Massage for Fibromyalgia

When I was diagnosed with fibro, and made the decision to try the alternative and natural treatment route, I read about the benefits of massage for fibromyalgia. I started with a really good local massage therapist, with short sessions initially. We worked up to longer sessions. I would go over 2- 4 weeks, but I made the committment. I noticed that it did make a difference in making me feel better overall. My health improved, my body pain lessened. 5 years later, I am still committed to monthly massages. When I get busy and wait too long (oops 5 or 6 weeks go by) I can feel it for sure and need it to get back on track. Sue points to the benefits of massage for fibro here, among other fibro health tips:

http://rebuildingwellness.com/healthy-treats-or-treatments/

Fibro Comments - How to React to Others

Great Advice here on how to respond to those not so pleasant comments from others about fibro (I'm a big fan of Sue Ingebretson and her books, author of this post here):

http://www.prohealth.com/fibromyalgia/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=19025&B1=EM070314F

Autism and Fibromyalgia Link?

This article is super interesting. I have read studies before about the rertovirus / XMRV an the links between it and fibro and autism. I hope scientists continue their studies and find some more conclusive evidence of what is causing, but it seems like they are headed in the right directions!

http://www.endfatigue.com/health_articles_c/Cfs_fm-treating_autism_and_cfs_fibromyalgia_with_acetyl-l-carnitine.html

Share Your Fibromyalgia with Congress

A letter from Janet Favero Chambers, President National Fibromalgia & Chronic Pain Association

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS HERE TODAY


Speak up!

We need to tell Congress FM is important and needs more research. Congress is currently deciding which pain conditions need more attention and research. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is the official group that is weighing which pain conditions are most deserving of attention from Congress and the National Institutes of Health. This is the opportunity the Fibromyalgia community has been waiting for – it is our opportunity to educate Congress about the challenges of living with fibromyalgia.  They do not know the realities of living with Fibromyalgia. Your story has never been more important. Please spend a few minutes of your time completing the above Pain Research Public Comment form.

Things that would be very important to share-
• things that prevent you from getting pain care,
• costs of pain care,
• the need for scientific research on pain, especially the need for treatments that work and don't make you feel bad, and
• the need to educate  all health care professionals about chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

Comments are due by Monday, April 4.  Please act today.

Make a difference for all of us living with Fibromyalgia—
share your story today.
The National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association is fully supportive of this effort.  I represent FM on the Pain Care Forum Subcommittee on Training & Education in Washington, D.C. and know that the information the IOM receives will directly influence its recommendations to the U.S. Congress.  By mandate from the U.S. Congress, the National Institutes of Health will respond to these recommendations by developing the type and amount of pain research for many years to come.   
We need many people to come forward with their stories to help us achieve our goals of increased research by the NIH and increased education for doctors who are treating patients with FM and related pain conditions. We will keep you up to date on the outcome of the IOM’s recommendations. 
As a member of the Pain Care Forum, I will continue to ensure that the voice of the Fibromyalgia and overlapping conditions community is always heard.  Thank you very much for submitting the public comment form for the IOM.  Would you please also pass along your name and email address along to me so I can keep you up to date on this important issue as I do my work in D.C.   As always with this type of communication, all correspondence with the NFMCPA is confidential and private.
Sincerely yours,
Jan Chambers

Janet Favero Chambers, President
National Fibromalgia & Chronic Pain Association

I heart my massages!

I get a massage 1-2 times a month, and this has REALLY helped my fibro pains and my overall health. Here are more benefits for getting massages:

http://www.qualityhealth.com/featured-article-segment?fa=104427&rf=45458&mc=&ct=43594

1. Less anxiety and depression
2. Lower levels of pain (!!!!! -- yes! Has helped with my fibro and migraines!)
3. Better immune function
4. Easier cancer treatment
5. Lower blood pressure
6. Deeper sleep
7. Better athletic performancec
8. Higher self-esteem
9. Increased growth for babies

Try Something New - Yoga Moves to Help with Pain

This is an awesome article, yay yoga! Yoga keeps me moving, and at the same time calms me and helps me sleep better. I feel more balanced and centered in life. I encourage everyone to give it a try. It is just enough for me and my fibro, and I can take it further if I need to or scale back as needed, and I have found moves to do in place of some that I just cannot do while the rest of the class is doing. A lot of people have joined in the class I am in, new year's resolutions to try something new :)

These are great examples of how practicing yoga can help with pain, it has helped me tremendously:

http://dailywd.womansday.com/blog/2010/09/daily-dose-yoga-moves-for-pain-relief-.html

Is it Fibro?

This is a good article for the newly diagnosed to read, just to make sure another diagnosis has not been overlooked:

http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/130580/fibromyalgia?ic=6042

She touches, more in depth, on these conditions which can have similar symptoms to fibro:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome -- most fibromites unfortunately do have CFS, in addition to their fibro :(

Lupus -- A rheumatologist can run blood tests to confirm

Hypothyroidism -- An endocrinologist can run tests to verify

Arthritis -- A rheumatologist can run tests (usually xrays and bone scans to see if you've had damage to bones, cartilidge from arthritis.) Fibromyalgia feels like arthritis in some people, but fibromyalgia does not actually affect or damage the bones and cartilidge in any way.

Depression --  Unfortunately this too often correlates along with fibro. :(

Multiple Sclerosis -- Can be diagnosed by a neurologist with tests like MRI.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica -- A form of arthritis which can be diagnosed with blood tests.