In a study of 334 patients suffering with fibromyalgia, researchers found that over half of the individuals taking Xyrem reported a thirty percent improvement in their pain.  The participants were initially split into two groups.  One group took Xyrem while the other participants took a placebo over a period of fourteen weeks.  At the conclusion of the study, fifty-four percent of participants taking a lower dose of the drug and fifty-six percent of participants taking a higher dose reported a thirty percent reduction in pain, WebMD reports.  This is compared with thirty-five percent of patients taking the placebo reporting less pain.  The researchers noted that the thirty percent reduction in pain showed an average improvement of pain, whereas the fifty percent reduction indicated a significant improvement.  What’s more is that many of the participants taking Xyrem noted that they felt an improvement in pain as early as the first week.

Participants did, however, report some side effects such as headache, nausea, and dizziness.  Additionally, the drug is made up of GHB, otherwise known as the “date rape drug,” and has the potential to be abused.  The researchers and doctors, however, argue that there are enough systems in place to prevent such abuse, and since its inception and use for narcolepsy, no abuse has been reported.

What is very interesting about this particular drug is that, according to this study, it outperforms the other drugs on the market specifically for fibromyalgia.  Xyrem is not a narcotic type drug like those marketed for fibromyalgia treatment, and that may be an added benefit for patients.  This study shows that there is the possibility of more drugs for the treatment of fibromyalgia, as well as the possibility of combining certain drugs, including Xyrem, to elicit an effective and quick response.  Despite the apparent success of this study, the FDA has still not approved the sleeping pill for use in fibromyalgia patients.  As with all new treatments, make sure to discuss using Xyrem in your daily treatment for the disorder.

Technorati claim code: 9EWSSTJNYM45

An individual’s walk is examined using various parameters, including: step length, time on each foot, time on both feet, walk spend, and sole pressure on the ground (Eureka Alert). The lead researcher believed that people living with fibromyalgia had decreased motor skills and also showed low performance in strength tests, body constitution, and psychological evaluations. From this belief came his theory that people with this disability have altered motion parameters that are then linked to decreased physical and psychological abilities, thereby limiting their quality of life. He decided to test whether fibromyalgia could be diagnosed on these altered motion parameters reliably.

The study focused on sixty-four women and twelve men diagnosed with fibromyalgia, as well as forty-five women and twelve men who were healthy and had no signs or symptoms of the disability. The participants underwent various tests regarding their medical and physical conditions. They found that those individuals who lived with fibromyalgia presented with definite altered motion capabilities compared to those who did not have the condition. Moreover, the fibromyalgia sufferers also had other symptoms that impacted their overall quality of life.

Although observing a person’s gait may not be likely used alone to diagnose fibromyalgia, it may be used in addition to diagnostic criteria to produce a more reliable result. The current testing criteria can often be misinterpreted and evaluating the way a person walks may provide that extra evidence needed to make a correct diagnosis. The earlier a person can be diagnosed with the condition, the easier it will be for them to get the necessary treatment and improve other areas of their life. Additionally, if the condition is so debilitating that they must stop working, having an accurate fibromyalgia diagnosis will allow them to seek disability benefits through the Social Security Administration.

In a previous fibromyalgia disability case I tried in court, my client had a very insufficient work record. In addition, what was stated in her medical records about her condition did not match with what she claimed about her condition; she seemed to very much exaggerate her fibromyalgia pain during the hearing, but when the Judge reviewed the records, he could not find any evidence that she suffered from severe pain. This may not have been a deal breaker for her case, but combined with her lackluster work background, it was enough for her to lose the case. I sometimes feel that if a client has a strong work background and appears to want to work, then that client may have a better chance of winning even despite discrepancies in the medical record.

For example, I had a client once who had a managerial level position within her company and made over $100,000 at the time when her fibromyalgia took her out of work. Well, she won her case without even having to make too much of a compelling argument, since the Judge trying the case likely thought that a person who earns a good salary is less likely to want to stop working and earn a $2,000 Social Security pay check. Seems logical, right? In essence, I believe that this client’s work background helped her win her case even though her medical records weren’t all that comprehensive.

In yet another fibromyalgia case, a client of mine had an excellent testimony which again focused on her past work and desire to keep working even though she couldn’t. In this particular case, the woman testified about her pain, her problem with adjusting to a great decrease in her monthly income after being forced out of work by her condition, and about her feelings of unimportance now that she no longer had a job. This great testimony helped her win the case.

So, in conclusion, if you are suffering from fibromyalgia and want to make the most of your case, focus on what work you have done, communicate that you wish you could still be working if you were healthy enough, and make the Judge understand that getting on Social Security is a necessary evil and not something you actually want. Then, your chances of winning at the hearing are that much better.

One last note: It always helps, of course, to have good medical records to back up your claim or what we call a functional capacity form that is filled out by your physician. If your physician is willing to assist, you will be that much more ahead of the game when it comes to winning your fibromyalgia disability claim.

First of all, you will need to obtain strong support from your treating physician. You will have to submit solid medical records along with your claim for benefits, and these medical records must clearly show that you have a firm fibromyalgia diagnosis and that it interferes with your ability to perform work in major ways. Things like discussions of pain levels and extent of fatigue are the types of things that will need to be present in such records in order for you to even have a chance at winning early.

Another way of possibly winning early is if your condition meets a Listing – which is essentially the SSA’s definition of severe/disabling fibromyalgia. Anything that falls short of meeting that definition/description will fail to meet the listing. Here, again, your medical treatment records must be extensive and consistent. Also, a form completed by your physician which tracks the listing can help. Such a form, which is structured as an easy to read checkbox type of document, will ideally make the adjudicator reviewing your case recognize that your condition meets a listing. This will increase your chances at an early approval.

There is one final way to possibly win a fibromyalgia claim early, and that is to Meet a Grid Rule. Like meeting a listing, this may sound mysterious, but it’s really quite simple (especially if you are over the age of 50). Here’s an example: Let’s say that you don’t meet a listing. Well, you can still win if you have a physical impairment like fibromyalgia, you have limited work and educational history, and you are 50 years old or older. If you meet these criteria, consider taking a look at the “grid rules.” You may fall under a certain grid rule and therefore automatically qualify. The grid rules, however, can sometimes be difficult to understand, so that is why it is a great idea to talk to a disability attorney about winning disability benefits based on the grids.

State Agency adjudicators are known to issue positive decisions in grid cases. That’s why it is imperative that you stress that your case is a grid case and point out the specific grid. Like I said, an attorney can help.

Finally, it is also important to note that State Agency adjudicators are usually underpaid and overworked. They are often given very limited authority, and they are quick to deny cases, even if they are deserving. Consider asking the adjudicator to give your file to a medical consultant or even a supervisor in the State Agency office. That may be your last chance at winning your fibromyalgia disability case early.

The researchers theorized that because migraines are an autonomic disorder like fibromyalgia and they seem to worsen and occur more frequently around the time of menstruation, that perhaps fibromyalgia and other autonomic disorders would also have this variation. According to WebMD, all of these disorders stem from the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that controls various bodily functions. The researchers decided to evaluate a questionnaire that was completed by seventy-seven women diagnosed with fibromyalgia and various numbers of women who suffered from other conditions. The women were supposed to report on their symptoms throughout the month. At the conclusion of the study, the researchers found that eighteen percent of the fibromyalgia sufferers reported an increase in severity and frequency of their symptoms just before and during their periods.

In an effort to determine an explanation for this rise in pain, the researchers theorize that it must have something to do with fluctuating hormone levels. WebMD reports that estrogen prevents pain; however, it is at very low levels right before and during a woman’s menstruation. This belief is shored up by the report that fifteen percent of women had increased pain at the time of menopause when estrogen is also very low.

The study was not without its problems, however. Many women reported no change in their symptoms at all around their period and other women reported that the fibromyalgia pain was the worst during their first period. These inconsistencies could not be explained by the researchers and will likely lead to additional studies on the topic of hormone fluctuations impacting pain.

You can also conduct your own self study to determine if your fibromyalgia pain worsens before and during your period. Keep a journal, detailing your symptoms, and what other events are occurring in your life. Try to determine if your period impacts your symptoms and if so, you may discuss various options with your doctor, including taking an estrogen supplement or the birth control pill, both of which increase estrogen production.

This new study is important because a lack of balance, coupled with crippling pain, can lead to many accidents and falls.  The condition is difficult on its own without having to then worry about falling on top of it.  The researchers noted that approximately half of those individuals living with fibromyalgia suffer with poor balance.  They also knew that tilt platform vibration improved balance, bone mass, and motor skills in elderly individuals, therefore, they wanted to test it with fibromyalgia participants.  The Spanish research team separated forty-one women, ages forty-one to sixty-five, with fibromyalgia into two groups.  Twenty-one were provided with vibration therapy, while the other twenty received their normal treatment regime without the vibration therapy.

Those who received the vibration therapy had three sessions with the platform providing vibration at a low frequency for twelve weeks.  They had a ten minute walking warm-up and up to six repetitions with the tilt platform.  The researchers found that the dynamic balance index improved by thirty-six percent in the vibration therapy group, while it remained the same in the control group.  Additionally and most welcome is that the women who weighed the most and had the worst balance saw the greatest improvement.

The researchers also believe that the vibration therapy slows bone mass loss and improves strength, which helps individuals to respond better to falling or the loss of balance.  They do note that more studies will be needed to see if the vibration therapy also reduces pain associated with fibromyalgia, as well as if the number of overall falls decreases.  If your balance has suffered as a result of fibromyalgia, you may want to discuss this type of physical therapy with your doctor.  It may just help you to better “balance” the effects of this chronic condition.

The study, conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, focused on determining whether participants could get thirty minutes of exercise completed most days of the week and generally remain more active throughout the day.  The eighty-four participants were separated into two groups: one which incorporated “lifestyle physical activity” into their days, including taking stairs, walking more, and parking further away from stores, and one which was a control group, which did not make the same lifestyle changes.  Those in the “lifestyle” group reported better physical movement and decreased pain at the end of the study.  They also increased the amount of exercise that they could complete in a given day or week.  The researchers understood that people have good and bad days with fibromyalgia and encouraged them to simply move as much as they could on a bad day and to not try to overcompensate on a good day.

To make these recommendations more practical for you, U.S. News and one of the researchers listed various “lifestyle” activities that you can try to begin exercising.  They suggest doing activities such as small arm circles or slowly lifting your legs while seated.  Additionally, you should invest in a pedometer to monitor how far you have walked every day.  Perhaps you could challenge yourself to get in a couple extra steps each day.  The researchers also suggest doing yard work, gardening, and doing housework.  Each of these activities needs to be tailored toward your specific needs and should be broken up into short bursts over a couple of days.  Finally, they suggest taking the stairs or engaging in a water activity.  Swimming and water aerobics are both low impact and great exercise, while taking the stairs is a relatively easy way to add in exercise every single day.  Most importantly, you should try to make the activity fun and look for your own creative ways to move that fibromyalgia pain right out of your life.

One of the articles, from the Black Women’s Health Alliance and detailed on PRNewswire, discussed a study conducted in Pennsylvania which found that many of the state’s women suffered from chronic pain but did not seek help for it.  Specifically, the study found that two-thirds of Pennsylvania women suffer from chronic pain, and over half of them do not seek treatment for their pain, even when it is so severe that they have trouble completely daily tasks or working.  When asked why they would not get treated, a majority of the women stated it was because they felt that insurance companies would not cover treatment for pain, unlike more traditional conditions, such as heart disease.  Additionally, the women felt that the pain was not something to worry about and that it could be handled privately.

The other article, from Pain Medicine News, discussed how twice as many women as men feel that they are not being taken seriously when they complain about their pain.  This perceived lack of sympathy often causes these women to refrain from seeking medical treatment even though their condition often impairs their daily activities and work environment/ability to work.  What is even more troubling is that fibromyalgia impacts seven times more women than men, so not only are more women not seeking help for their pain, but more women are suffering from a serious chronic condition and are not seeking help!  Fortunately, some researchers, medical writers, and health professionals have launched a website, www.healthywomen.org , to address these issues and educate women on fibromyalgia and pain management.  It provides references for doctors who specialize in treating fibromyalgia and how women can fully engage in their daily lives.

Knowing that this painful condition we call fibromyalgia is real and not something to be taken lightly is the first step to getting the necessary treatment.  Once you know what you are dealing with, you can then take the necessary steps to get the right therapy for you, file for social security disability benefits if you can no longer work due to your condition, and generally manage your life better.  Although men and women are very different, this type of chronic pain can impact us all the same.  It is important to seek help and educate yourself so that you can live the healthiest life possible.

One of the suggestions offered is to take different supplements to treat fibromyalgia, such as colloidal silver, digestive enzymes, and magnesium.  Each of these, according to the article, has been shown to have a positive effect on the treatment of the pain disorder.  Specifically, the author notes that in some medical circles, fibromyalgia has been linked to a deficiency of magnesium.  The next suggestion is to try to change the course of the chronic condition by changing your diet.  It is amazing how our diet can influence how our body responds to various diseases and health conditions.  The article first suggests increasing your intake of apples or apple juice, as they contain a particular type of naturally occurring acid that eases inflammation and pain.  Then, it is suggested to try to limit the consumption of whole grains, due to inflammation properties, and to increase the amount of essential fatty acids and omega-3s.  Finally, the article advises fibromyalgia sufferers to engage in two activities that we have previously discussed, acupuncture and exercise.

It is exciting to think of managing a naturally occurring medical disorder with natural treatments.  It is important, however, to discuss any alternative treatments with your doctor, especially if you are going to combine them with traditional therapies, such as drug management.  Additionally, make sure to fully educate yourself about any potential side effects and how these alternative treatments may impact your daily life.

One such treatment for fibromyalgia is craniosacral therapy.  It is a gentle, hands-on therapy that is supposed to relieve tension and pain, while improving the immune system, improving the movement of fluid throughout the body, and generally, improving a person’s overall health.  The name of the therapy comes from the craniosacral system, which is made up of bones, membranes, and fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord.  The theory in focusing on this area is that tension and stress can cause the tissue and membranes to tighten, thereby affecting the central nervous system and all of the functions that it is responsible for controlling.  According to a Richmond, Indiana newspaper, The Palladium, a therapist can feel the rhythm of cerebrospinal fluid moving around the brain and spinal cord.  The therapist then feels for any restrictions in the flow and using various light touch techniques, releases them so that they can properly support the nervous system.  The technique is especially helpful for fibromyalgia patients because the touch is so light.  Many people living with fibromyalgia are apprehensive about touch because of the pain it may cause.

Most patients feel immediate relief after this treatment, and even though they may need additional treatments over a period of time, their relaxed state greatly improves their daily living.  Depending on the severity of the disorder, a person may have to undergo one or more treatments over several weeks before seeing an overall improvement in the fibromyalgia pain.  If you decide to pursue this alternative therapy, make sure to discuss the option with your doctor.  Although it is unlikely to interfere with any other treatments, it is important that all therapies are documented and risks are weighed.  Additionally, make sure that you find a therapist who is certified to perform craniosacral therapy and ask them about the success rate.  All in all this therapy is not invasive and even if it ultimately does not relieve all of the pain, at least you will have received a nice head massage.