Monthly Archives: December 2023

Fibromyalgia and Neuroinflammation – Neuroinflammation is being found in people with fibromyalgia!

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Fibromyalgia can be a very confusing condition. Not all healthcare providers believe fibromyalgia derives from the same body system issues. Some classify fibromyalgia as arthritis, others state it is neurological and then there are still health care providers out there that believe fibromyalgia is a mental illness. The one question we all ask is “Does fibromyalgia initiate an inflammatory response in the body? If one was to do a quick google search the results quickly reveal fibromyalgia does not produce inflammation in the body. However, many of the current speakers at fibromyalgia summits (usually doctors) state there is actually inflammation – neuro inflammation. The regular blood test to check for over all body inflammation does not seem to diagnose this inflammation. This makes it difficult to measure the actual inflammation seen in the body with fibromyalgia!

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A 2018 study revealed that there appears to be increased neurological derived inflammatory mechanisms taking place in the peripheral tissues , spinal cord and brain in people with fibromyalgia! Why do doctors not know about these studies on neuroinflammation? Is it because these were just smaller studies and more evidence is needed? Regardless, these results were logged at the end of this study.

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The study suggests that neuropeptides, chemokines and cytokines are all affected and cause activation of the innate and adaptive immune systems. I had no idea what these two systems were so I had to do further research. The innate immune system is the bodies first line of defense against invading pathogens while the adaptive immune system is set out to destroy the invading pathogens. As this process takes place, several peripheral clinical features of fibromyalgia are produced – swelling and dysesthesia ( unpleasant feelings in the body). The central nervous system may also be influenced thus causing changes in cognition and produces fatigue. As a result, stress related psychological mechanisms and emotional stress is triggered. All this will increase neuro inflammation. Food for thought ( my own opinion) is this why fibromyalgia is known to cause flu like symptoms in many people with fibromyalgia? I often have daily flu like symptoms and when I get sick the illness seems to last even longer compared to those I know without fibromyalgia. Is it the innate and adaptive immune system causing these symptoms? If both the innate and adaptive immune system are at play – is this more evidence that fibromyalgia may have an autoimmune component? I don’t have these answers for you all, but when I read this study, this are the questions that kept floating through my mind. Maybe one day this study will give us more insight into fibromyalgia.

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When you put all this information together, it does make sense. We are always told that these are all fibromyalgia symptoms, but no one ever explains why. This study breaks it down. Hopefully the explanation I gave wasn’t too scientific. Here is the link for the 2018 study. It is only the summary – the study in its entirety doesn’t seem to be available anywhere.

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Another study done in 2021 on neuro inflammation using PET scans. There is not much for me to summarize as this study does not give much details. I will include the link. Again the results revealed that people with fibromyalgia showed a significant higher neuroinflammation than those in the control group. Conclusion – abnormal neuroinflammation can be an important pathological factor in fibromyalgia. The study revealed critical regions affected by neuroinflammation – which could help improve diagnosis and effective medical treatment for fibromyalgia.

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A third study completed in 2022, using Diffusion kurtosis imaging was also completed. By using this technique, microstructural alterations associated with neuroinflammation were able to be observed. Again, the results showed that people with fibromyalgia have significantly higher neuro inflammation then thee control group. The report stated that the results will help provide valuable information in regards to brain neuroinflammation. To read the study visit here.

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Hopefully in the near future, these studies help improve the way fibromyalgia is diagnosed and treated. There appears to be consistent results and findings at the end of all three studies – neuro inflammation is known to be prevalent in people with fibromyalgia!

Fibromyalgia – It is okay to not be okay…It does not make you weak!

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I saw the above picture being shared over and over on many chronic illness/pain and fibromyalgia communities. I often share my belief that it is okay to have days where your chronic condition wins. Trying to find relief and battling our own bodies day in and day out can be exhausting in itself. I am definitely struggling with this lately myself. How do we keep pushing forward when there is no cure for fibromyalgia? Some days I wonder how I do it myself – reality…we are not given a choice. However, it can become very discouraging and daunting at times.

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I was recently scrolling through a fibromyalgia advocate’s Facebook page and came across a few facts about fibromyalgia. I am unsure where these stats came from, but from a 2021 post she shared… “Of the currently available medication treatment for fibromyalgia, only 40% of those with this medical condition find mild to moderate relief of their symptoms.” To put this into further perspective that means out of 22,200,000 people world-wide with fibromyalgia only 8,800,000 find any relief! That leaves 13,320,000 million with fibromyalgia with NO relief at all for their symptoms. I am sure the stats read a bit different now as we are nearing the end of 2023 and these stats were from 2021 – however the point is so many people world-wide are left without relief. No break from fibromyalgia.

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I am one of those 13,320,000 people with fibromyalgia who has found little to no relief from many of the symptoms. I have tried many different strategies to try to diminish symptoms and improve my overall quality of life. I think health care providers often forget that pain and fatigue are not the only symptoms we suffer head on from fibromyalgia. Did you know fibromyalgia has over 300 possible symptoms? Yes! You read that right. Most likely a person won’t ever have 300 of the symptoms at one time ( or even develop all 300) – but many symptoms begin to pile up on top of one another and we are left scrambling to remedy these symptoms (without much guidance). The pain and fatigue is enough to deal with on their own. I’ve once noted over 50 fibromyalgia symptoms in one day. It is near impossible to try to even diminish 50 symptoms at a time! These are the days I allow my chronic condition to win. These are the days I shut the world out and sleep my day away because trying to remain put together and functionable are just not realistic goals. If you haven’t already read my blog post about how having a chronic illness/condition can become a full time job, you can read it here!

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I often say that fibromyalgia will not win nor define who I am, but lately I feel like it has won. Some days I feel like I am wasting what little energy I do have on trialing and erroring different strategies to maintain fibromyalgia – in most cases the strategies back fire and I find myself bed ridden for days on end. Some days I stop and wonder if I should just enjoy the good days instead of worrying about making sure I add in exercise or another management strategy because that is what the medical system expects. Maybe instead – I should be out having lunch or having a coffee with a friend. Many of us who live with fibromyalgia feel like we are just existing and not really living anymore.

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For those of you reading this who do not have fibromyalgia – experts state that in order to understand the severity of chronic fatigue alone that fibromyalgia can create – you must stay awake for three consecutive days. 72 hours without sleep and continue on with your daily routines. Signs of sleep deprivation set in after 24 hours of no sleep and become evident to people around you. Here is a fact: after staying awake for 24 hours similar cognitive effects of a blood alcohol level of .10% begin to take place. That is actually higher than the legal blood alcohol level to drive! Sure puts things into perspective. Here is a breakdown of what happens to ones body after 72 hours of no sleep.

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Usually I write to inspire and encourage everyone who reads my blog posts. However today’s blog I decided to write realistically and from the heart. After all a blog is meant to be realistic and personal. I am sure many of you reading this can relate 100% to being so discouraged at times. Negative thinking takes over and it is difficult to pull ourselves out of this cycle. I always say – it is okay to have bad days – just don’t unpack and live there! Gentle hugs to all who need it. Don’t forget – no matter how bad of a day you have or situation there is always something yo be grateful for ( no matter how small it is).

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