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FIBROMYALGIA / RHEUMATISM

Fibromyalgia is defined as the inflammation of the body’s connective tissues and it is characterized by generalized muscle pain, constant fatigue and localized tenderness at certain points of the body. Also known as rheumatism, the medical establishment prefers the terms fibrositis, fibromyalgia, and fibromyositis.

Causes and symptoms

There is no known single cause of fibromyalgia. Medical researchers believe that the condition may be genetic or be dependent on where you happen to live. The three common symptoms of fibromyalgia are muscle pain, joint pain, stiffness and fatigue.

Pain for no apparent reason is the most predominant symptom of fibromyalgia. A person will suffer aches and stiffness in multiple muscle groups. Their joints will also hurt and there will be tenderness in the soft tissue areas of their body. This pain will move from one part of the body to another with the most common occurrences being in the hands, neck, shoulders, chest, legs, hips, and back.

The symptoms of fatigue that a person with fibromyalgia experiences can come from two different factors: first the chronic pain and stiffness will disturb the sleeping patterns and wear a person out, and secondly the inflammatory conditions end up producing certain enzymes that are known to cause fatigue.

There are some additional symptoms that a person can suffer from including diarrhea, tension headaches, trouble swallowing, numbness, tingling sensations in the extremities and recurrent abdominal pain. The symptoms of fibromyalgia will actually become more prevalent during stress, anxiety, depression, and lack of sleep.

Who is at risk

The most at risk group for getting fibromyalgia are women of child bearing age. The elderly also have a high risk of suffering from this condition.  Men and children are least likely to get it, but there are some that do suffer from it.

Diagnosis

Since the symptoms are rather vague and generalized, diagnosis for fibromyalgia is oftentimes difficult and incorrect. Other nerve and muscle disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis may further complicate diagnosis. AS of now, there is now test available to pinpoint fibromyalgia and the condition is mostly diagnosed through the ruling out of other condition. Recently, fibromyalgia has been linked being stress related and many medical practitioners now label it as a psychological condition although there is a debate whether or not this is a correct diagnosis.

Treatment

There is no known cure for fibromyalgia. Doctors and patients usually resort to finding way to help alleviate the symptoms.

Healthy living is seen as one way to reduce the symptoms. Daily exercise, sufficient rest, managing stress and a change in diet have all helped sufferers cope better with the condition. A clean diet that excludes things like coffee, red meat, processed foods and foods that are difficult to digest and replaces them with fresh fruits and vegetables has shown promise. Vitamin supplements and adding certain herbal supplements such as ginger, ginseng ginkgo biloba and garlic to your diet will also help.

Daily aerobic exercises that raise the heart rate to a good level and get the blood pumping are also very helpful. When exercising, care must be taken not to do things that might cause added muscle and joint pain. For example, if you lift weights, do more repetitions of the minimum as opposed to maxing out. It is also important to warm up and cool off after each exercise session.

Most conventional doctors will turn to medications and perhaps physiotherapy. Medications in the form of muscle relaxants and antidepressants have been helpful to some, but they are not a long term solution. Analgesic should also be used sparingly.

Massage has also been shown to be very useful in helping to alleviate the symptoms and so have acupuncture and acupressure. Other alternative therapies are also available that seem to work well.

Prognosis

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition whose symptoms tend to improve then suddenly worsen. The condition can last for months, even years and consulting a doctor as soon as you think you might be suffering from it is a good idea.


RHEUMATISM DIET

In Rheumatism, inflammation of the joints, limbs and organ is one of the main sources of pain and discomfort that come with the condition. Eating certain foods can help reduce this inflammation and lessen the symptoms of pain. Also, avoiding other foods that cause inflammation can also help. Here are some simple dietary do’s and do not’s that can help you better cope with the pain causing inflammation that comes with rheumatic conditions.

Diet do's:

Eat a lot of fish, fat fish are especially helpful since they are high in the fatty acids that you need to deal with inflammation. Fish oil, olive oil, walnut oil and raps oil also contain the omega-3-poly-unsaturated fat and omega-9-poly-unsaturated fats that your body needs to fight inflammation. Also if you choose to supplement your diet with these fats, be sure to limit your intake of other fats since you do want to get too much fat.

Vegetables, fresh and raw are also great at helping your body chemistry adjust and reduce inflammation.

Diet do not's:

The fat in the soy oil and corn oil have been shown to increase inflammation.  Unfortunately, prepackaged and restaurant food usually contain this type of fat making eating out a troublesome venture. Cooking all your food yourself is one of the best ways to ensure these oils do not creep into your diet.

Products made of corn or cereals such as bread or cold cereal, have also shown to increase inflammation in rheumatic conditions. Products that contain wheat are especially bad, causing an inflammation in the intestines known as celiac disease.  Wheat products have also been known to induce inflammation of a non-celiac type.  However, full corn products do contain some valuable nutrient, and should not be completely eliminated from your diet. Instead, reduce your intake of bread or corn products and eat more potatoes, beans, and carrots.

Fat that has been chemically altered or had its consistency changed should be avoided at all costs. This type of fat is bad for your overall health and is suspected of being one of the main culprits in bodily inflammation. Stay away from margarine, snack foods, and prepackaged baked goods which generally contain this type of fat. Bread is also known to contain this type of fat, making baking it yourself a good idea.
 

HEALTH TIPS

Fibromyalgia has no known cure. Therefore, doctors (and the patients themselves) have to look to alleviating the symptoms.

  • One’s daily exercise will include various forms of aerobic exercise, with getting the heart rate to good levels, for 20 minutes or more.
  • Care must be made not to do exercises that could cause additional muscle and joint pain (i.e. if you are lifting weights, use minimums instead of maximums).
  • Warm up and cool off at each exercise session.
  • From medications, some muscle relaxants and antidepressants have been helpful, but are not good for the long term. Analgesics should be used sparingly.

BEAUTY TIP

Include in your daily life exercise, sufficient rest, lessons in stress management, and a “clean” diet.

A clean diet will exclude coffee, red meat, processed food, and other difficult digestible foods, but include a multitude of fresh fruits and vegetables. Vitamin supplements are also helpful. Ginger, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, and garlic are also helpful.

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