As a result of the incidence last week with Janis Murphy, a lot of questions have arisen about Fibromyalgia. It is a condition that affects many people and there is little information known about it. As a result of numerous e-mails regarding this condition and the story we aired last week...we are posting this page in an effort to raise awareness and hopefully answer some questions about this disease.

First off, Dr. Stephen Margolis is a specialized doctor in alternative medicine in Sterling Heights. He can be reached at 248-268-0228.

Please feel free to e-mail with with any additional information to update this page. Also check in frequently as we together build an information source for Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia (fi-bro-my-AL-ja) syndrome (FMS) is a very common condition of widespread muscular pain and fatigue. Seven to ten million Americans suffer from FMS. It affects women much more than men in an approximate ratio of 20:1. It is seen in all age groups from young children through old age, although in most patients the problem begins during their 20s or 30s. Recent studies have shown that fibromyalgia syndrome occurs world wide and has no specific ethnic predisposition.

Here are some good websites:

This person also has a book out that is continually highly recommended reading in the fibromyalgia newsgroup to the newbies.
http://www.sover.net/~devstar/

A Patient's Frequently Asked Questions about Fibromyalgia
http://www.hsc.missouri.edu/fibro/fm-pt.html

Products are recommended for those suffering from Fibromyalgia
http://www.mindspring.com/~dsapplp/fibro.html

http://www.shn.net/cgi-bin/interview_s.cgi?DOI=fms
http://www.sover.net/~devstar

A friend with FMS
http://www.eaglequest.com/~kgatzka/nobrainr.html

There are two newsgroups:
alt.med.fibromyalgia
alt.support.chronic-pain
devoted to the subjects where you could find a wealth of first hand information.

Here is some information from the Merck manual:

FIBROMYALGIA - Etiology

The condition occurs mainly in females, may be induced or intensified by physical or mental stress, poor sleep, trauma, exposure to dampness or cold, and occasionally by a systemic, usually rheumatic, disorder. A viral or other systemic infection (eg, Lyme disease) may precipitate the syndrome in an otherwise predisposed host. The primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) is particularly likely to occur in healthy young women who tend to be stressed, tense, depressed, anxious, and striving, but may also occur in adolescents (particularly girls) or in older adults, often associated with unrelated minor changes of vertebral osteoarthritis. Men are more likely to develop localized fibromyalgia in association with a particular occupational or recreational strain. A minority of cases may be associated with significant psychogenic or psychophysiologic manifestations. Symptoms can be exacerbated by environmental or emotional stress, or by a physician who does not give proper credence to the patient's concerns and discharges the matter as "all in the head."

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14. NONARTICULAR RHEUMATISM FIBROMYALGIA - (Myofascial Pain Syndrome; Fibromyositis)

A group of common nonarticular rheumatic disorders characterized by achy pain, tenderness, and stiffness of muscles, areas of tendon insertions, and adjacent soft-tissue structures. These may be primary and generalized or concomitant with another associated or underlying condition, or localized and often related to overuse or microtrauma factors.

The term myalgia indicates muscular pain. In contrast, myositis is due to inflammation of muscle tissues and is an inappropriate term for fibromyalgia, when such inflammation is absent. Fibromyalgia indicates pain in fibrous tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other "white" connective tissues. Various combinations of these conditions may occur together as muscular rheumatism. Any of the fibromuscular tissues may be involved, but those of the occiput, low back (lumbago), neck (neck pain or spasm), shoulders, thorax (pleurodynia), and thighs (aches and charley horses) are especially affected. There is no specific histologic abnormality, and the absence of cellular inflammation justifies the preferred terminology of fibromyalgia rather than the older terms of fibrositis or fibromyositis.

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FIBROMYALGIA - Prognosis and Treatment

Fibromyalgia may remit spontaneously (in milder cases) with decreased stress but can become chronic or recur at frequent intervals. Relief may be obtained from important supportive measures, such as reassurance and explanation of the benign nature of the syndrome, as well as stretching exercises, improved sleep, local applications of heat, gentle massage, and low-dose tricyclic agents at bedtime (eg, amitriptyline 10 or 25 mg) to promote deeper sleep. Aspirin 650 mg orally q 3 to 4 h or other NSAIDs in full dosages have not been shown to be effective in clinical trials but may help individual patients. Incapacitating areas of focal tenderness may beinjected with 1% lidocaine solution, 1 or 2 mL alone or in combination with a 40-mg hydrocortisone acetate suspension (using the technique described for soft tissue injection in the treatment of chronic low back pain, above). A tricyclic antidepressant drug should be used in the lowest effective dose and may be continued indefinitely with monitoring of side effects, if any. If drowsiness occurs with one product, an alternative (in low dose) may be prescribed. Functional prognosis is usually favorable with a comprehensive, supportive program, although some degree of symptoms tends to persist.

Thanks to all the individuals who e-mailed me with information. I hope by passing it along to others it will raise awareness for this painful condition.