Effect of Obesity On The Severity of Fibromyalgia

Back in 2010, a study published in the Journal of Pain suggested that overweight/obese persons with fibromyalgia syndrome had greater pain sensitivity, decreased quality of sleep, and reduced physical strength an flexibility. This might lead some to believe the combination of being overweight and having fibromyalgia is hopeless....

Interestingly enough, the study did not mention whether or not the subjects were overweight prior to their diagnosis, or if coping with the struggles of fibromyalgia led to weight gain. In either case, weight management has its benefits and it's always a good idea for all of us be cognizant of our weight and our eating habits...

Now, fast forward to 2014. In a study published in Rheumatology International, Castel et. al concluded that there is no real difference in response to multi modal treatment for fibromyalgia with respect to body weight/body mass index.

This is good news.....multi modal treatment of fibromyalgia seems to be equally effective for all, regardless of body weight. It's a good idea to consult with your health care team about weight loss and exercise programs you would like to pursue, just to make sure they are right for your own personal circumstances.

Sources:- *chronicfatigue.about.com

*wikimedia; *pixabay

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Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately? Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members. Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain. This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story. Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube

The Multimodal Approach to Pain Management

OK..so if you've been following this blog you will notice that there are a good number of ideas to help manage chronic pain. You might ask yourself, "Which one of these ideas is best for me ?" I would suggest that you might try any number of these things, depending on your level of ability/disability, health care team recommendations, and your personal interests. There are a number of reasons for doing this: 1) The patient is in control..with few exceptions, it is your decision what to try/not try and how many different things you want to experiment with at any time. 2) Non drug pain management ideas do not have any of the drug interactions or side effects that medications have. You may have to set limits or modify activity according to personal circumstances, but usually it does not hurt to try any of them. 3)You usually do not need a prescription for most of the ideas I have described. There are a few exceptions, such as physical therapy. There ...

Beware Of The Tick!

It's tick season, everyone! And while we all know about Lyme Disease and its lingering effects, a new problem has entered the scene. According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is another tick-borne disease that has recently been recognized. The CDC says symptoms become apparent anywhere from one week to one month after infection. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, problems with speech and seizures. Approximately half of those infected by this virus have permanent neurological symptoms, which can include muscle wasting, problems with memory, and recurrent headaches. Many people who have been infected with Powassan virus required hospitalization and sometimes even respiratory support (i.e., a respirator). Treatment is focused on supportive measures. In the meantime, preventive measures are the best way to avoid Lyme disease, Powassan virus , or any other tick-borne virus. You can read more about preventive measures by clicking here . Sour...

Everyday pain management ideas

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