I have been sick for over a year now. I keep going to the doctor with no answers they keep treating the immediate problem and I am starting to think there is more of a major problem. Possibly Fibromyalgia. I have body ache, pain, disturbed sleep, exhaustion, stiffness when I wake up, tingling in my hands and legs. I know I need to see a Dr. I just want to know more about the disease and if there are any treatments to help it. Thanx Bunches!!!

Lynne Matallana, president and founder of the National Fibromyalgia Association, guest stars in The Doctors Show

Both autoimmune diseases, Fibromyalgia and MS are consistently crossing paths with each other. Autoimmune diseases often come in twos and threes so those that are diagnosed with one will often have another. Many times these two diseases are confused with each other, or sometimes fibromyalgia will precede a multiple sclerosis diagnosis by a few years. They share many similar symptoms however there are clear difference between these two diseases.

Fibromyalgia and MS share much of the same symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle stiffness, and loss of muscle function. Both conditions can be debilitating in their own way, and both share the tendency for sleep difficulties and fatigue. This can make it difficult sometimes to make a diagnosis, and for doctors that do not always do their homework often a misdiagnosis can occur for either one.

 Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia to date does not include any visual tests such as MRIs or blood tests, but is based on patient history, symptoms and the tender points test. This test identifies 18 tender points that are highly sensitive and painful when pressure is applied.

This is one of the places where fibromyalgia and MS differ; MS is a degenerative disease that is usually visibly detectable in MRIs and other tests. Multiple sclerosis causes damage to the myelin sheath around the spinal cord and this eventually causes nerve damage. This disease is usually progressive leaving some people unable to walk and the damage is permanent.

For those with fibromyalgia there is no collateral damage of this type, and while the symptoms are very real and painful, it is not degenerative in anyway. The real damage of fibromyalgia comes from the debilitating pain that can lead to a lack of activity, which along with depression can often lead to a slow progression of other disease processes that have recently been linked to fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia and MS often run in the same families, which is another reason they can be misdiagnosed. If you think you may have one disease or another be sure to see your doctor and work with him to get an accurate diagnosis, since the medical treatments for each disease are different it is important you get an accurate diagnosis. Thankfully both diseases respond well to treatment and changes in diet and exercise.

Both autoimmune diseases, Fibromyalgia and MS are consistently crossing paths with each other. Autoimmune diseases often come in twos and threes so those that are diagnosed with one will often have another. Many times these two diseases are confused with each other, or sometimes fibromyalgia will precede a multiple sclerosis diagnosis by a few years. They share many similar symptoms however there are clear difference between these two diseases.

Fibromyalgia and MS share much of the same symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, muscle stiffness, and loss of muscle function. Both conditions can be debilitating in their own way, and both share the tendency for sleep difficulties and fatigue. This can make it difficult sometimes to make a diagnosis, and for doctors that do not always do their homework often a misdiagnosis can occur for either one.

 Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia to date does not include any visual tests such as MRIs or blood tests, but is based on patient history, symptoms and the tender points test. This test identifies 18 tender points that are highly sensitive and painful when pressure is applied.

This is one of the places where fibromyalgia and MS differ; MS is a degenerative disease that is usually visibly detectable in MRIs and other tests. Multiple sclerosis causes damage to the myelin sheath around the spinal cord and this eventually causes nerve damage. This disease is usually progressive leaving some people unable to walk and the damage is permanent.

For those with fibromyalgia there is no collateral damage of this type, and while the symptoms are very real and painful, it is not degenerative in anyway. The real damage of fibromyalgia comes from the debilitating pain that can lead to a lack of activity, which along with depression can often lead to a slow progression of other disease processes that have recently been linked to fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia and MS often run in the same families, which is another reason they can be misdiagnosed. If you think you may have one disease or another be sure to see your doctor and work with him to get an accurate diagnosis, since the medical treatments for each disease are different it is important you get an accurate diagnosis. Thankfully both diseases respond well to treatment and changes in diet and exercise.

By: Gary P Owen

About the Author:

To begin…What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a term that has come into common use fairly recently. But before this, it was commonly referred to as a condition called soft-tissue rheumatism for one, there are others. Apparently these “old – fashioned” terms fell out of favor and common usage and the term Fibromyalgia came into vogue.

Fibromyalgia commonly affects women to a greater extent than men. Or perhaps men tend to comment or view their symptoms in a different way. This could also carry over to the doctor’s diagnosis.

Fibromyalgia means that you will experience pain over your entire body. It’s a dreadful diagnosis to hear and depressing to think that the established medical profession has no cure. They do have anti-depressants and a new “drug” has hit the market to ameliorate some of the symptoms. Nothing they offer will effect a cure for this painful condition.

Fibromyalgia often mimics other medical conditions. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is often mentioned in the same sentence with Fibromyalgia. Other conditions with similar complaints range anywhere from Allergies – Lupus – MS and others.

There is hope for people with Fibromyalgia. This does not have to be a lifetime sentence of pain – discomfort – disability – and endless prescriptions – worry and stress.

Simple lifestyle changes will bring a marked improvement. There is a natural cure for Fibromyalgia. It will require you to make some changes and you will have to stick to a healthy diet consisting of non-inflammatory foods. (Not starchy foods !) So many people confuse the two, thinking that if they eat breads, crackers, pasta etc. they avoid inflammatory foods. This is certainly NOT the case.

A moderate exercise program will need to be started.

You also need to be sure that your body is getting the proper nutrition it needs to begin the healing process, through good high quality supplements.

You will need to take some steps to ensure that your digestive system is healthy and working properly, so that you will be able to adequately absorb the valuable nutrition you need to begin healing.

There are many things to consider here – get to the bottom of WHY you are experiencing this condition and WHY you continue to suffer! If you are not feeling well – If you feel badly – Then what you are doing now is not working out for you – Maybe it’s time to make a change.

Would you be willing to make a few simple changes in your lifestyle, if it meant that your symptoms could be brought under control? Wouldn’t you rather be doing all the things you enjoy rather than organizing your life around your pain and prescriptions?

There are natural products and healthy living lifestyle steps you can take to begin to get your life back.

Natural cures for Fibromyalgia are logical – they make sense and Best of all – they WORK!

By: Helen Perkins

About the Author:

especially at night, the soles burn like fire and i am wondering if it’s from my fibromyalgia? anyone else have this problem?

Medicine is connected to my fibromyalgia.

Does anyone have any sugestions on how to get a good night sleep when you have Fibromyalgia? I take my Ultram and Aleve before I go to bed. I fall asleep fairly easy but within a few hours I am awake and hurting. I have to get out of bed and move around and then I start all over again with trying to get some sleep. Some night all I get is 1 to 2 hours of sleep and it is taking it’s toll on me.

My Mom suffers from Fibromyalgia and is frequently tired, weak and in pain everyday. She also has trouble with digesting food and often feels discomfort and bloating. Does her food issues have anything to do with her Fibromyalgia? If so/not, what are some tips she could use to ease her pain and boost her energy?