lifewithfibromyalgia

When ever research is conducted on any disease, there will be both good and bad news. For instance, recent Fibromyalgia (FMS) research has found irregularities in both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues in FMS sufferers. The good news is that more research is being conducted on FMS due to these recent discoveries, which I will cover shortly. The bad news is that newer and more effective medications may not be produced as quickly as we would like due to the fact that there is still no common problem found to be the root cause of FMS.

Here is some of the research I have found:

Central nervous system research on fibromyalgia:

• Alterations in pain-related chemical transmitters have been reported in the spinal fluid (particularly substance P, nerve growth factor, serotonin, norepinephrine, and corticotropin releasing factor)
• Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are substances that form a communication link between your body’s immune and neurological systems, have been found by many research teams
• Different brain imaging techniques by several research centers have all shown that the blood flow and metabolic processes in the brain are significantly disturbed
• Almost all people with fibromyalgia report difficulties staying asleep (e.g., the natural processes in the brain that maintain sleep appear to be disrupted)
• The autonomic nervous system, whose control center resides at the base of the brain to communicate with the CNS to regulate the peripheral tissues, is not functioning properly
• Research on the primary pain control system in the spinal cord indicates that it is not filtering out or dampening incoming noxious signals from the peripheral tissues
• Several research studies pertaining to memory function tests show that people with fibromyalgia have an impaired ability to concentrate

Research findings show that the peripheral tissues are also involved in producing the symptoms of fibromyalgia:

• Muscles are often tight and knotted with myofascial trigger points (areas in the belly of muscles that refer pain to other regions and cause restrictions in range of motion)
• High levels of a nitric oxide-producing enzyme was documented by one research team to help explain why patients have exercise intolerance
• Excessive levels of oxidative chemicals that irritate the tissues were found in the connective tissues in the tiny space between the muscle fibers
• Reduced blood flow to the muscles as well as a reduction in the number of capillaries supplying nutrients to the tissues were confirmed by different research teams … these findings are hypothesized to be caused by the malfunctioning in the autonomic nervous system

http://www.fmnetnews.com/basics-research.php

A different site discussed research findings that are slightly different from that listed above:

What Causes fibromyalgia?

While the underlying cause or causes of FM still remain a mystery, new research findings continue to bring us closer to understanding the basic mechanisms of fibromyalgia. Most researchers agree that FM is a disorder of central processing with neuroendocrine/neurotransmitter dysregulation. The FM patient experiences pain amplification due to abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous system. An increasing number of scientific studies now show multiple physiological abnormalities in the FM patient, including: increased levels of substance P in the spinal cord, low levels of blood flow to the thalamus region of the brain, HPA axis hypofunction, low levels of serotonin and tryptophan and abnormalities in cytokine function.

Recent studies show that genetic factors may predispose individuals to a genetic susceptibility to FM. For some, the onset of FM is slow; however, in a large percentage of patients the onset is triggered by an illness or injury that causes trauma to the body. These events may act to incite an undetected physiological problem already present.

Exciting new research has also begun in the areas of brain imaging and neurosurgery. Ongoing research will test the hypothesis that FM is caused by an interpretative defect in the central nervous system that brings about abnormal pain perception. Medical researchers have just begun to untangle the truths about this life-altering disease.

http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=fibromyalgia_causes

In my view, this is all good news. From a research perspective, neurological issues get more research funding than do rhuematic diseases. I honestly believe FMS sufferers will see enhanced treatments being produced within a few years. When I first started my research in 2003, there was little known about the disease and very few medications utilized to treat it. Now many sufferers take Lyrica. Lyrica works differently than past medications prescribed to sufferers, because it affects the nerves. It was originally invented to treat the pain associated with nerve damage, but is now used to treat pain in “healthy” nerves.

If there are any questions, feel free to comment… I’ll get back to you.

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