FIBROMYALGIA/CFS
Fibromyalgia is a medical condition in which there are changes in how the central nervous system processes pain.
It is a form of persistent widespread pain condition that is commonly associated with other symptoms, including fatigue and sleep.
Research shows that changes in the central nervous system cause the brain to process pain signals abnormally in fibromyalgia, leading to pain becoming amplified.
The hypersensitivity can occur anywhere from the brain down the spinal cord. We don’t know as yet why it occurs but it can occur sometimes after a triggering event.
Many of these central nervous system changes also influence sleep, mood and energy, since the nerves transmitting the information are the same.
This helps explain some of the other common symptoms that one sees with this condition.Other names for CFS are myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), ME/CFS.
Like Fibro, patients may be active and lead relatively normal lives or can be severely affected to be housebound.
The condition is also a long-term disorder affecting the brain and other systems.Debilitating fatigue is usually the most prominent symptom. Other common symptoms include unrefreshing sleep, body pain and mental confusion ("brain fog"). Emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, irritability and grief, are common and similar to FM.
As a long-term and often severe illness, FM and CFS affects many lives including the close family, friends and carers apart from the sufferer, creating many challenges and requiring many adjustments.People with FM and CFS may have difficulty controlling their symptoms and will often benefit from support and help in adapting their lives to the limits imposed by their illness.
Adaptations are many and may include “reducing or eliminating paid work, reducing family responsibilities, coping with increased stress and intense emotions, and coming to terms with loss”.
This website is a maiden attempt by our local support group for Fibromyalgia in collaboration with the NHS Department of Pain Medicine at Royal Berkshire Hospital. While there are local services for Fibromyalgia in Newbury at West Berkshire Community Hospital, there are no such NHS services for CFS in this area and our aim is to promote increased awareness and thereby create a self help group and expert patient support for fellow sufferers.
There are monthly meetings that are held in the West berkshire Community hospital for FM patients and our aim is to provide more help and support to Fibromyalgia and CFS sufferers and those who care for them. Our mission is to provide a forum where such patients can find understanding, knowledge, support and practical help in fighting the condition and also will serve the local GP practices as a suitable signpost.
Services
THERAPIES
It is important to consider what non drug therapies one can try to manage the fatigue and pain symptom\\\ms as most of the drugs that are used can have side effects so often finding the right drug can take some time and trial and error with your doctor so it is important in the meantime to trial any of the complementary therapies listed below.
MEDICATION
Since FMS is a condition characterized by central sensitization (nervous system hypersensitivity), it is therefore most appropriate to go for neuropathic (nerve pain) medication that may have the best chance of controlling symptoms.General simple analgesics can be given first such as paracetamol and various strengths of codeine, taken individually or in combination.
SLEEP HYGIENE
Disturbed sleep patterns are very commonly noted in fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients and they will contribute to the worsening of pain. There are many theories proposed for this and it often reflects disturbances in the nerve signaling in the brain which can lead to more permanent alterations in the nerve fibres that control and regulate sleep.....
Our Aims Are To
We hope you will find this site useful and informative. We endeavor to update our information as frequently as possible. Please take some time to browse around and if possible do provide feedback on what else you would like or if there are any more local charities or systems that can offer support to other fellow sufferers.