Researchers have found the main source of pain in Fibromyalgia patients, and contrary to what many believe, it does not stem from the brain. The findings mark the end of a decades-old mystery about the disease, which many doctors believed was conjured in patients’ imaginations. The mystery of Fibromyalgia has left millions of sufferers searching for hope in pain medications. Up until recently, many physicians thought that the disease was “imaginary” or psychological, but scientists have now revealed that the main source of pain stems from a most unlikely place- excess blood vessels in the hand.
The discovery may lead to new treatments and perhaps even a total cure in the future, bringing relief to as many as 5 million Americans thought to have the disease. To solve the Fibromyalgia mystery, researchers zeroed in on the skin from the hand of one patient who had a lack of the sensory nerve fibers, causing a reduced reaction to pain. They then took skin samples from the hands of Fibromyalgia patients and were surprised to find an extremely excessive amount of a particular type of nerve fiber called arteriole-venule (AV) shunts.
Up until this point scientists had thought that these fibers were only responsible for regulating blood flow, and did not play any role in pain sensation, but now they’ve discovered that there is a direct link between these nerves and the widespread body pain that Fibromyalgia sufferers feel.
The breakthrough also could solve the lingering question of why many sufferers have extremely painful hands as well as other “tender points” throughout the body, and why cold weather seems to aggravate the symptoms. In addition to feeling widespread deep tissue pain, many Fibromyalgia patients also suffer from debilitating fatigue.
Neuroscientist Dr. Frank L. Rice explained: “We previously thought that these nerve endings were only involved in regulating blood flow at a subconscious level, yet here we had evidences that the blood vessel endings could also contribute to our conscious sense of touch… and also pain,” Rice said. “This mismanaged blood flow could be the source of muscular pain and achiness, and the sense of fatigue which are thought to be due to a build-up of lactic acid and low levels of inflammation fibromyalgia patients. This, in turn, could contribute to the hyperactivity in the brain.”
Current treatments for the disease have not brought complete relief to the millions of sufferers. Therapies include narcotic pain medicines; anti-seizure drugs, anti-depressants and even simple advice such as “get more sleep and exercise regularly.” Now that the cause of Fibromyalgia has been pinpointed, patients are looking forward to an eventual cure. Other expressed frustration about how much they had suffered already:
“When are they ever going to figure out that things are never “all in your head?” said one commenter. “Whenever something doesn’t fit in their tiny little understanding, they belittle the patient and tell them they are crazy. People have suffered through this since they were invented. Prescribing SSRIs for everything is not the answer any more than a lobotomy or hysterectomy was.”
The announcement has the potential to unlock better future treatments and undoubtedly has patients all over the world rejoicing that the mystery of Fibromyalgia has finally been solved.
RELATED: Fibromyalgia: Proof of Physical Origins Vs. Two Danish Psychiatrists
By: Rebecca Savastio
Source: Redorbit
Source: Womenshealth.gov
Source: Yahoo News
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What about our memory and speech problems i was told that was part of it too feel like im loosing my brain the way i can’t reamember of speek and try to understand people
I have a question to anyone who happens to read this: I have had Fibromyalgia for the past 16 years (I’m 45 years old now), and I’ve noticed over the past two to three years, my hands, from the knuckles down, will go completely white and then numb. Both my hands do this. It only lasts about 5 minutes, and then goes back to normal again. At first, it was only happening about once a week. But now, it’s happening at least once a day. Just last week, I saw the same thing happening in my toes. My question is; is this a symptom of fibro? Should I be more concerned? I told my GP about this approximately two years ago, and he didn’t seem very concerned at the time. My father had a 90% blockage in the main artery in one of his legs, and needed emergency surgery to save his life. I often think about this and wonder if what I have is just a symptom of the fibro, or if I should be more concerned and adamantly ask my GP to have my circulation checked?
Thanks in advance for any info/answers to my question.
Hi Heather it sounds like raynaurds disease often the hands don’t hurt when they are hun but can be excruciatingly painful when the blood tried to reach the ex remedies. I would be demanding that you go do some tests or refer you over to a rheumatologist I pray to go though that you don’t get a rude horrid one like me in Liverpool.
Gentle hugs
Karen
Hello Karen Anne,
Thank you for your reply, your info and your advice! I looked up that disease and it seems I’m showing every symptom. I actually see the Rheumatologist at the end of September (initially to help with my fibro), so I’ll definitely bring this to his attention, and hopefully get some answers regarding both.
Once again, thank you very much for taking the time to answer me, Karen Anne. Gentle hugs right back to you!
Hi Heather. No problems I am glad to have helped. I am also glad that you have found a rheumatologist who will entertain a patient with fibromyalgia. I have recently had a terrible experience with a consultant in Liverpool. Who treated me like trash. I might add that I paid 170 pound for the pleasure of his insults. He said for me to get back to work or I will loose my job, end up on benefits and that will be the end of me. He then followed me up in NHS were he appeared a little better but then sent a separate letter to my doctor saying I was a hypochondriac and would benefit from seeing a clinical psychologist. I was distraught. Had a meeting with my GP who defended him but I am awaiting on a formal response to my complaint. Like I said to my GP just because you cannot measure it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. I am still Seething but hey ho. X
That is terrible you’re being treated that way! I’m so sorry you are, Karen! I get so angry reading and hearing the same from so many people! Makes me wish we could transfer our pain on to these ‘Specialists’ and ‘Doctors’ to then make them realise just how much pain we’re actually in! I’m live in Canada, and when I initially went to a Rheumatologist about my pain 16 years ago, I was made to feel so low. He humiliated me, telling me to lose weight and it will go away. Well, I lost all the excess weight and am worse now than ever before! Makes me so mad that these are the kinds of people ‘treating’ us! I truly hope you can get some answers and the much needed and deserved help, Karen! X
Thanks Heather. I hope you get sorted real soon. X oh and I’m so jealous that you live in Canada. Never been but always wanted to be a nurse in Canada. Ha. Maybe in another lifetime ha xx
Really, Karen Anne?! Wow! It has been my lifelong dream to visit all of the UK! That is what my daughter and I would love to do together! Go visit all the places where our ancestors originated from! We have good friends who live in Wales and I just wish so badly that it wasn’t so costly to get over there! 🙁 Like you said, perhaps in another life *sigh* lol. Either that, or maybe if teleportation is invented before I die! lol xx
Haha yeh do trading places for a month ha x
Sounds good to me lol.
Enjoy the rest of your evening, Karen 🙂 x
FINALLY, some light has been shed on our incredibly debilitating and painful disease. To the many doctors and specialists out there: NO, it’s not “just in our heads”! This disease is very real, and I am hopeful… soooo hopeful that a cure is in sight for us all.
Heather – sorry to rain on your parade, but this post is over three years old. So far, nothing further has been posted by the original person on this subject as to how to tackle it. Doctors are still handing out Anti-depressants like sweeties, which may help to an extent with the pain but are addictive, and if you read the papers, the medication can cause the same problems as what you already have, maybe more so. I have been on Anti-depressants for around ten years already, and use a Benzodiazepine twice a week. The latter helped me stand and walk for a couple of years, but the more you take these medications, the more you need. I also took Pur blocker to slow my bodily system down, but that didn’t help either. The Benzo’s are even more addictive than the Anti- depressants. Some Doctors will say that the Anti-depressants are not addictive, but believe me, they must slowly be tailed off over months. Even if you get better, you won’t know because the side effects of leaving them off, if you do it too quickly are worse than what you have. At the moment, swimming, walking, certain pain killers and Trepiline is the only Arsenal we have. If another post from the original person comes up on this site, I will have more faith!
Hello Valerie,
I actually wasn’t aware that the article was that old! Thank you for pointing that out to me. How frustrating to learn this!
I completely understand where you’re coming from with regards to the Doctors handing out the Antidepressants and various other addictive meds like candies. I too have been given, and am still on a myriad of different drugs to try to ‘help’, but the side effects tend to be worse at times than the actual Fibro! I was put on Cymbalta at one point and that drug reacted so horribly in my system! I took it for three days and had to stop because I honestly felt like I was dying, the side effects were so bad! I’m currently taking (strictly for the Fibromyalgia): Oxycodone, Percocet, Celebrex, Amitriptyline, and Trazodone. The last two meds are to try to help me sleep, as the pain from the fibro was keeping me from that. All those meds help somewhat… better than if I didn’t have anything, but I wish I didn’t suffer so much from the side effects from those meds. And, as you stated, the increasing addiction as a result.
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to reply back to me with your info/insight, Valerie.
Hi again Heather. Thanks for your nice reply! I am just taking Aspen trazodone and Amitriptyline, and both things are known to improve sleep. With the latter, just taking a half, and mostly, unless my mind is very revved up, it gives me eight hours or more sleep. Don’t know what the other things you are taking do, will have to look them up. Cymbalta is supposed to be the main thing which helps with Fibro, but I also couldn’t take it. I have had Fibro for 16 years, and now at 68 yrd old use a wheelchair round the Malls and shops. I can’t walk much or stand for long, but am moving soon to the country where, it being flat (unlike where I live presently,) I will be able to walk more. That is very important, and swimming is marvelous, but I now feel scared of the water of any depth, as my core muscles are not strong any more. That is why exercise is important. Wishing you luck and mostly pain free days. The better your sleep, the better you feel. Wish the Doctors knew more!
I also belong to My Fibro Team, which is a supportive website. If you go on there, I will add you to my team…x
Good day, I have a dear family member with the same symptoms. Is there a blog or online group that would support patients and or less than understanding family members?
DLSteyl if you go to wwwfibromyagiatreatment.com this treatment works to alleviate symptoms if you stick to it. Wish your friend well.
Hi DL Steyn, there is a Fibro community online that’s called MyFibroTeam. Your family member can try it, of they’d like 🙂
I hope they can find a cure but I don’t think they ever will sorry. I also am fed up of being in so much pain I have f/m and r/a and don’t think I could cope much longer I want a life nor this .
I’ve had this since I was 12 (now 68) it would come and go but there didn’t seem to be any reason what brought it on… I was very active as a kid thru my late 50’s then it hit me hard. No breaks. No let up. But I looked like every other woman out there…. perfectly fine. I finally found a doctor who actually believed it was an illness… just not one many clues. I too was sent to a Rheumatologist that basically said it was all in my head and to make an appointment for a follow-up in a year… my theory was if she was know-it-all who didn’t know what she was talking about a year would not have made her any smarter! I am so excited about this possible breakthrough. Have been praying for a cure/treatment other than pain meds for so many years. Gentle hugs to all who have this….
Just been reading all these comments. I too suffer with terrible hand pain, worse in my right. Awful but I keep swimming. I have now registered for the swimathon 2017 in aid of Marie curie. Will pace myself aNd take it all in my stride
I am so happy to read this. I have just endured the worst ever. A callous rheumatologist wrote to my GP and basically called me a hypochondriac. Was totally devastated
I always dream of one day will find the cure.hope they will because i am tired of all my pain.