Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Fibromyalgia Common For Arthritis

According to the Arthritis Foundation, fibromyalgia is a common arthritis-related disease. Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread pain that affects two to five percent of Americans, including children and adults.

In addition, people with fibromyalgia may experience fatigue, distrubed sleep and psychological distress. Because symptoms are so common, the disease can be misdiagnosed and may be under-recognized.

A new study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, presented at the recent American College of Rheumatology national meeting, shows that people with fibromyalgia have diminished blood flow to parts of the brain and an increase in the chemical Substance P that helps transmit pain signals.

"With this information, researchers can focus efforts to determine why people with fibromyalgia have these physical abnormalities," Christopher Adams, M.D., chairman of the medical committee of Arthritis Foundation, Arkansas Chapter, said. "This finding may eventually lead to different treatments for this painful condition."

Fortunately, there are many ways to manage fibromyalgia.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, treatment includes the use of very low doses of drugs that promote deeper sleep, aerobiac exercise, relaxation techniques and sometimes modest doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or analgesics to provide some pain relief. Education programs that teach people how to cope with the disease also are important.

For more information, including a free copy of the brochure Fibromyalgia, contact the Arthritis Foundation at 1-800-482-8858.

The Arthritis Foundation is the source of help and hope for the nearly 40 million Americans who have arthritis. The foundation supports research to find ways to cure and prevent arthritis diseases, and seeks to improve the quality of life for those affected by arthritis.