Fibromyalgia Community

Thanks for posting this here too.

I hope that others here will look at the information and share their thoughts on this.

I was intrigued by the title "Creighton University Studies" but the provided link is not one that provides studies done on fibro at Creighton University. Rather, it is a link to an article written by a psychiatrist, with a disclaimer that the info is not endorsed by the University of Creighton.

The article provides a lot of current info on fibro, explaining it, noting associated symptoms, and mentioning treatments available. However it weighs heavily on the "functional somatic" view that many doctors no longer believe. The functional somatic view on fibro means that there is no physical cause of fibro and the symptoms that develop are all psychologically driven.

The present view on fibro, at least by the doctors I've worked with and followed their research, is that fibro is a neurobiological disease with specific pathology affecting the central nervous system, the autonomic nerves, esp the sympathetics, and the neuroendocrine system.

In my opinion, the myth that fibro is the result of a depressed mind, or due to functional somatic pathology, has been successfully debunked. There have been a number of very good studies by well known and respected fibro experts (Dr Arnold and Dr. Bradley, to name 2) that have led to the refocusing of fibro away from the somatic cause to the neurobiological cause.

Fibro certainly affects one's mind, and I consider psychiatric/psychological treatments to be very important in the fibro treatment tool box. There is a big difference, however, between saying fibro can lead to psychological manifestations and saying fibro is the result of psychological/somatic pathology.

I always encourage my patients and readers to research fibro on their own; education is the best treatment available. In the end, the fibro person is trying to manage her or his condition as best as possible, and appreciating the most updated medical info can only help.

Dr. P

Thank you as always Dr P.
Nancy B

Dr. P,

Very well said about the physical aspect versus the psychological. My first experience with Psychologist was a good one and he said my issues were definitely physical and he started me on the journey of living with FM without just giving me an antidepressants.

Fast forward five years when I finally had to file for SSD I was having extreme Panic Attacks. It was the lawyer I went to who told he had never had a client with chronic pain for years who did not end up with some form of anxiety or depression because of it.

Years ago in the 80's when people ask if FM could be my problem I had no depression or anxiety. I am living proof that it is physical, just glad that it is recognized now.

laurab

Thanks, Dr. P---I started having Fibro symptoms when I was 20 (in hindsight). The "MD" I was seeing never found anything wrong. After multiple visits, he dxed me with CFS, but said he was doing it because I was a "drama queen" who "obviously needed a label". I left the office in tears and never went back again, resigning myself to feeling crappy for the rest of my life. Imagine my relief to find out, 23 years later that what I had was real and it had a name. Wish my old "MD" was still alive so I could shove the dx up his nose!

How do you find a Dr. that believes in fibromyalgia, I have moved to a new state and dont have a Dr. yet.

The last page of the document has a bibliography that leads to the studies cited.

Here is another MD's thoughts. This is from Feb 2012.

http://portraitsfibro.blogspot.com/2012/02/fibro-mass-hysteria.html

and the MD who authored the above article provides his email address.

drkadoch@gmail.com

You can write to him.

I have had spinal cord injury and live with daily pain related to nerve damage. As a child, I has spina bifida and it was painful to walk. The (two) surgeries were brutal and I was in a body cast at both 7 yr old and, again, at 15 when I reached full height (I grew 1 1/2 " after though).

I have never suffered clinical depression, anxiety disorder, or panic attacks.

Your atty's statement was his opinion, not researched, concluded, published, peer reviewed medical fact.

Many people with chronic diseases, injuries, disordered do not experience depression or anxiety- certainly not "extreme panic attacks".

This sort of statement is oppressive to those of us who live with pain and do not have any psychological problems- NONE- or mental health "issues" or diagnoses.

"Education. This is half the battle. People with fibromyalgia must understand that this condition is not life threatening, deforming or paralyzing....."

this is from an article authored by Dr Pelligrino of Ohio.

I think the MD who diagnosed you with CFS would be impressed by a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Recently, the trend in fibromyalgia self reporting seems that people with FMS believe that they have had this disorder for far longer than diagnosed. Some have posted that they believe that they've had fms since childhood.

What is this all about?

So sorry to hear of your chronic pain from nerve damage. Also glad to know you don't suffer from mental illness.

Do you know someone who has FM? I'm just curious why you have such strong feelings about it being psychological in origin.

I think what her (Ib707) lawyer was saying is that at some time or another that most people with chronic pain will experience a little anxiety or depression from being in pain all the time, it does NOT mean that you have a mental illness though. I think a lot of us in chronic pain can relate and we do not have clinical depression either.