Tag: lower back pain

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THE MANY SYMPTOMS OF FIBROMYALGIA…

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People living with an “invisible” illness don’t just have to content with chronic pain and fatigue, there are many other symptoms with Fibromyalgia which include –

Chronic widespread pain without apparent cause

Fatigue

Sleep Disturbance

Cognitive Dysfunction

Morning Stiffness

Cramping and Muscle Spasms

Restless Leg Syndrome

Digestive Problems

Headaches and Migraines

Skin Sensations

Balance Problems

Sensitivities 

Tender Points

Depression

Difficulty Speaking

Anxiety

But the most distressing thing about Fibromyalgia is people not recognising, or even believing, that your experiences are real. Even today, there is still a significant lack of understanding around fibromyalgia in terms of its causes, diagnostics and how to best manage it.

According to Bupa, it affects up to one in 20 people. Des Quinn, chair of Fibromyalgia Action UK, said: “We frequently hear of doctors saying they do not believe in fibromyalgia to a patient.”

Some of the typical points Fibro patients say –

Looking ‘well’ does not mean I am fine, I have just made a real effort today.

Not getting a diagnosis for years and years can be soul-destroying and make your symptoms worse through the stress of trying to get a true diagnosis.

Some say they have to constantly explain what it is they have which can be exhausting. Just because you do not walk around with something in plaster does not mean you are not in awful pain.

Lots of people with fibro still work but struggle on some days more than others but having an understanding boss is one in a thousand.

Every day is different which means you cannot always plan ahead. But when you are on a good day you may end up doing more than you should and then suffer from it afterwards.

Sufferers can be fine one minute then it suddenly comes on big time and its an effort just to walk.

The chronic fatigue with Fibro is very difficult to explain but imagine you stayed up ALL night for a couple of nights on the run and that is how the fatigue feels. It totally takes over.

Some may comment on the different types of medications you can take making it look easy to just pop a pill and the pain will go away. That is far from the truth as most of the pills have awful side effects and don’t always work. Its a balancing act to work out what helps the most.

‘Pace Yourself’ seems to be a very popular phrase used by many people including the professionals. If it was as easy as that then we would all be in a much healthier state. A bell doesn’t tend to ring until you have overdone things and you only overdid things because you were on a good day.

The change in seasons can affect us badly and according to Fibromyalgia-symptoms.org, there are five “major weather factors” that can affect our bodies. They are temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, precipitation and wind. I am afraid the weather is something we cannot control.

May, as you can see from many of my posts is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month so please take your time to read through the many posts going out this month to help people understand the condition a bit more. Here are six facts about Fibro to remember.

  1. It is a real disorder with measurable biological abnormalities.
  2. There is a specific set of diagnostic criteria developed by the American College of Rheumatology to be used for diagnosing Fibromyalgia.
  3. It affects men, women, and children of all ages.
  4. Several studies have revealed markers of inflammation in Fibromyalgia.
  5. Exercise, when done properly, can help to reduce Fibromyalgia symptoms.
  6. Although there is no cure for Fibromyalgia, it can be managed with the right combination of treatments and therapies.

Source: Fibromyalgia Symptoms

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PETS AND OUR HEALTH – HOW PETS CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH & WELLBEING…

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The Joy of Pets is an article written on a life insurance website which I felt all my readers would really enjoy reading.

Walking a dog, playing with a cat, stroking a rabbit or watching fish swimming – all pets bring us joy. But did you know that animal companionship can also benefit our health and wellbeing? It’s actually good for us to spend time around animals of all shapes and sizes.

There’s no motivation quite like someone you love needing you to step up to the challenge! Dogs need walking every day, which means you need to walk as well. When the weather is wet and cold, most of us would prefer to sit in front of the fire with a cup of tea and a good programme on TV. It’s all too easy not to bother, but those puppy dog eyes and waggy tails won’t let you off the hook – just what you need to kick start a healthy lifestyle!

We have always had a pet and when we lost our second dog a few years ago I felt completely lost. We have since moved and feel we would rather look after our families pets instead of us getting another one. It’s great fun as we can go out and away without the worry but enjoy the comfort of a pet when we want.

They say that cats and dogs are the most popular pets by some way. But whether you have a furry, feather or scaled friend in your home, it’s likely they make you feel better.

The article points out that more than anything, our pets become our friends. They comfort us when we’re feeling our worst and make us laugh with joy in our happiest moments. Not only do they boost our mood and improve our health, an incredible bond is formed between pets and their families.

The Guardian writes that Pet ownership should be recognised as a public health strategy due to the profound benefits for individuals, families and communities, says Steven Feldman.

Pets can buffer stress and help address social isolation. GP’s are increasingly supporting pets for mental health conditions. Research demonstrates that pet owners have lower blood pressure, are more likely to achieve the recommended levels of daily exercise and are less likely to be obese.

It’s not just adults who can benefit from pets – they are really good for children’s physical and mental health, too. Owning pets is great for teaching children responsibility; they get the reward of seeing their pets happy and healthy and learn to consider others ahead of themselves.

Source: Comparethemarket The Guardian PDSA Habri

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IT’S SLEEP SUNDAY – LET’S TALK ABOUT BEAUTY SLEEP AND WHAT WE NEED…

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Studies show that poor sleep can result in poor cardiovascular health, particularly for women, and that circadian rhythm disruption could be an understudied risk factor in heart health.

One minute they are telling us that we need a full night’s sleep to function correctly and even that sleeping may help you to lose some weight! Now, researchers are careful to note however that oversleeping has been linked to a host of medical problems, including diabetes and heart disease.

So, how much sleep should we have? Well, the amount of sleep varies significantly over the course of our lifetime. It depends on your age and activity level as well as your general health and lifestyle habits.

They say that sometimes circumstances mean we need more sleep, for instance during times of stress or illness. However, the typically recommended amount of sleep for adults should be between seven and nine hours each night.

When we’re sleeping, our brains are actively working to process the information from the day into our long-term and short-term memory. Good sleep not only helps our bodies and minds to rest and repair, but it also allows us to perform better too.

The Paper Gown writes about Beauty Sleep and says that the term “beauty sleep” typically describes an extra hour or two of sleep in the evening that helps you look and feel your best in the morning. However, it goes beyond that. Adequate rest is essential for physical and mental well-being. It helps manage stress, reduce inflammation in the body, improve concentration and focus at work or school, and even boost mood. 

With a global problem of insufficient sleep, there are serious public health implications to address. Studies paint a worrying picture; an estimated 50 to 70 million adults in the U.S. suffer from sleep disturbances or illnesses such as insomnia and sleep apnea.

Do you ever find yourself stuck in a vicious cycle? Pain makes it difficult to sleep, but sleep deprivation means the body cannot repair itself – making the pain worse. Healthline points out that people with chronic pain don’t necessarily see improvements in sleep once their pain is resolved.

In fact, the pain often only continues to worsen until sleep is addressed. This may be related to the fact that some people with chronic pain may battle anxiety which in turn may cause stress chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol to flood their systems. Over time, anxiety creates overstimulation of the nervous system, which makes it difficult to sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation points out that sixty-five per cent of those with no pain reported good or exceptionally good sleep quality, while only 45 per cent of those with acute pain and 37 per cent of those with chronic pain did the same. Additionally, 23 per cent of those with chronic pain reported higher stress levels, compared with 7 per cent of those without pain.

Those with acute or chronic pain are more likely to have sleep problems impact their daily lives. Among people who’ve had sleep difficulties in the past week, more than half of those with chronic pain say those difficulties interfered with their work. That drops to 23 per cent of those without pain. People with pain are also far more apt than others to report that lack of sleep interferes with their mood, activities, relationships, and enjoyment of life overall.

People with pain also feel less control over their sleep, worry more about lack of sleep affecting their health and exhibit greater sleep sensitivity. They’re more likely than others to say environmental factors make it more difficult for them to get a good night’s sleep. These factors include noise, light, temperature, and their mattresses alike, suggesting that taking greater care of the bedroom environment may be particularly helpful to pain sufferers.

While both chronic and acute pain is related to lost sleep, the survey indicates that chronic pain is an especially powerful problem. Indeed, one in four people with chronic pain, 23 per cent, say they’ve been diagnosed with a sleep disorder by a doctor, compared with just 6 per cent of all others.

Sleep station comment that It’s a never-ending battle and a vicious circle between sleep disturbance and pain. In some there may be an element of chicken and egg – is the pain-causing sleep problems or is the mediocre quality of your sleep making your pain feel worse? Pain can, for example, be the main reason that you wake in the night, and these interruptions during the night can lead you to get less sleep, and most important of all, less excellent quality restorative sleep. This sleep deprivation can lower your pain threshold and your tolerance for pain and thus can make your pain feel worse.

Source: ZocDoc Healthline, The National Sleep Foundation Sleep Station

Source: ZocDoc