Managing Your Symptoms By Adrienne Dellwo Medically reviewed by Anita C. Chandrasekaran, MDPrint We’ve all been there: In spite of all the medications, supplements, stress-reducing techniques and lifestyle changes, some of your symptoms still impose themselves on your life. During those times, little things can make a big difference. Keeping certain little things close at hand can help you manage your fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) symptoms and improve your quality of life. Many of us “nest” when we have flares, basically holing up in one spot such as the bed or couch.…
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6 Emotional Stages of Chronic Pain
By Ann Marie Gaudon, PNN Columnist Emotions are part of our life experience and influence how we cope with challenging situations such as chronic pain. Emotional responses to pain are not “bad” or “negative” because they are a natural response to life events. For example, depression is often seen as a sign of poor health, but it can also be a way of conserving bodily energy. Emotions are never a sign of weakness. Emotions are adaptive responses which have helped us survive as a species. Did you know there are…
Read MoreHow Showering Can Worsen Symptoms of Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS
You may have body aches, feel weak, or get dizzy in or after a shower By Adrienne Dellwo Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD Fact checked by Marley HallPrint Table of Contents If you have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), you may experience new or exacerbated body aches, weakness, dizziness, and other symptoms of your condition during or after a shower. This may happen for several reasons, including heat sensitivity, the energy it takes to perform a simple task like this, how your nerves respond to the water flow, and even an abnormal drop in blood…
Read MoreInjuries With Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
By Adrienne Dellwo Updated Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD Fact checked by Nick BlackmerPrint When you have fibromyalgia (FMS), chronic fatigue syndrome, or (CFS or ME/CFS), an injury can have intense and lasting effects on your symptoms. And your condition can heighten your body’s response to injuries from accidents or contact sports. It almost seems unfair that those of us who have (FMS) and CFS or ME/CFS still get injured. It’s like life is adding insult to injury—or maybe injury to insult is more accurate. When one of us gets hurt, it’s likely to cause a flare. Our central sensitization makes…
Read MoreWhat Is Parkinson’s Dementia?
By Colleen Doherty, MD Published Medically reviewed by Smita Patel, DOPrint Table of Contents Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) is a feature of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive movement disorder associated with both motor (movement-related) and nonmotor symptoms. Dementia causes symptoms like difficulties with memory and making decisions and changes in behavior and mood. It can develop on average about 10 years after PD-related movement symptoms, namely stiffness, shaking, slow movements (bradykinesia), and loss of balance.1 Approximately 20% to 40% of people currently living with PD have dementia, and up to 80% of people with PD…
Read MoreCognitive Decline Symptoms in Young and Older Adults
By Mark Gurarie Medically reviewed by Smita Patel, DOPrint Table of Contents Cognitive decline—or cognitive impairment—is a reduction in the ability to remember, reason, learn, and pay attention. While some loss of these thinking skills is a normal part of aging, cognitive decline is when the loss is worse than expected for your age.1 Noticeable cognitive decline is most common in people older than 70, though younger adults are susceptible, too, as a number of neurological and psychological conditions cause this condition.2 This article breaks down the signs of cognitive decline, how it progresses,…
Read MoreFibro Fog and ME/CFS Brain Fog
Concentration and memory issues can result from fibromyalgia and ME/CFS By Adrienne Dellwo Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MDPrint Table of Contents People with fibromyalgia or myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) experience a specific kind of cognitive dysfunction called fibro fog or brain fog. It involves: Some researchers suspect that pain, fatigue, and the need to constantly monitor your symptoms may prevent you from effectively directing your attention to things outside of yourself.1 This article explains ME/CFS and fibromyalgia brain fog, the mechanisms behind them, and how medications and other treatments can help clear the fog. Symptoms…
Read More6 Stages of Fibromyalgia I have 3 Stage What is your Stage?
6 Stages of Fibromyalgia Stage 1 You started experiencing pain and fatigue more than before, you’re not sure what is going on but you hurt and you are tired. You can hold a job, you can make it through your day, but you know something isn’t right… so it’s something you’re going to start researching. Stage 2 You are in pain a lot, sometimes taking an anti-inflammatory drug or what have you. You do not get much relief, and you have accepted the fact this is something you are going…
Read MoreI’m not sick. I have Fibromyalgia.
The struggle with Fibromyalgia is that everyday it’s something new. My everyday is a constant battle on an all-terrain track; full of dangers, no idea where I’m going or what I’ll hit next. I’m in an infinity roundabout of symptoms. Every obstacle is calculated to avoid risk but the outcome is never predictable no matter how hard I try. The variables don’t matter. There are over 100 symptoms of Fibromyalgia including: For me, I struggle with pain and fatigue Every. Single. Day. That’s not just a little headache or I’m…
Read MoreFibromyalgia & Long-Term Disability Benefits
BY MATT LALANDE in Long-Term Disability Fibromyalgia is a difficult disorder to diagnose, which can be incredibly frustrating for individuals who are living in pain, cannot work and who need to apply for long-term disability benefits. It’s often called the “invisible disease” and for doctors, it’s often referred to as a condition that is very difficult to diagnose. Living with fibromyalgia is not easy and can be very limiting for individuals who suffer from this condition. According to scientific researchers, fibromyalgia is more commonly diagnosed in women than men (up to 80-90%),…
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