is always best to make sure your doctor and/or specialist knows what other medications and supplements your child takes.
The final treatment that is common for juvenile fibromyalgia is exercise. Of course, the child is discouraged from overexerting him or herself; however, regular activity helps one in managing fibromyalgia quite significantly. Exercise improves cardiovascular health, and musculoskeletal fitness, which are all beneficial to the fibromyalgic child. Recommended activities include: brisk walking, bicycle riding, swimming, stretching and other low-impact, aerobic activities.
Although fibromyalgia manifests itself differently in children than it does in adults, the treatment options for juvenile fibromyalgics are quite similar to those of adults. Support, therapy, medication and exercise can improve your child’s lifelong emotional and physical fitness. Even if they don’t outgrow the condition, they will be better off for the coping mechanisms, support, love and healthy habits that they’ve learned as a result of these treatments.
Fibromyalgia affects over 5 million Americans. About one in six of those are under 18. Fibromyalgia was once considered an adult disorder, but that’s obviously not true. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by fatigue, stiffness in many areas, tenderness in at least 11 out of 18 pressure points which are located in the hips, thighs, buttocks, neck and chest. Fibromyalgia does not show up on laboratory diagnostics such as x-rays, blood tests and scans. Therefore, a person with this condition will test normal while feeling less than that. It’s important to note that the criterion for diagnosis of FMS in children is a little different from that of adults. Only 5 - 11 tender points need to be sensitive for a child to be deemed fibromyalgic.
Girls are more likely to develop this condition than boys. The symptoms of FMS usually start during adolescence, which occurs roughly between the ages of 13 – 15. Children with sleep disturbances are more likely to become fibromyalgic as are those with preexisting conditions such as Raynaud’s Phenomenon, PMS, irritable bowel syndrome and restless leg syndrome. Although no one yet knows how this condition is triggered, it is known to have a genetic component. So, if you are a parent with FMS, your child is more likely to develop the condition too.
Of course, it’s hard for a parent to watch their child struggle. Because children don’t know how to quantify or qualify pain, many of us have a hard time understanding just how much pain our child is dealing with. Complaints of chronic pain should not be ignored or dismissed as ‘mere growing pains.’ Many experts know now that it shouldn’t hurt to grow. If it does, then your child may need some medical attention.
The good news about juvenile fibromyalgia is that it is treatable and, the prognosis for the condition in children is more favorable than it is with adults. Some studies have shown that children improve more rapidly than adults with fibromyalgia and, in some instances, may even outgrow the syndrome.
Treatments for fibromyalgia in children include: education, therapy, medication and exercise. If your child has fibromyalgia, chances are you’ll have some explaining to do. Fibromyalgia is a difficult enough condition to grasp if you are an adult who has it. You and your doctor will need to talk honestly with the child and give him or her age-appropriate facts. This requires that you have more than a working knowledge of the condition. There are a variety of internet-based support groups as well as more formal, face-to-face groups that can help you learn about and deal with this condition. There are also a variety of books, pamphlets and brochures you can browse through too. Your doctor and/or specialist will most likely provide you with reading materials and a basic overview of the condition.
Soon, you will find that you and your family will be living with the condition day-to-day (or day-by-day may be more like it, especially at first). It’s imperative that your entire family maintains as normal a lifestyle as possible while still being sensitive to your ill child’s needs. That’s a delicate balance to maintain. Depending upon the severity of the child’s condition, you may need to adjust his or her schedule by changing or eliminating certain activities.
Priorities will probably change. Unfortunately, the child should never be made to feel that they are to blame for the condition or these lifestyle changes. Others may think and say that he is just lazy or she’s faking it to get out of certain activities, but you, as the parent, will have to hold firm and be an advocate for your child. Fibromyalgia is a painful and debilitating condition. It’s no joke and your child may be facing criticism at school, on the playground and just about everywhere else. Home should be a safe haven for him or her.
Therapy may be necessary for your child especially if they are exhibiting signs of depression. It’s best to choose a therapist who has expertise in dealing with chronic illnesses so that they can assist your child in dealing with the negative feelings they may have. Family counseling may benefit everyone because the child isn’t facing fibromyalgia alone. The condition does affect the entire family and may cause tension. Having an objective third-party to intervene will usually improve the situation.
Therapy can also help the fibromyalgic child cope with tension and/or stress in more healthy ways. Many children with this condition don’t know how to manage their stress and are often high-achievers who try to do too much. They are also hard on themselves and may be prone to other self-esteem related problems too. Some studies have shown that therapy, specifically of the cognitive-behavioral type, can help improve fibromyalgia symptoms in some children. Therapy can also help to alleviate the anxiety and depression symptoms which often accompany this disease.
Antidepressants such as Elavil, which is of the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) variety, are often given to fibromyalgics to help decrease the intensity of the pain and improve the quality of the child’s sleep. Restoring normal sleep rhythms is a major goal of the treatment process as it can improve many of the symptoms of this condition.
Muscle relaxants like Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) also help stimulate sleep, much like antidepressants do. They generally work in conjunction with each other and pain medications such as NSAIDs. NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen and Motrin. Each of these medications can have negative interactions with others so, if your child is prescribed anything, it is always best to make sure your doctor and/or specialist knows what other medications and supplements your child takes.
The final treatment that is common for juvenile fibromyalgia is exercise. Of course, the child is discouraged from overexerting him or herself; however, regular activity helps one in managing fibromyalgia quite significantly. Exercise improves cardiovascular health, and musculoskeletal fitness, which are all beneficial to the fibromyalgic child. Recommended activities include: brisk walking, bicycle riding, swimming, stretching and other low-impact, aerobic activities.
Although fibromyalgia manifests itself differently in children than it does in adults, the treatment options for juvenile fibromyalgics are quite similar to those of adults. Support, therapy, medication and exercise can improve your child’s lifelong emotional and physical fitness. Even if they don’t outgrow the condition, they will be better off for the coping mechanisms, support, love and healthy habits that they’ve learned as a result of these treatments.
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