Fibromyalgia and compassion meditation - a study

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This study proves that the simple act of meditation exercises reduced Fibromyalgia symptoms to a point where they were no longer felt as severe! This is great news for all Fibro fighters. 

The study compared Attachment-based Compassion Therapy (ABCT) with relaxation techniques for treating fibromyalgia. It was conducted by researchers from the University of Derby, the Awake to Wisdom Centre for Meditation and Mindfulness Research in Italy, the Primary Care Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network, University of Zaragoza and Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu in Spain.

Fibromyalgia affects approximately three percent of adults in  Europe and the UK with more women diagnosed than men. So the researchers ran the study with 42 women diagnosed with Fibro who were split into two groups: one doing relaxation and the other doing compassion therapy.  

What is Compassion Therapy?

The Compassionate Mind Foundation, says that Compassion Therapy is:

“an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that draws upon our evolved capacity for compassion to facilitate the alleviation of human suffering”.

It was developed by Dr. Paul Gilbert, a psychologist from England who believed that compassion for ourselves and for others reduces intrusive feelings of shame and self-criticism.

Compassion therapy, in this study, used meditation exercises focusing on understanding the universality of suffering, gaining an emotional connection with other people's suffering, and the motivation to act to lessen suffering.

Meditation DOES NOT have to look like this... 

Compared to the relaxation control group, participants in the compassion therapy group demonstrated significant improvements across a range of psychological outcomes and reduced fibromyalgia symptoms by 36 percent. This is a big reduction. 

Dr. William Van Gordon, Lecturer in Psychology at University of Derby Online Learning, said: 

"The effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia, such as anti-depressants, has long been questioned and can lead to unwanted side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of compassion meditation as an alternative treatment for fibromyalgia."

When the study was completed, most participants in the ABCT group, who did meditation, showed significant improvements to the point where some no longer met the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia.

"As fibromyalgia is linked with sickness-related absence from work, incapacity to work, reduced work productivity and high usage of health-care resources, these results are not only meaningful for the sufferers but could help to address the problem of absence from work and the cost implications of this."

Fibromyalgia symptoms were measured before and after the trial using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) which assesses the current health status of those with fibromyalgia syndrome in clinical and research settings.

Before the trial, both groups had an FIQ average score of over 60 which corresponds to a severe level of fibromyalgia symptoms. 

After the trial, the average score for the mediation group fell to 44, but the average score for the control group remained above 60.

In research, a reduction of 14 percent is deemed to be clinically important, but in this study the reduction in symptoms was in the order of 36 percent for fibromyalgia, 30 percent for psychological flexibility, 45 percent for anxiety, 54 percent for depression, and 38 percent for quality of life.

The amazing news is that the simple act of meditation exercises reduced Fibromyalgia symptoms to a point where they were no longer severe.

Meditation can be done anywhere in a comfy chair or lying down as well

THE VIDEO on YouTube

RESOURCES

Duloxetine for Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia

The purpose of this study was to determine whether duloxetine is safe and effective in the treatment of adolescents with Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome (JPFS). Here you can read a summary of the report. 

Efficacy and safety of duloxetine versus placebo in adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia: results from a phase 3b, randomized study. Presented at the World Congress on Pain 2018; September 12-16, 2018; Boston, MA. Poster 64517.

JPFS is a musculoskeletal pain syndrome characterized by multiple tender points, fatigue, and sleep problems in children and teenagers.  Girls are more likely than boys to be diagnosed with JFMS. Up to 75 percent have a family member with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. JPFS is diagnosed in 25 to 40% of children with musculoskeletal pain syndromes. 

Duloxetine, also known as Cymbalta, Ariclaim, Xeristar, Yentreve, Duzela, is a long-acting medication used to treat depression or generalized anxiety disorder or the pain of diabetic neuropathy or fibromyalgia, in adults, or ongoing bone or muscle pain.

The trial consisted of two distinct study periods. A blinded treatment period of 13 weeks and an open label extension period of 26 weeks. 

184 participants aged from 13 to 17 participated in this randomized study.

The study's primary endpoint was the mean change on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain severity rating from baseline to week 13.
Secondary endpoints included BPI-Modified Short Form: Adolescent Version severity and interference, treatment response (30% and 50% reductions in BPI average pain severity), and scores on the Pediatric Pain Questionnaire, Clinical Global Impression of Severity: Overall and Mental Illness scales, Functional Disability Inventory: child and parent version scales, Children's Depression Inventory, and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, as well as safety and tolerability. Of the 184 participants, 149 (80.98%) completed the 13-week treatment. CPA

The results of this study indicate that Duloxetine may not be effective in treating JPFS when compared to a placebo. No new safety concerns relating to Duloxetine were found.

FULL STUDY REPORT
This is interesting because Duloxetine is effective in treating pain in adults with Fibromyalgia.

What is it like living with chronic pain? (including 29 chronic pain quotes)

I was wondering how to describe what it's like living with chronic pain the other day because the hospital nurse asked me. I knew what it felt like but had never really put it into words for someone who doesn't experience it.

WHAT IS IT LIKE LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN? 

Living with pain that has become persistent, and lasting longer than 3 months causes both physical and emotional stress. Whatever condition or accident that caused the initial pain has now become a condition in its own right because it has changed the nervous system of the body and so many other day to day things. 

I have collected some quotes from people living with chronic pain caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve pain and migraines. What they said is shared here so others will understand, a little more about, the impact of living with pain that is chronic. 

CHRONIC PAIN QUOTES

Please understand that being able to stand up for five minutes, doesn’t necessarily mean that I can stand up for ten minutes, or an hour. It’s quite likely that doing that five minutes has exhausted my resources and I’ll need to recover. ~ Gerri Kassel, My Journey to find my health. 

I’d rather not take this medication, or any medication for that matter, but it is the only one that controls my pain adequately enough to allow me to function on a daily basis... I take the smallest dose possible to enable me to remain as clear-headed as possible to do what I need to do each day...

Even with the minimal opioids I take, I still have pain all the time, 24 hours a day; without opioids, life would be torture. ~  Alison Moore, author.

Most people assume: That because I don’t admit to being in pain each day, I must have pain-free days. I don’t. My last pain-free day was November 2002. Every day since then has held at least a moderate level of pain. ~ Life With A Pebble 

I hate all pain, Given or received; we have enough within us. ~ Lord Byron.

Our already chronic condition becomes worse for a time, symptoms become more pronounced and this then triggers a whole host of accompanying issues from migraine, muscle & joint pain, fatigue……..the list goes on. ~ Tracey Marinelli, Fibro Fantastic.

The trouble with chronic pain is that it is so easy to become accustomed to it, both mentally and physically. At first it's absolutely agonizing; it's the only thing you think about, like a rock in your shoe that rubs your foot raw with every step. ~ Robert J. Wiersema, author.

For many people living with chronic pain, opioid medications are a critical component to managing their pain and overall quality of life. However, the nationwide crackdown on opioids has put chronic pain sufferers in an impossible situation. ~ Sue, Fibro Daze.

Few things a doctor does are more important than relieving pain. . . pain is soul destroying. No patient should have to endure intense pain unnecessarily. The quality of mercy is essential to the practice of medicine; here, of all places, it should not be strained. ~ Marcia Angell, The Truth about the Drug Companies.

I was always in pain. I called the pain at the time "stress neck" since it often flared during deadlines, some of them self-imposed. ~ Kathleen Mueller, Fibroworks

I often wished that more people understood the invisible side of things. Even the people who seemed to understand, didn't really.  ~ Jennifer Starzec, Determination

Many a day I’ve felt despair, rage and profound disappointment that I could not do certain jobs. My life has changed so much over the years that I can hardly believe it. ~ Barbara McLullich,  Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Pain.

There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.' No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster. ~ Dalai Lama XIV

I wish I could experience that blissful feeling again when your whole body relaxes and melts into the bed and all the tension of the day just evaporates. I wish I could lay in my bed without experiencing pain. ~ Fighting Fibromyalgia

Few things a doctor does are more important than relieving pain... pain is soul destroying. No patient should have to endure intense pain unnecessarily. The quality of mercy is essential to the practice of medicine; here, of all places, it should not be strained. ~ Marcia Angell

We all want to be able to live pain-free, to enjoy our lives. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. ~ Cynthia Baughman, My Inspired Fibro Life

You just do it. You force yourself to get up. You force yourself to put one foot before the other and you refuse to let it get to you. You fight. You cry. Then you go about the business of living. That’s how I’ve done it. There’s no other way. ~ Elizabeth Taylor

We now have limitations and before there were none. We now look at life in a totally different way. Even when the pain levels subside there is a place within us that knows it's only a matter of time before it will rear its ugly head again. ~ Rosemary Lee, Seeking Equilibrium.

Don't build a wall around your own suffering - it may devour you from the inside. ~ Frida Kahlo

Chronic pain has a massive impact in our lives. And it is important to remember that pain doesn’t exist in a vacuum all by itself… it has symptoms. And these impact our functionality along with the pain itself. ~ Nikki Albert, Brainless Blogger

Any practice of prayer and meditation can kick start your healing journey and your path to reducing pain. ~ Sue Ingebretson, Rebuilding Wellness.

Sometimes chronic pain can get to a point where it is getting in the way of the life you want to live. I have dreams and things I want to achieve, but it is starting to feel as if my pain and fatigue are getting in the way. ~ Beverley, Blooming Mindfulness

On bad pain and fatigue days, it may be a tough mental battle, but you can do it!  Remember my favorite word?  Hope.  Never give up HOPE! ~ Amy, The Fibro Frog.

The pain turns into little to no sleep which turns into depression which turns into difficulty being a friendly human which turns into stress which turns into more pain! That cycle is so forked up… but in the midst of all that, there are some good times. ~ Tamiko, my foggy brain.

Recovery begins with embracing our pain and taking the risk to share it with others. We do this by joining a group and talking about our pain. ~ John Bradshaw 

When you have chronic illness, the slightest thing can have a knock-on effect. Just one day of significantly overdoing things can leave you with weeks of symptoms – more fatigue, increased pain and a reduction in stamina. ~ Katie Cupcake.

I will stand up and have my voice be heard, continue to raise awareness, fight for a cure, inspire those who feel like their world is now over, and be a voice for the voiceless sufferers because I know you’re out there... Michelle Morales, Living Extra Ordinary

 These symptoms are genuine, and they are life-changing. ~ Susan, Living Creatively With Fibro.

People assume you aren’t sick 

unless they see the sickness on your skin 

like scars forming a map of all the ways you’re hurting. 

My heart is a prison of Have you tried?s 

Have you tried exercising? Have you tried eating better? 

Have you tried not being sad, not being sick? 

Have you tried being more like me? 

Have you tried shutting up? 

Yes, I have tried. Yes, I am still trying, 

and yes, I am still sick. 

Sometimes monsters are invisible, and 

sometimes demons attack you from the inside. 

Just because you cannot see the claws and the teeth 

does not mean they aren’t ripping through me. 

Pain does not need to be seen to be felt. 

Telling me there is no problem 

won’t solve the problem. 

This is not how miracles are born. 

This is not how sickness works.

~ Emm Roy, The First Step

Savella milnacipran for fibromyalgia

 

Overall this medication is the first out of all the meds I have tried to help the most. I gave my doctor a hug because my pain went from tears to tolerable and able to go to work and do my job. Sim's user review at Drugs.com

WHAT IS SAVELLA?
Savella (milnacipran) is one of three drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat fibromyalgia. The other two are Cymbalta (duloxetine)
Lyrica (pregabalin)
Savella is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). What does that mean? 

It is similar to drugs used to treat depression and other psychiatric disorders. How is it similar? It is an antidepressant, used to treat depression, and anxiety disorders and it also helps with long-term (chronic) pain, especially nerve pain. While relief of fibromyalgia pain can help people feel less fatigued, milnacipran appears to have an additional effect on fatigue — separate from that associated with pain relief.

Savella was the first drug that really made a difference in my fibromyalgia. It has significantly reduced my overall pain without the sedating side effects of drugs like nortriptyline. Claudia's user review at Drugs.com

HOW SAVELLA WORKS
SNRIs block both the serotonin transporter and norepinephrine transporter. What does that mean?

We may have a lower threshold for pain when we have Fibromyalgia. Doctors think this is due to changes in our nervous system. This means we are more sensitive to pain. This could be because of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. 

Savella allows more of these neurotransmitters to travel in the brain and increasing levels of neurotransmitters may ease pain and reduce fatigue. 

Neurotransmitters are naturally reabsorbed back into nerve cells in the brain after they are released to send messages between nerve cells. A reuptake inhibitor, like Savella, prevents this from happening. Instead of being reabsorbed, the neurotransmitter stays in the gap between the nerves, called the synapse.

Savella was originally developed and manufactured by Pierre Fabre Medicament in France, and was approved in that country as an antidepressant in 1997. Savella was approved in 2009, by the FDA to help manage fibromyalgia in adults. It is available by prescription from your doctor. Other drugs approved to manage fibromyalgia include Lyrica (pregabalin), a nerve pain and epilepsy drug, and Cymbalta (duloxetine), another SNRI.

EFFECTIVENESS

Milnacipran has been studied in four randomized placebo-controlled trials of patients with fibromyalgia. At three months, about twice as many patients on a typical dose will report overall improvement compared with those receiving placebo.  Patients who respond continue to experience benefit at six months. 

Mental health scores and levels of bodily pain and fatigue also improve with treatment. However, measures of impact on daily life (e.g., physical function, work absence, job ability) are not improved.

Milnacipran has not been studied over the long term. Recent review of published and unpublished data indicated that milnacipran, pregabalin (Lyrica), and duloxetine (Cymbalta) have different effects on the key symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome and differences in adverse effects and contraindications.  American Family Physician

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF SAVELLA

Common side effects include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• bloating,
• dry mouth,
• constipation,
• loss of appetite,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• increased sweating,
• headache,
• hot flashes,
• swelling in your hands or feet,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• weight changes,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

My pain has been worse since starting it. I’m nauseous all the time, get cold chills, go to the bathroom 2 times every hour, I can’t get to or stay asleep even with sleep meds and I itch all over. I have had a horrible experience with this drug and wouldn’t recommend it at all! Crystal's user review at Drugs.com

DECIDING WHETHER TO TRY SAVELLA

The problem with all drugs, or any treatments for Fibromyalgia, is that you do not know if they will work for you until you try them. Have a talk with your doctor and discuss both the risks and benefits of this medication. Also discuss if any other drugs you are taking, such as diuretics or aspirin, may cause an adverse effect hen taken with Savella.

Do not take Savella if:

• You are taking or have recently taken another type of antidepressant called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• You have an eye disease called narrow-angle glaucoma

Also tell your doctor if you are nursing or pregnant or plan to become pregnant. 

Tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have, including:

• high blood pressure
• fast heart rate
• any cardiac condition
• liver problems or a history of heavy alcohol use
• kidney problems
• history of mania or seizure disorders
• bleeding disorders

A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF FIBROMYALGIA

Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic disorder with:

• Widespread pain lasting at least three months
• Presence of other symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems and trouble thinking
• No other condition that might be causing the symptoms

Other treatments that may reduce fibromyalgia symptoms include better sleep hygiene, exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy.

RESOURCES:

• MayoClinic
• WebMD
• Drugs.com
• American Family Physician