Fibromyalgia

"Fibromyalgia is the second most common rheumatic disorder behind osteoarthritis and, though still widely misunderstood, is now considered to be a lifelong central nervous system disorder, which is responsible for amplified pain that shoots through the body in those who suffer from it." Daniel Clauw, M.D., professor of Pain Management Anesthesiology, University of Michigan

United States
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published criteria for Fibromyalgia in 1990.

In 2010 a new US, ACR criteria was proposed and modified in 2011 with the modification being validated in 2013 and published in 2014. This new criteria has not been implemented as of 2015.

As of October 1, 2015, Medical Code "Fibromyalgia M79.7" is used in the US.

Other Diseases, Illnesses and Co-Morbids of Fibromyalgia

 * Fibromyalgia Includes Cognitive Symptoms - MedScape Medical News By: Norea MacReady "FM patients "often complain about the so-called 'Fibro-fog'".


 * Impaired Language in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Talking, Reading & Writing About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS By: Adrienne Dellwo "How often do you find yourself searching your brain for a simple word that you just can't remember?" "The diagnosis of Aphasia is a condition that robs you of the ability to communicate. It can affect your ability to speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written." and "with dysphasia will be found to having difficulty in talking, understanding, listening, writing or doing numeral calculations."


 * Fibromyalgia is tied to Hysterectomy and Gynecological Disease and Endocrine and Autoimmune Disorders. - About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS By: Adrienne Dellwo "Did you have a gynecologic surgery, such as a hysterectomy, in the few years before you developed fibromyalgia?"


 * Allodynia About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS - By: Adrienne Dellwo "Allodynia is pain, generally on the skin, caused by something that wouldn't normally cause pain."


 * Thyroid disease - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease About.com Health Thyroid Disease By: Mary Shomon & Donna Yeaw "CFS, FMS and HAIT patients often visit their doctors complaining of a host of symptoms. (See sidebar.) Since symptoms are similar, there is a risk of misdiagnosis. Some doctors still fail to even acknowledge the existence of CFS and FMS." Thyroid Disease in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS By: Adrienne Dellwo  "Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are multi-system illnesses. They hit you hard in multiple ways, and confuse doctors of all specialties because not everything can be explained by the one system they focus on."


 * Sleep is associated with task-negative brain activity in fibromyalgia participants with comorbid chronic insomnia NCBI NLM "The present results of this study suggest that long-term, comorbid pain and sleep disturbance may be associated with increased activation in core default mode brain areas that is above and beyond long-term pain disturbance alone." Fibromyalgia and Sleep - ProHealth By: Cort Johnson "Most people with fibromyalgia have an associated sleep disorder that makes it difficult for them to get the deep, restorative sleep they need."


 * Irritable bowel syndrome - Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Why Do They Go Together? - About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS By: Adrienne Dellwo - "Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently go together. No one really knows why, but we do know that all three conditions can include imbalances of serotonin -- although in fibromyalgia (FMS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) it's an imbalance in the brain, while with IBS it's in the gut."


 * "Fibromyalgia Symptoms - The Monster List!" - About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS By: Adrienne Dellwo " ...the list of possible symptoms is far-reaching and body-wide."

United States
In 2012 the Mayo Clinic published "A Framework for Fibromyalgia Management for Primary Care Providers". Rheumatologists stopped treating Fibromyalgia patients and Primary Care providers (in the US) began treating Fibromyalgia although Rheumatologists are most often the specialist to diagnose. (Please see Disability heading about Primary Provider and Specialists for disability cases.)

Drugs
There are approved and off label drugs for treating Fibromyalgia. ''Please Note: The information under "Drugs" is not meant to promote any Rx drug for Fibromyalgia but to inform you of the drugs, approved and off label, being used by doctors for Fibromyalgia. Always consult your doctor for guidance on Rx drug usage for any illness or disease.''

FDA Approved
"Living with Fibromyalgia, Drugs Approved to Manage Pain" - FDA For Consumers


 * Cymbalta is facing lawsuits due to severe withdrawal symptoms. There is a Facebook group dedicated to questions about the drug and tapering off of it; Cymbalta Hurts Worse.


 * Lyrica is causing weight gain.


 * Savella has a list of side effects.

Off Label

 * Low dose naltrexone Taken at bedtime for sleep.


 * Neurontin (Gabapentin is Generic)


 * Low dose Seroquel (Quetiapine is Generic) Taken at bedtime for sleep.

Patients Say Fibromyalgia Drugs Make Things Worse, Rest is Best - Graph of Patient Rated Drugs - Cure Together Blog - 2011

Sleep Study

 * Getting a Sleep Study with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS - By: Adrienne Dellwo - "Sleep disorders frequently come along with these conditions, and studies have shown that poor sleep correlates to more severe symptoms, especially FMS pain."


 * What A Sleep Study Can Reveal About Fibromyalgia - Science Daily - Summary: Research engineers and sleep medicine specialists from two Michigan universities have joined technical and clinical hands to put innovative technologies to work in the sleep lab.

Sleep Medications
Disordered sleep is a prominent symptom in Fibromyalgia. There are four types of Sleep Medications used in Fibromyalgia; Antihistamines, Benzodiasepines, Nonbenzodiazepines, Sedating Antidepressants.

Low dose naltrexone and Low dose Seroquel (see under heading DRUGS) can also help with sleep and are taken at bedtime.

Exercise
Please Note: These recommendations are for Fibromyalgia patients and not ME/CFS sufferers.


 * Warm water exercise is best.


 * Moderate aerobic and weights with less reps possible with a day or two of rest in between. Do not start a program if you are in a flare.


 * Easy Fibromyalgia exercises and motivation to keep you healthy! Videos on YouTube from Eric Suarez, CPT.

Massage

 * Massage, Rolfing & Other Bodywork - Are They Effective Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatments? - About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS By: Adrienne Dellwo


 * Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials - NCBI PMC - PLOS One

Acupuncture

 * A 2006 study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found the "true" and "fake" acupuncture groups both improved in with fatigue and anxiety. There was no difference in physical impairment, pain, stiffness, depression, and how well someone rests or feels. An earlier 2005 study in Annals of Internal Medicine "also showed acupuncture gave no significant pain relief to fibromyalgia patients."
 * DHHS and CMS ruled April 16, 2004 a noncoverage determination for acupuncture.

United States
Please Note: The following is NOT legal advice and should not be relied upon in taking steps for a disability case. Only Social Security and a Disability Lawyer practicing Disability Law can provide the most up to date and correct legal avenue for bringing a disability case.''

In the US, SSI/SSD benefits are available for Fibromyalgia. Generally for SSI/SSD, notes and tests from a Primary Provider may be allowed for submission but Specialists such as a Rheumatologist, Neurologist, Psychiatrist, etc. are required for diagnosis, ongoing treatment and completing SSI/SSD paperwork.


 * Policy Interpretation Ruling - Social Security


 * Social Security Disability (SSDI & SSI) for Fibromyalgia - Disability Secrets By: NOLO


 * Fibromyalgia Disability - MDJunction - Patient Support Forums.

Ongoing Process of Diagnosing and Categorizing

 * The United States National Library of Medicine publishes research conclusion: "No specific fibromyalgia personality is defined but it is proposed that personality is an important filter that modulates a person’s response to psychological stressors. Certain personalities may facilitate translation of these stressors to physiological responses driving the fibromyalgia mechanism."


 * The National Fibromyalgia Research Association states: "Fibromyalgia is a distinctive syndrome which can be diagnosed with clinical precision." Facts of diagnostic criteria, other symptoms and co-morbid diseases.


 * MedPage Today Rheumatology - "Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia Link Evaporates" (Chronic lyme disease)


 * In 2015, News Medical - "Fibromyalgia now considered a lifelong central nervous system disorder".


 * Also in 2015, National Pain Report - "Foundation of Fibromyalgia Is Altered Central Nervous System, New Study Validates".


 * Journal of Neurology and Neuroscience publishes research: "Evaluation of Antiviral Antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus and Neurotransmitters in Patients with Fibromyalgia"


 * Official Blog of CelesteCooper.com - Question: '"Is Fibromyalgia a Psychosomatic Illness?' Med Student Asks Celeste Cooper" Answer: "Fibromyalgia is NOT a psychosomatic illness."'


 * Wiley Online Libray - "Understanding the Association of Fatigue With Other Symptoms of Fibromyalgia: Development of a Cluster Model"

Blood Tests

 * Pridgen Reports Fibromyalgia Antiviral Trial Results “Very Positive”: Predicts New Approach Will Be “Game-Changer” - ProHealth By: Cort Johnson


 * New Fibromyalgia Blood Test is 99% Accurate - National Pain Report By: Pat Anson


 * Cytokine and chemokine profiles in fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a potentially useful tool in differential diagnosis. - PubMed

Brain Scans

 * Fibromyalgia Pain Isn't All In Patient's Heads, New Brain Study Finds - Chronic Neuroimmune Diseases By: Melissa Kaplan - "A new brain-scan study confirms scientifically what fibromyalgia patients have been telling a skeptical medical community for years: They're really in pain."


 * Fibromyalgia and the brain: New clues reveal how pain and therapies are processed - Science Daily By: American College of Rheumatology - "According to new research, pain experienced by people with fibromyalgia may be caused by a problem with the way pain stimuli are processed in the brain. Abnormal pain signal processing may also be related to a lack of responsiveness to opioids, a common class of pain relievers."


 * Unique Brain Connectivity in Fibromyalgia - Increased Importance Assigned to Pain - About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS By: Adrienne Dellwo - "Now, thanks to a new study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, we may be able tell them exactly why that is – with brain images to back it up!"


 * The Somatosensory Link in Fibromyalgia: Functional Connectivity of the Primary Somatosensory Cortex Is Altered by Sustained Pain and Is Associated With Clinical/Autonomic Dysfunction - Arthritis & Rheumatology By: American College of Rheumatology - "Conclusion: "Our study demonstrates that both somatic and nonsomatic dysfunction in FM, including clinical pain, pain catastrophizing, autonomic dysfunction, and amplified temporal summation, are closely linked with the degree to which evoked deep tissue pain alters S1 connectivity to salience/affective pain-processing regions. Additionally, diminished connectivity between S1 subregions during the rest phase in FM may result from ongoing widespread clinical pain."'