Cure Research for Fibromyalgia

Curable Types of Fibromyalgia

Possibly curable or rare types of Fibromyalgia include:

• Sleep disturbance related fibromyalgia
• Major depressive disorder related fibromyalgia
• SLE related fibromyalgia
• Rheumatoid arthritis related fibromyalgia
• more curable types...»

Rare Types of Fibromyalgia:

Some rare types of Fibromyalgia include:

• Tension myositis syndrome related fibromyalgia
• Major depressive disorder related fibromyalgia
• Deposition diseases related fibromyalgia
• Epstein Barr virus related fibromyalgia
• Primary fibromyalgia
• more rare types...»

Latest Treatments for Fibromyalgia

Some of the more recent treatments for Fibromyalgia include:

• Ultrasound
• Hot packs
• Strength training
• more treatments...»

Treatments for Fibromyalgia

Treatments to consider for Fibromyalgia may include:

• Aerobic exercises
• Heat
• Hot baths
• Heat lamps
• more treatments...»

Medical Research Breakthroughs and Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia affects women more than men: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes exhaustion, sleep disturbances and diffuse pain in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These patients experience a range of symptoms of varying intensities that increase and decrease over time and often resemble other conditions. For years, because of their complex nature and a lack of research on the condition, many doctors misdiagnosed fibromyalgia symptoms or dismissed them as being in the patient's head. Even today, it is estimated to take an average of five years for a fibromyalgia patient to get an accurate diagnosis. There is no laboratory test available to diagnose fibromyalgia. Doctors must rely on patient histories, self-reported symptoms, a physical examination and an accurate manual tender point examination. To receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a patient must experience widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and experience tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied. It affects more commonly women more than men. Although the cause of fibromyalgia is currently unknown, many researchers hypothesize that the symptoms result from "central sensitization." According to this idea, sufferers of fibromyalgia have a heightened sensitivity in the brain to pain signals and as a result, have a lower pain threshold. As time goes on, the brain's pain receptors become conditioned to remember pain and potentially overreact to the brain's chemical signals or neurotransmitters. In other word, people with fibromyalgia may experience pain in stronger ways than others who don't have the condition. The major risk factors include Age, Stress, Rheumatic diseases and family history of fibromyalgia. Common medications for treating fibromyalgia pain include analgesics (including NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), muscle relaxants and anti-seizure drugs. Medications to ease sleep disturbances include: anti-depressants and short-term use of sleeping pills. Some doctors recommend combining medication with therapy to help patients learn to techniques to cope with stress, which can exacerbate or trigger pain symptoms. Some patients have found relief through alternative treatments including: acupuncture and massage therapy.

Cure Research discussion for Fibromyalgia:

Basic research studies to advance our understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of sleep and sleep disorders are also included in the NIAMS research portfolio. One specific project on mice focuses on identifying genetic factors that underlie molecular events involved in the regulation of sleep. A wealth of information on the neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and neurophysiology of sleep provides a firm foundation for a genetic approach to studies of sleep. This project will use genetics to screen for single gene mutations that affect sleep patterns in mice. Understanding this in mice will advance understanding of how this translates to humans. Other basic research studies using animal models are investigating the link between sleep and long-term memory.

Examples of NIAMS-supported clinical research in fibromyalgia include comparing pain mechanisms in this disorder and low back pain; determining if aerobic exercise benefits patients with fibromyalgia through the action of the hypothalamus and pituitary and adrenal glands; and studying neuroendocrine changes in fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. The Institute is also funding a new clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of combining two antidepressants in treating the disorder.

In addition, NIAMS is currently funding research projects related to the role of behavioral factors in fibromyalgia. Investigators are evaluating the effects of two of the most promising nonpharmacologic interventions for fibromyalgia: cognitive behavioral therapy for pain management and physical exercise training. This study is designed to test the hypothesis that combining cognitive behavioral therapy and physical training will be more effective than cognitive behavioral therapy or exercise alone. If the cognitive and exercise interventions have synergistic effects in fibromyalgia patients, future studies could evaluate this combination in patients with other rheumatic diseases, or in those with stroke or burn injuries who are experiencing pain during exercise/rehabilitation regimens.

Providing social support and education about one's disease or disorder has been shown to be an effective means for improving the health care status of individuals with chronic diseases. Studies are currently underway focusing on patients with fibromyalgia to advance understanding of how social support and education interventions may be helpful to these patients as well. (Source: excerpt from Fibromyalgia Research Challenges and Opportunities: NIAMS)

Medical research for Fibromyalgia: medical news summaries:

The following medical news items are relevant to medical research for Fibromyalgia:

• Alternative view of health
• Cough medicine to treat fibromyalgia
• Parkinsons drug may prove effective against fibromyalgia symptoms
• More news »

Clinical Trials for Fibromyalgia

Some of the clinical trials for Fibromyalgia include:

• Clinical Trial Testing the Safety and Efficacy of Fluoxetine in Juvenile Fibromyalgia - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Fluoxetine
• Coping Skills Training for Adolescents With Fibromyalgia - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• A Multicentre Trial to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of AD-337 in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - AD 337
• Clinical Study on Implicit Learning, Comorbidity and Stress Vulnerability in Chronic Functional Pain - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Neurotropin to Treat Fibromyalgia - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Neurotropin
• more trials...»