Tag: back

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a common condition. So what is it?

Todays post is about Fibromyalgia.

A topic that has been discussed a bit in my family of late.

This is a fairly common condition that affects many people, from all walks of life. Statistically it affects women more than men.

So, what is Fibromyalgia?

As described in Davidson’s Principles & Practice of Medicine; fibromyalgia is a condition that presents as widespread body pain, which is often worse in the neck and back.

People who suffer from the condition have a reduced pain threshold and tenderness at certain sites throughout the body. Many sufferers find that physiotherapy often makes it worse. These symptoms are often accompanied by fatigue; memory problems and disturbed sleep patterns. A high proportion of fibromyalgia patients also suffer from tinnitus.
Fibromyalgia commonly begins between the ages of 35 and 50 years of age.

What causes it?

The cause is poorly understood, however there are 2 factors that are thought to be major contributors.
Poor sleep, or more exactly, reduced non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep.
Delta waves are characteristic of deep stages of non REM sleep. This usually occurs in the first few hours of sleep. This type of sleep is recognised as having an important restorative function.
The other factor is thought to be psychological distress, such as anxiety or distressing life events.
Unfortunately, the condition can also create a perpetual cycle.
– The pain causes anxiety and poor sleep – the anxiety and poor sleep contribute to the condition causing pain – and so the cycle repeats.

How is it diagnosed?

Fibromyalgia is a complex condition that has many varied symptoms that could also be linked to other health problems. There are no blood tests or imaging test that show this condition, so it is difficult to diagnose.
Therefore most health professionals will have to conduct various tests to rule out conditions with similar symptoms.

How is it treated?

There are no guaranteed cures or medications for fibromyalgia. The most recent research I could find recommends a combination of treatments. This is to help patients manage the individual factors contributing to the condition.
The most common of these are pain, sleep, physical activity and psychological wellbeing.
Most treatment programs seem to include simple measures such as hot baths, aerobic and strength exercises along with relaxation and meditation.

The studies surrounding this condition, the causes and the treatments are ongoing.
I hope that this information is helpful to you or anyone you may know with this condition.

Till the next post,

Live clean n prosper.

Sources – Davidson’s Principles & Practice of Medicine, hindawi, science direct, Pub Med

Alternative Treatments for Pain

Todays post is about alternative treatments for pain.

Last post I wrote about pain and the most popular medications used to treat pain. This time I thought I would look at some of the other treatments that are available to manage pain.

Traditionally, the first step in treating chronic pain has been medication, including strong painkillers such as opioids. But these drugs can be problematic. They can have serious side effects and there is always a risk for addiction when used long term.

Alternatives to medication for chronic pain exist. Pain treatments that doctors once scoffed at are now considered viable alternatives. Research shows that, when they’re included in a comprehensive treatment plan, they can be quite effective in lowering pain.

Together, these approaches to pain management often are referred to as integrative medicine. 

However, not all alternative treatments work for everyone all of the time. Some alternative treatments may help with bad backs, osteoarthritis, and headaches, but have no effect on chronic pain from fibromyalgia or diabetic nerve damage.

Some of the most commonly used alternative treatments for chronic pain are; acupuncture, chiropractic, massage and relaxation therapy, yoga, herbal remedies and supplements.

Acupuncture

The use of acupuncture is thought to decrease pain by increasing the release of chemicals that block pain, called endorphins. Endorphins, along with other neurotransmitters, block the message of pain from being delivered up to the brain. Studies have found that it works for many conditions, including fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, back injuries, and sports injuries.

Chiropractic manipulation

Chiropractic treatment is the most common non-surgical treatment for back pain. Research also suggests that chiropractic treatments may be helpful for headaches, neck pain, certain arm and leg conditions, and whiplash.

Massage

Massage can reduce stress and relieve tension by enhancing blood flow. It can also reduce the presence of substances that may generate and sustain pain. Several studies suggest massage can be effective as part of an overall strategy for managing chronic neck and back pain.

Relaxation therapy

This is actually a category of techniques that help people calm the body and release tension. Some approaches teach people how to focus on their breathing. Research shows that relaxation therapy can help with fibromyalgia, headache, osteoarthritis, and other conditions.

Herbal Remedies and Supplements

There are many conditions associated with chronic pain, so it’s hard to list all the possible herbal remedies that can help decrease pain.

Certain herbal remedies work well with certain conditions. Devil’s claw and White willow bark, for example, can decrease the joint pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Primrose and Californian poppy may help ease chronic muscle pain associated with fibromyalgia.

Topical capsaicin, derived from chilli peppers, may help with arthritis, diabetic nerve pain, and other conditions. There’s evidence that glucosamine can help relieve moderate to severe pain from osteoarthritis in the knee

You still need to be careful taking herbal remedies and supplements,  Some herbs can react badly with some medications. Always check with a health professional before taking any herbal remedies, especially if you have any medical conditions or take other medication.

Yoga

There is clinical evidence that yoga can help with chronic pain, specifically fibromyalgia, neck pain, back pain, and arthritis. The purpose of yoga is to help with relaxation. Yoga also improves the mind/body communication. The connection between body health and state of mind are well documented.

 

All of these treatments help control pain symptoms. To be most effective, they should be integrated into an overall treatment plan that includes conventional approaches to pain management, such as physical therapy, exercise and balanced nutrition.

As usual, different treatments work differently for each individual.

If you suffer from any type of pain, I hope that this information has been helpful.

(Sources – www.abc.net.au/health/. www.webmd.com.)

Till the next post, 

Live clean n Prosper

Baths, Epsom Salt and Lavender for muscles

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Today I’m going to write about my relaxing bath.

Recently Scott and I have been doing a bit of renovating around the home. This usually means sore backs and aching muscles.

So, I decided that a nice hot bath with Epsom Salt would be just the ticket. I also added some fresh Lavender and some dried Calendula flowers. After a soak, my back and aching muscle felt so much better.

This prompted the question – Why do these flowers and the salt help to soothe our muscles?

After some Internet searching, this is what I found out.

Epsom Salt

It’s called a salt because of its chemical structure. The “Epsom” part is a place in England where it’s found in natural springs.

This salt is made from naturally occurring minerals Magnesium and Sulphate. These ingredients can help improve health in numerous ways. Magnesium helps muscles to release. If you aren’t getting enough magnesium, your muscles may cramp and spasm more easily. Also, by-products of metabolism such as lactic acid become harder to flush out without enough magnesium, which may lead to sore muscles.

Sulphate is also essential for many biological processes. It helps to flush out toxins and helps form proteins in joints and brain tissue.

So together, these minerals assist with the elimination of lactic acid, which contributes to sore muscles.

How Does It Work?

In water, it breaks down into magnesium and sulphate. The theory is that when you soak in an Epsom salt bath, these get into your body through your skin.

In a study conducted in 2006, levels of magnesium and sulphate in the blood and urine were measured, both before and after people bathed in Epsom salts. The study found the levels were higher after the baths! So, bathing in Epsom salt enables the body to absorb the Magnesium and Sulphate.

Then add Lavender….

Lavender essential oil is known as an excellent remedy for various types of pains including those caused by sore and tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache, and lumbago. A regular massage with lavender oil can provide relief from pain in the joints. A study done on postoperative pain relief showed that combining lavender essential oil vapor into the oxygen significantly reduced the amount of pain experienced, versus those patients only revived with oxygen after a major surgery.

And Calendula….

You may not recognize the name Calendula. Perhaps you have heard of Marigolds, which is the name most commonly used describe this family of plant. Calendula officianalis is the most common species, but all possess certain compounds and substances that make them a valuable part of herbal health in certain parts of the world.

You may not have known that the petals are edible and have traditionally been used in soups and stews and salads, while a powerful chemical extract can be removed from the stems and leaves of calendula plants.

Calendula oil has anti-inflammatory compounds and unique antioxidant compounds.

Regardless of where the inflammation is occurring, calendula can significantly reduce the discomfort.

So together these 3 things can make a difference to our wellbeing, and a bath is always relaxing.

Till the next post,

Live Clean n Prosper

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