Rating Scale for Fibromyalgia

This is great. A rating scale for fibromyalgia, along with treatment protocols for each level. The person who submitted this article is asking if this is new. I think it is, because I research Fibro a LOT and try to keep up on as many new discoveries or articles as I can find, and I've never seen this. I think that most doctors are not even aware that this exists, because so few doctors even want to deal with us, because there are so few satisfactory treatments for us. Maybe with this scale, they will start thinking of treatment protocols suggested by the guidelines here. I wish the treatment protocols were specifically laid out for doctors to follow, and then that every Dr. got a copy for ready reference for their fibro patients.

http://fb.me/xPeYN6Hn

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wall on March 21, 2011 at 8:06pm

Yes mine is severe too, and I have 8 other serious conditions on top of it from lupus attacking my organs. Was given 2 years to live in 2007, but I guess I still have something to finish before I go...but so hard to do much on anything in this condition, so just trying to be patient and happy as possible in a truly frustrating life.

That part at the bottom of the quote that says " i would classify mine as moderate, how about you" That was written by the author of the article. Not me.

I wish doctors had that info and would develop a proper treatment for us. I don't think that will happen until the test is mainstream. Doctors only pay attention to test results on paper, not syptoms. 2 tests are now available for fibro but they are not mainstream yet because there's not a lot doctors know about how to treat it.

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wall on April 3, 2011 at 11:53pm

ABSOLUTELY AGREE GLORIA!! Some docs REFUSE to even believe there is such a thing as fibro, and they refuse to learn the new research about how disabling it is. Of course you could do what some other people do, complain of back and leg spasms and get the muscle relaxants that way. They seem to believe that pain is real. FRUSTIPATING.

Sheila

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wall on April 4, 2011 at 3:31pm

Do you have a GP who might help with some? I actually use midol/pamprin for my muscle relaxant and it works pretty well without being too strong.

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wall on April 4, 2011 at 3:37pm

Another thing that helps the muscle pain is pantothenic acid. A football team Dr. told me about this. It dissolves the lactic acid that makes your muscles hurt. It's vitamin b5 and you can take 500 mg every 6 hours. Its cheaper then tylenol/ibuprofen and HEALS your stomach and liver, unlike other meds. Ths Dr. says it keeps his team off opiates it helps so well. Helps for overwork, and injuries, too.

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wall on April 7, 2011 at 8:02pm

Yes that's my mantra to people and medical staff. I'm addicted to pain relief, not to drugs. It really is maddening that drug abusers make life so much harder on we who are suffering so much. The pantothenic acid isn't as strong as an opiate but you could lower your meds if you used it. I think my Dr. at the time also thought that a dependence on meds is much safer than continued pain which can cause a long list of worse conditions, including death from changed heart rate and raised blood pressure, stroke from endless stress on the body, and permanent chronic pain syndrome from your nerves "learning" that causing pain is their natural state of existing.

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Permalink Reply by Gabriella on April 25, 2011 at 12:22am

Looks like I have moderate fibromyalgia.. Hm.
I had the same problem with my pain management doctor, Shelia and Gloria. Hope you don't mind that I read what you guys were talking about..
After nearly three years of them doing the same things to me and no improvement, I did some research and learned about doctors called orthopedic doctors. I just saw one a few days ago - and he was great. He actually knew what was wrong with me in less than 10 minutes - not two years!
And if you're open to it [everyone feels different about this kinda thing] - vitamins help, too.
Just a tip - milk thistle will clean out your liver from all the medications. If I hadn't been taking it since this began, my liver would've been trashed, I'm sure.

Sorry if I seem nosy or anything.

Gabby

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wall on April 25, 2011 at 2:25pm

Yes Gabby,

EVERYTHING that you can read on this website is public, except the private emails we send to each other, which you can't see anyway. SO anything you see, you are invited to add your 2 cents worth! Yes I have known about milk thistle, but even that is so raw, unpurified, my liver can't handle it, so what I have to do is decide which symptoms are the worst day by day and take 2 supplements for those problems, then my pain meds, as I can only handle 3 things at a time. I think that natural medicine is the only thing that has helped my fibro. There was no "cymbalta" and other meds for fibro just a few years ago. There is one site called www.endfatigue.com where the Dr. is both an M.D. and naturopathic Dr. and he specializes in all diseases with fatigue as its base, and after seeing my daughter and myself and many others get so much better after taking D-ribose, a substance that is already in our bodies but with fibro we use so much that we get low on it, I am convinced that D-ribose could be the controlling substance for fibro just as much as insulin controls diabetes. D-ribose helps oxygen and energy get into every cell individually, and when each cell and each organ doesn't get enough oxygen, it hurts and does not function well, causing pain and other symptoms and brain fog. www.endfatige.com has a monthly newsletter with really helpful information in it. Practical helps. Check it out.

Blessings, Sheila

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Permalink Reply by Gabriella on April 26, 2011 at 5:47am

Oh okay, that's good then. :] I just got a little nervous, lol.
I'm happy about it, too. =]

Gabby

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Permalink Reply by Gabriella on April 26, 2011 at 5:49am

Oh wow, I didn't know any of that! I'll definitely have to check that out.
Thanks for the info.

Gabby

Sheila Wall said:

Yes Gabby,

EVERYTHING that you can read on this website is public, except the private emails we send to each other, which you can't see anyway. SO anything you see, you are invited to add your 2 cents worth! Yes I have known about milk thistle, but even that is so raw, unpurified, my liver can't handle it, so what I have to do is decide which symptoms are the worst day by day and take 2 supplements for those problems, then my pain meds, as I can only handle 3 things at a time. I think that natural medicine is the only thing that has helped my fibro. There was no "cymbalta" and other meds for fibro just a few years ago. There is one site called www.endfatigue.com where the Dr. is both an M.D. and naturopathic Dr. and he specializes in all diseases with fatigue as its base, and after seeing my daughter and myself and many others get so much better after taking D-ribose, a substance that is already in our bodies but with fibro we use so much that we get low on it, I am convinced that D-ribose could be the controlling substance for fibro just as much as insulin controls diabetes. D-ribose helps oxygen and energy get into every cell individually, and when each cell and each organ doesn't get enough oxygen, it hurts and does not function well, causing pain and other symptoms and brain fog. www.endfatige.com has a monthly newsletter with really helpful information in it. Practical helps. Check it out.

Blessings, Sheila

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Permalink Reply by Nancy M on May 25, 2011 at 8:45am

I would have to say my Fibromyalgia pain is moderate but I also have severe osteoarthritis in my spine and in other areas of my body which makes my overall pain level higher. How does this scale work when there are combinations of medical issues contributing to the overall pain level? I found that it was very difficult for me to get my disability because there isn't one single condition that is disabling but a number of different conditions that together make life very difficult for me including chronic fatigue too.

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Permalink Reply by Fibromite52 on May 28, 2011 at 2:07pm

Thanks for sharing this article, Sheila. This is the first time I've seen this type of rating scale for FMS. I, too would love a universal care plan for Fibromyalgia. Maybe one day?

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Permalink Reply by MikefromsouthNZ on June 21, 2011 at 2:35am

Sheila, This is an amazing idea! They are using this same pain scale in NZ Hospitals for post-op patients, to find their pain levels for using pain relief medications. I'm very lucky to have a very understanding Dr that believes fibro is real and treats my diagnosis on this same scale for my pain, whether for fibro or a painful headache. You certainly know your stuff and I admire your gutsy attitude.

Thank you for making a difference... Mike