Researchers at Tufts Medical Center, in Boston reported their findings in that bastion of allopathic medicine, The New England Journal of Medicine. Continue reading NCCAM-sponsored study of tai chi to treat fibromyalgia
Category Archives: Fibromyalgia
Effect of breathing rate on pain and emotion in women with fibromyalgia
Researchers at Arizona State University, in Tempe studied the effects of breathing rate following thermal pain in women with fibromyalgia syndrome. Continue reading Effect of breathing rate on pain and emotion in women with fibromyalgia
Internet-based arthritis self-management
Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine in California studied arthritis patients who were unable or unwilling to attend a small-group arthritis self-management program (ASMP). Continue reading Internet-based arthritis self-management
Review: CAM for fibromyalgia
Prof. Ernst and colleagues from the UK reviewed of the evidence Continue reading Review: CAM for fibromyalgia
Resistance training + chiropractic for fibromyalgia
Researchers from Florida State University, in Tallahassee report that chiropractic treatment improved adherence to resistance training.
But did their condition improve? Continue reading Resistance training + chiropractic for fibromyalgia
Review: Qigong to treat pain
Qigong is an internal martial art in which one learns to sense the Qi (the circulating life energy) moving in their body.
Prof. Ernst reviewed the research on qigong to treat pain. Continue reading Review: Qigong to treat pain
Correlating vitamin D levels and the need for pain meds
Mayo Clinic research shows that inadequate vitamin D levels are associated with a greater need for narcotic medication in patients with chronic pain. Continue reading Correlating vitamin D levels and the need for pain meds
Hydrotherapy for fibromyalgia: 2 reviews
 There’s evidence that hydrotherapy has short-term beneficial effects on pain and quality of life, according to reviewers at Technische Universität München, in Germany. Continue reading Hydrotherapy for fibromyalgia: 2 reviews
Herbals for arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions
Ms. Meenakshi Khatta is a nurse practitioner and associate professor at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Nurse Khatta has reviewed the use of CAM to treat pain due to musculoskeletal conditions.
Here are her findings on herbal supplements used to treat fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Continue reading Herbals for arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions
Another review of acupuncture for fibromyalgia
Researchers from Castile-La Mancha Health Research Foundation, in Toledo, Spain tell us what others have said before. Continue reading Another review of acupuncture for fibromyalgia
CAM use among patients with arthritis
Researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill reviewed the evidence. Continue reading CAM use among patients with arthritis
Most common medical conditions treated with CAM
Here’s a follow-up to earlier posts here and here on the use of CAM in the US.
The findings come from a survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Continue reading Most common medical conditions treated with CAM
Benefits of spa treatment in people with fibromyalgia
Researchers in The Netherlands report temporary improvement in quality of life. Continue reading Benefits of spa treatment in people with fibromyalgia
Massage for chronic pain not related to cancer
Dr. Jennie Tsao from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in California has reviewed the evidence and concludes it depends on the type of pain being treated. Continue reading Massage for chronic pain not related to cancer
Testing soy shakes for fibromyalgia
Studies suggest that soy relieves neuropathic pain in animals and reduces pain and improves range of motion in people with osteoarthritis.
Based on this, researchers from the Mayo Clinic thought it reasonable to look for benefits of soy in people with fibromyalgia. Continue reading Testing soy shakes for fibromyalgia
Does reiki complement pain control in fibromyalgia?
More than 50 major hospitals and clinics throughout the United States offer energy healing to patients
This study by researchers from the University of Washington concluded, “Neither reiki nor touch improved the symptoms of fibromyalgia.” Continue reading Does reiki complement pain control in fibromyalgia?
A stepwise approach to fibromyalgia therapy
Dr. Don Goldenberg from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts has a video and print slide program on Medscape that reviews evidence-based treatments for fibromyalgia.
The emphasis is on drugs, but more interesting is his support for a combined drug/CAM approach to treatment. Continue reading A stepwise approach to fibromyalgia therapy
Behavioral and exercise therapies for fibromyalgia
This review finds limited evidence of benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise training programs. Continue reading Behavioral and exercise therapies for fibromyalgia
Acupuncture effective for fibromyalgia?
In this study, the addition of acupuncture to usual treatments for fibromyalgia helped control pain and improve quality of life. Continue reading Acupuncture effective for fibromyalgia?
The status of acupuncture to treat fibromyalgia
“At this time, the benefits of acupuncture for treating fibromyalgia remain unclear and require well designed controlled trials to identify its potential role,” concludes Dr. Daniel Rooks from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston in a review on Medscape.
Here’s a summary of his review.
Continue reading The status of acupuncture to treat fibromyalgia