Fibromyalgia Facts

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that is characterized by widespread, generalized pain “all over” the body that does not follow any specific anatomical pathway like the course of a nerve, muscle, or blood vessel. It is often diagnosed only after all other conditions have been eliminated by using various testing approaches such as blood tests, x-ray, CT or MRI Scans, and others.  Controversy exists between health care providers (HCP’s) as some believe that FM either doesn’t exist at all or if it does, it’s grossly over diagnosed while others feel most patients have some form or degree of FM.  Because of this common split in beliefs, patients may be treated poorly by those non-believing HCP’s, which often alienates them from seeking further care for FM.

Recent literature suggests FM is disorder of “central pain processing” or, a specific situation where the pain threshold (the point where pain is felt) is reached sooner than what is normal.  Fibromyalgia has been classified into 2 separate groups – primary and secondary FM.  Primary FM is diagnosed when no known cause can be identified while secondary FM is related to a specific cause such as a disease or condition.  Conditions that have been reportedly associated with FM include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), TMJ (jaw disorders), chronic low back pain, and headaches. There are genetic as well as environmental factors associated with FM.  Researchers have found that there is a strong familial component with 1st degree relatives where an 8 fold greater risk of developing FM compared to the general population exists. These people are also more likely to have one of the other associated conditions previously mentioned (IBS, TMJ, headaches). Environmental factors can lead to FM in 5-10% of the cases. Some of these include physical trauma such as car accidents, following infections such as parvovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and Lyme disease. Psychological stress, hormonal alterations such as hypothyroid, drug side effects, vaccination reactions and certain catastrophic events such as war are included in the “environmental factors” category. Gender differences include woman being 2-3 times more likely to suffer from FM than men.

So, what are the treatment options for FM? Typically, if you go to a medical doctor, you can expect various forms of drug therapy – possibilities include anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds, and sleep aids but with these, watch out for grogginess, side effects and some habit forming/dependency problems. Pain killers or analgesics – opioides are NOT appropriate but often prescribed and narcotics can also be habit forming. Tylenol is perhaps the safest but is not very effective.  Anti-inflammatory include aspirin, ibuprofen but watch for stomach irritation and blood thinning problems. Dr. Christopher Morris, MD reports that drug treatments for FM have, “…very limited success in providing significant improvement in most patients.”  He recommends behavior modification for sleep improvement, exercise (walking, water exercises, strength training, yoga, tai chi, Qi Gong), as well as cognitive behavioral therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, biofeedback, hypnosis, and dietary modification.  Examples of dietary changes include avoiding foods with certain additives including MSG (monosodium glutamate) and aspartame where in one study, “complete resolution” of FM symptoms was reported.

Patients with FM NEED a “quarterback” to guide them in their management of FM and chiropractic is the PERFECT choice as many of these holistic approaches are utilized or can be coordinated through our office.

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR FIBROMYALGIA! FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO: WWW.STOPYOURFIBRONOW.COM

Fibromyalgia, C-reactive Protein and Your Heart

C-reactive Protein (CRP) is a protein that increases in the blood stream as a response to injury and inflammation.  Fibromyalgia sufferers often have elevated levels of CRP and it can be a sign of a major systemic inflammatory problem.  Lowering these levels can be a big key to relieving the wide-spread body pain.

CRP also turns out to be a good predictor of heart disease.  A study appearing in the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association (2005;8(1)43-44), involving more than 27,000 women, found that CRP was a better predictor of cardiovascular disease than LDL (bad) cholesterol.

High CRP levels double the likelihood of death from a heart attack. And, it increases the likelihood of cancer by a factor of 1.65.

Again, people with chronic pain often have elevated levels of CRP.  These people need to know that if these levels are left unchecked, it can lead to a higher risk of heart disease and cancer later in life.

CRP levels can be lowered by increasing intake of anti-oxidant vitamins like Vitamin C and E.  Also, increasing levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet and lowering Omega-6 fatty acids can lower CRP levels.  Other anti-oxidant compounds can be helpful as well.

A C-reactive protein blood test is an easy routine test.  I include it in the blood panels I order because the information is so important.  It can make a big difference in your health.

For more information on chronic pain log on to www.fibroreliefinfo.com .

Fibromyalgia: How Do I know I Have It?

To answer this question, let’s first define fibromyalgia (FM).  FM is a condition that is diagnosed basically by eliminating all other possible causes, including inflammatory joint conditions. Lab testing includes tests for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, and infection.  X-ray and MRI’s may be ordered to rule out disc problems, fractures, tumors and infections.

There are essentially no blood tests, imaging studies or neurological tests that can specifically diagnose FM.  It is when all these tests come back negative, that the diagnosis of FM is used. The history is probably the most important tool that helps to diagnose FM.  Most of these patients will report that the onset is gradual, often present for years. There is usually no specific cause, though there are specific conditions (such as irritable bowel syndrome, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis and others) that can result in “secondary fibromyalgia”.

The big differentiating feature is the presence of widespread, whole body pain – NOT just low back pain or neck pain or headaches, etc.  In FM, there is often pain in the legs, arms, torso, back and neck.   These people basically, “…hurt all over.” Typically there is no radiating pain down the leg or arm that follows a specific nerve pathway.

Another unique feature of FM includes sleep dysfunction. In many cases, sleep interruptions occur 2, 3 or more times a night, often with difficulty in returning back to sleep. The quality of pain is often described as numbness, tingling, burning, achy, deep, boring, and most importantly generalized in location (all over the body). The intensity is usually reported as high (>6/10 pain scale scores).  The past history usually includes multiple visits to many different types of doctors.   Many attempts at different medications is common.   Most medications do not help.

Even with these unique historical features, it is still necessary to “rule out” other conditions by running tests. This is especially important when FM is secondary to other conditions as FM can overshadowed by other conditions.  It is important to find doctors that have the experience to diagnose it and treat it effectively.

Treatment for FM includes many of the same methods for treating other musculoskeletal conditions.  Spinal manipulation, various forms of physical therapy and low level laser therapy – LLLT, can improve function, reduce pain, and reduce the need for medications.  In addition, dietary management using an anti-inflammatory diet (gluten free diet) and supplementation (a multiple vitamin, calcium/magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, Vit. D, and CoQ10) can be very effective.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR DRUG_FREE RELIEF FROM FIBROMYALGIA! FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO: www.stopyourfibronow.com

Fibromyalgia: Vitamin Recommendations

Fibromyalgia (FM) can be characterized by pain that is widespread, not limited to a single anatomical area but rather can affect the arms, legs, trunk, head and neck. This Health Update will concentrate on a few specific vitamin recommendations with the understanding that a “good” diet such as one low in glutens (wheat, corn, barley, rye), rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, with an emphasis of omega 3 rather than omega 6 fatty acids, can be highly effective in and of itself.  More importantly, it doesn’t make sense to abuse your diet and expect any vitamin recommendation to be highly effective.  So the plea is, PLEASE practice a good “anti-inflammatory” diet, such as that briefly outlined above PLUS take the following vitamins:

1. Multivitamin/mineral: This captures a little of everything and serves as a foundation (like the base of a pyramid) for more specific vitamin recommendations.  In most cases, it is wise to skip iron as this is not usually a missing nutrient for most people and can be toxic for some.  If however, iron has been recommended for you, feel free to include it.
2. Magnesium (Mg): Magnesium is a missing nutrient as most foods do not include Mg and it is a vital nutrient in many of the pathways where proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are broken down in the body.  Since it cannot be easily obtained through the diet, a supplement of Mg is wise.
3. Omega 3 fatty acids: There must be a balance between the anti-inflammatory omega 3 and the pro-inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids.  Most people consume far more omega 6 vs. omega 3 fatty acids (instead of the other way around) by consuming things like fast foods and potato chips.  There are long lists of omega 3 and omega 6 foods available on the internet – just “search” these and try to achieve a 3:1 omega 3 vs. omega 6 ratio. When choosing this supplement, many options will be available such as, “1000 mg of Fish Oil.”  But, take a careful look at the label to determine how many pearls/pills are recommended per day as this can vary quite a bit. There are two primary active ingredients abbreviated EPA and DHA that are the important part of “fish oil.”  Generally, about 1000mg of each per day is ideal, which usually requires 3-4 pearls per day (which may mean 3-4000mg of “fish oil” — not “one-a-day”).
4. Vitamin D: Even if you don’t read magazines or newspapers, you probably have heard some of the many wonderful things about Vitamin D.  Some of these benefits include anti-cancer (cervix, prostate, and others).  It’s also been reported as an anti-depressive and more effective for reversing the symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) than stimulation using the correct type of light. It is a strong anti-inflammatory and hence, has a role in the treatment of most diseases as most conditions include an inflammatory component.  The FDA has recently raised the minimum recommended daily allowance from 400 IU to 2000 IU/day.  It has been reported that 70% of people living in the sunbelt are Vitamin D deficient as the ONLY good source of Vitamin D is from sunlight and most of us avoid too much sun for skin cancer reasons.
5. CoQ10: This is a very strong anti-oxidant and it’s been highly recommended for anyone with any heart related conditions.  Anti-oxidants have MANY health benefits! Try 100mcg/day.

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in eliminating your fibromyalgia pain.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR TREATMENT THAT ELIMINATES YOUR FIBROMYALGIA PAIN ! FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO www.stopyourfibronow.com

Fibromyalgia: The Dirty Dozen of Exercise

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common chronic condition that affects millions of people.  The overview of the symptoms is widespread pain in the muscles accompanied by pain, fatigue, and “…just feeling wiped out!”  Sleep deprivation is a common problem and some feel sleep loss for any reason — stress, past injury, current illness, etc. — can result in FM and restoring sleep is a key component to treatment.  Here are 14 key points to consider to effectively “manage” or gain control of FM (as there is no “cure”):

1. Keep Moving: Exercise of a REGULAR BASIS. The presence of pain is NOT a reason to NOT exercise – a common mis-belief about FM.  Exercise is not only good for your muscles but it also helps improve the circulation, maintain bowel regularity, and reduce stress.
2. Talk To Your Doctor: Always discuss your fitness plans with us, your chiropractor! It’s important to have a structured plan to follow and most importantly, START SLOWLY!
3. “Learn” Your Limitations: Around the house, at work and in the gym, learn what you can handle by slowly introducing new activities into your routine. Don’t feel guilty about taking multiple breaks during your day!
4. Remember to Stretch: To improve flexibility, improve muscle tightness, and reduce pain, gentle stretching exercises are VERY rewarding! These can be done at any time of the day and also as a “warm up” and “cool down” before and after your exercise session.
5. Make It Fun: Choose exercises that appeal to you such as bicycling, swimming, or walking – make it fun!  Exercise in a location that is appealing such as walking in a park, or in the woods.  Take your dog (or the neighbor’s dog) for a walk. Try to achieve thirty minutes of movement-based exercise each day.
6. Set Realistic Goals: Don’t try to run a marathon on your first day of exercise. You need to determine what you can handle by gradually introducing the activity. For example, start with a 5 or 10 minute walk and set a goal of 30 minutes by the end of the 1st or 2nd week. Then work on speed or pace. Make sure the exercises you choose do not aggravate your condition further.
7. Make Sleep a Priority: Restless, non-restoring sleep is a common complaint of FM patients. Exercise can really help faulty sleep patterns. Set a sleep schedule – go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Also, talk to us about nutritional options.
8. Block Out Distractions: Use ear plugs, “noise machines,” or an eye mask to block out sleeping distractions.
9. AVOID Caffeine: Coffee, chocolate or caffeine rich soda can disrupt sleep patterns well into the night. Avoid these for at least four [4] hours before bedtime.
10. Reduce Stress: Just struggling with FM is stressful enough!  Yoga, meditation, deep breathing and relaxation exercises can be extremely helpful is reducing stress.
11. Learn To Say No: It’s OK to say “no.” We’re all too busy but with FM, additional worries and stress really take their toll!
12. Socialize Wisely: Socialize with people who have a positive attitude – choose your friends wisely.  Remember, the glass is always at least “half-full!”

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR REAL RELIEF FROM FIBROMYALGIA  FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO: www.stopyourfibronow.com

Fibromyalgia And Your Upper Neck

How can a spinal problem possibly contribute to your fibromyalgia symptoms? As with many disorders, especially pain, the nervous system is involved. The nervous system can get affected thorough structural changes in the spinal column. The classic one is the disk bulge producing a painful sciatic nerve. But, there are also other ways to interfere with the function of nervous system.

When viewing the neck from the side, there should be a forward curve with your head above your shoulders, not in front of them. When forward head carriage is present or when there is a reduction in this forward arch, this may cause additional strain to the upper cervical spine or spinal cord, allowing delicate nerves to be compromised. Chiropractic care should improve your posture if this forward head carriage is present.

The upper neck can also be influenced by mal-alignment  of the upper vertebrae, such as the atlas. This small bone supports the weight of the skull and is necessary for the great rotational range of motion of the neck.

During neck trauma, the head and neck can be put through a violent range of motion that causes the soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) to tear. Blows to the head, childhood or sports injuries and even poor sleeping posture, can cause the upper neck vertebrae to displace, injuring the soft tissues of the joint. Swelling and inflammation can also be a source of irritation to the nervous system. Scar tissue can develop after trauma, which may affect the precise movements of the upper neck.

The atlas surrounds the spinal cord and as it displaces, it can also pull or tether the spinal cord through attachments of delicate ligaments (dentate). This could cause irritation to the nervous system.

The disorders of poor posture and displaced vertebrae can be assessed through x-rays. Range of motion tests are necessary to see how your function may be affected. In some patients, fibromyalgia symptoms can improve substantially. However, most people will need a comprehensive approach that also incorporates an exercise program and nutritional or weight loss support. Chiropractic care is a natural alternative for those who wish a drug-free and non-invasive approach. It carries few risks of side effects and is balanced by the potential to help patients who also have spinal disorders contributing to their poor health.

YOU MAYBE A CANDIDATE FOR DRUG FREE RELIEF! FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO: http://www.stopyourfibronow.com

Fibromyalgia: Dietary Guide

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition affecting multiple body systems is not limited to any one aspect of health. Because of this, there is no ONE diet that works the same for all FM patients. Since most dietary guidelines that address FM are based on general healthy eating principles utilized for many conditions such as hypoglycemia, diabetes, food allergies, headaches, digestive disorders, and fatigue, let’s review some of the most popular and successful dietary approaches that have been reported regarding FM.

Basic Guidelines:

1. Carbohydrates: AVOID all refined carbs (white flour products). Eat whole grain bread, oatmeal, granola, nuts. Avoid artificial sweeteners and limit sugar intake to a max. of 40g/2000 calories. Eat roughly 14 grams / 1000 calories consumed of soluble dietary fiber such as apples, oats, and legumes vs. insoluble fiber such as bran. Your total carb intake from all sources should be between 30-55% of your total calories.
2. Fats: AVOID saturated fats (these clog up circulation, lead to inflammation and pain).  That means <10% of total calories consumed, so limit or eliminate foods such as cheese, beef, milk, oils, ice cream, cakes, cookies, mayonnaise, margarine, chips and chicken skin. Eat mono- and poly-unsaturated fats and include regular amounts of omega 3-fats. Eat < 300mg/day of cholesterol; Try to avoid ALL trans fats such as cakes, cookies, crackers, pies, bread, margarine, fried potatoes, chips, shortening.  Take omega 3 fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) as these help make other omega 3 fats like EPA and DHA, and are very helpful for the brain.  ALA is found in flaxseed, linseed oil, or cod liver oil. Limit total fat intake to 20-35% of calories consumed.
3. Protein: Go easy on red meat as they are high in saturated fat. Instead, eat more fish and vegetable protein (legumes and soybeans are great). When eating meat or poultry, remove all visible fat and skin before eating. Maintain protein at 20-40% of total caloric intake.  AVOID: processed meats, especially salt-cured, smoked or nitrate-cured.
4. Fruits & Vegetables: Whole fruits are superior to juices.  Include blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kiwis, peaches, mango, cantaloupe melon and apples. Some FM sufferers cannot tolerate citrus fruits but if you can, fruits like oranges and grapefruits are great.  Vegetables are crucial. Good choices include carrots, squash, sweet potato, spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.  These foods reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancers).
5. Dairy Products:  Choose organic varieties of milk. This also applies to yogurt and cheese.
6. Healthy drinks: Drink 8 glasses of water a day or diluted fruit juices, or herbal teas.  Drinking water helps flush out toxins.  Avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol as these increase fatigue, increase muscle pain and interfere with normal sleeping patterns. Limit or eliminate alcohol.
7. Healthy Snacks: Chopped vegetables, unsalted nuts and/or seeds; AVOID ALL commercial snack foods (except salt-free air-popped popcorn) as these are high in trans fats & salt.  Avoid chocolate and candy.
8. Junk Food: Regular consumption of this is BAD for FM patients due to the high levels of fat, sodium, calories and general lack of nutrition.
9. Artificial Sweeteners:  AVOID them!  Examples: aspartame, NutraSweet, & saccharine.
10. MSG:  (monosodium glutamate (MSG) and Sodium (Salt) can aggravate FM!
11. QUANTITY:  Eat smaller light meals, especially in the evenings.

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR FIBROMYALGIA! FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE TREAT FIBROMYALGIA LOG ON TO : WWW.STOPYOURFIBRONOW.COM

Treatment Alternatives for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that usually affects different organ systems in the body, causing a number of symptoms. Some of these include:

1)      The muscles (the musculoskeletal system): tender, achy, stiff, tight muscles, trigger or tender points all over the body;
2)      The nerves (the nervous system): headaches, light headedness, sleep disruption, depression, anxiety, numbness/tingling (overlaps with the cardiovascular system);
3)      The stomach and intestines (the gastrointestinal system): diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel, leaky gut, heart burn, lack of appetite, abdominal cramping;
4)      Breathing (the respiratory system): hyperventilation, rapid / shallow breathing patterns;
5)      The heart (the cardiovascular system): racing heart rate – palpitations, feeling cold all the time, numbness/tingling (overlaps with the nervous system);

Because of the multiple systems involved, there are many challenges to managing Fibromyalgia.  Studies suggest a balance between several approaches works best.  Some of these approaches include biomedical treatments, organ-specific treatments, and cognitive interpersonal treatments.  Within these categories, the following can be broken down further:

1)      General – those treatments directed at the whole body such as anti-inflammatory measures.  These include (but are not limited to) medications (corticosteroids, NSAID’s – such as Advil, Aleve) and nutrients (ginger, turmeric, boswellia, Vitamin D, and others).  Other anti-inflammatory measures include diet, such as the Paleo Diet or “caveman diet.”  This diet eliminates grains or flour-based products from the diet.  That means no more breads, pastas, crackers, cookies – anything made with flour.  This approach emphasizes consuming fruits, vegetables, grass-fed lean meats and fish.  The main ingredients in grains that are of concern in the Paleo Diet are gluten and lectins
2)      Central – those treatments directed at the chemical factors in the brain that control mood, depression, anxiety and so on.  These include (but are not limited to) medications (tricyclic antidepressants, muscle relaxers like Cyclobenzaprine, SSRI, SNRI and Trmadol) and certain nutrients (neurotransmitter support such as 5-HTP – tryptophan, DHEA and others).
3)      Psychotherapy and active behavioral therapy – treatments that are supportive of nervous system such as cognitive behavior therapy, aerobic exercise, patient education, multidisciplinary therapy, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and strength training.
4)      Passive physical intervention – chiropractic therapy, massage therapy and other forms of manual therapy, and acupuncture.

The goal of this article is to look at fibromyalgia from a holistic perspective so that those struggling with FM and similar conditions can better appreciate the concept of multidisciplinary treatment, of which chiropractic care plays a significant role.  Coordination of care and finding the “right” health care providers cannot be over-emphasized.

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. Chiropractic care can be a life changer for fibromyalgia sufferers, choosing one with experience treating FM is very important.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR FIBROMYALGIA! Log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com

Can Car Accidents Cause Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is one of those diagnoses that is pretty loose.  The name itself doesn’t mean much.  Fibromyalgia translated into English means muscle pain.  So if you have aches and pains all over, your doctor may tell you, “you have fibromyalgia.”

There is a diagnostic criteria that has been developed that says if you have 11 of 18 common tender points, you have fibromyalgia.  The problem is, you can have 11 of those points become tender for a variety of different reasons.  So fibromyalgia may not be the most accurate diagnosis.

This brings me to my point about car accidents and fibromyalgia.  Neck injuries sustained during car accidents can cause pain in the muscles all through the body.  It effects mainly the neck, but you can get pain in the back, arms, head and legs.  The pain can travel from day to day and it can vary in intensity.  If the injuries from the car wreck are not treated properly, they can lead to a lifetime of pain.(1)

Typically these neck injuries are called whiplash.  But that diagnosis is only made during the first few months after the injury.  This is because many doctors have been trained to think that whiplash will heal itself within a few months after the injury.  This idea is totally false according to the vast majority of scientific medical evidence.

So, you may show up at a doctors office years after your injury, telling him/her that you have pain that started after the crash.  Over the years it may have gotten progressively worse.  The doctor will diagnose you as having fibromyalgia, because there is no diagnosis code for chronic whiplash.  Even if there was, he/she wouldn’t look at it that way, because of their training.

In my experience, in successfully treating fibromyalgia, a minimum of 2 out of 3 cases have been whiplashed.  It could be from a car wreck, a fall or even a sports injury.

To find out more about how I treat fibromyalgia log on to: www.stopyourfibronow.com
For more information regarding car accident injury treatment, go to: www.thechiropracticimpactreport.com.

(1) “The Fluctuation in Recovery Following Whiplash Injury”, Injury, Volume 36, Issue 6, June 2005, pages 758-761

Ice or Heat for Fibromyalgia Pain?

Fibromyalgia patients often ask me if they should use ice or heat on their painful areas.  When I tell them not to use a heating pad, sometimes their faces will turn white.  The person will then tell me that they have been using a heating pad all the time because it “feels good.”

Using heat on sore muscles tends to feel pretty good, especially in cold weather areas like Wisconsin.  However, heat makes tissues swell.  The swelling can cause damaged tissues to take twice as long to heal.

People suffering from fibromyalgia tend to have inflammatory issues already.  The inflammation comes from a variety of reasons too lengthy to go into in this blog.  But, heat will make the inflammation worse.

Generalized heating of the body that comes from a hot bath or shower does not seem to be harmful. Its the heating pads that seem to cause the most trouble.  The localized heat causes blood vessels to open up and increase circulation.   The increased circulation to an already swollen area, causes more swelling.

If you are experiencing symptoms where your skin is very sensitive to the touch, discontinue the use of a heating pad immediately.  This is a sign that you have too much swelling and you are getting over sensitive.

I normally suggest ice in order to bring swelling down.  However, I know from experience that many fibromyalgia patients cannot tolerate ice.  The cold makes them feel too achy.  But ice is the best thing to do, if you can handle it.

If you like the heat because it gives you temporary relief of pain, then take a shower or bath.  Limit the time to 20 minutes.  This will keep you from overheating.  If you take a warm bath, you may try using Epsom salts.  The magnesium in the Epsom salts has been found to be beneficial for fibromyalgia sufferers.

To find out more about how I treat fibromyalgia, log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com