I've just received the latest newsletter from our ME/FM Society and I was interested in a couple of things that it said about recent developments.... thought I'd just pass them on.
1. FM patients have 3 to 4 times higher levels that normal of substance P, a central nervous system neurotransmitter involved in pain processing but they also have lower levels of substances that diminish pain sensation, such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.
2. The pain of FM is not occurring because of some injury or inflammation of the muscles or joints. There is something wrong with the way the central nervous system is processing pain from the peripheral tissues. It's overamplifying the pain.
3. An under-active thyroid is 3 to 12 times more common with the FMS.
4. The lack of uniformity of FM body pain argues strongly for peripheral contributors to overal FM pain. Thus tonic impulse input from peripheral tissues may play an important role in FM pain.
5. Serotonin can affect perception and awareness; serotonin depletion has been linked to learning disfunction in rats. Certainly depression, a state frequently resulting from reduced serotonin levels, involves lessened ability to concentrate and remember, both of which are necessary to actively make use of new material.
6. Book recommended - LIVING WELL WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME AND FIBROMYLGIA by Mary J. Shomon is for sale at [link= http://www.amazon.ca ]www.amazon.ca[/link]
7. National ME/FM Day in B.C. - May 12th
All of the above are direct quotes from the newsletter.
I found this a particularly useful newsletter this time and feel that there has been some progress made toward finding out what causes these symptoms that we call Fibromyalgia. Once that is known, they can look for a cure...
That being said, I have found out something interesting for myself (you probably already know this but it's new to me so please bear with me...).
I discovered what peace can do for me in fighting the pain, fibro fog and the like. I learned something at a relaxing workshop. The lady conducting it was playing some very nice quiet music and talking very low.
My home is often noisy - at least for me and I have found that this really makes matters worse for me. I have now instituted at least an hour a day in my frontroom, relaxing in my recliner and listening to a disk that has water running with this absolutely lovely flute is playing something magical.
This 'moment' of peace seems to extend long after itself. I still have pain, nausea, headache and stiffness - but it seems less intrusive. It lasted well into the night and I had the first good night's sleep I have had in a long time. It worked again the second night.
I have had to stop my pill the dr gave me for the tendenitis in my rotator cuff as it was making me really sick so now I am on nothing but I'm doing okay. I think the 'moment' of peace is the cause.
Take care,
TEMA
p.s. I have also stopped drinking diet pop. My son told me it was toxic and I believe he is right.
RE: Fibromyalgia - exercise when young
A new person responding here - over all the years I have suffered from fibro I find that rest and relaxation is the best thing for me.
Interestingly, to add to your list of things, when I was diagnosed, the doctor said to me that over-straining muscles when young (by gymnasts, dancers etc) was often a factor. I was a dancer until my late 20's, starting, as you do, at the age of 3 and can remember being virtually shoved down into splits or pushing my legs higher and higher in a standing position. So maybe there is something in that.