Interesting health articles I am reading this week

 As a person who has been living with chronic pain, in a variety of forms, I often read the latest health articles and wanted to share what I have been reading with you too...

Exploring the Role of Gut Inflammation in Depression

Addressing gut health can have a profound impact on brain function, depression, mood, energy levels, and motivation—factors that antidepressants do not address.

This interesting article includes Fixing the Gut: More Than Just Taking a Probiotic and ways to improve gut health and how a a sedentary lifestyle and junk food have roles in depression.

Clinical strategies to dampen gut inflammation and improve gut health include:

• Adopting a whole-food diet similar to what our pre-industrial ancestors ate.
• Identifying and addressing food sensitivities.
• Improving gut microbiome health and diversity.

Read full article at The Epoch Times by Datis Kharrazian, Ph.D., DHSc, DC, MS, MMSc, FACN, a Harvard Medical School trained, award-winning clinical research scientist, academic professor, and world-renowned functional medicine health care provider.

How Fat Affects Fibromyalgia

Excess weight leads to more pain and fatigue and lower quality of life. 

Many of us with fibromyalgia have unwanted weight gain and struggle to lose weight. This article explains the facts about why fat causes more pain. 

Fibromyalgia hurts more when you’re overweight. Having too much body fat and too little muscle also increases fatigue and worsens many other symptoms. Studies show that losing weight and exercising help dial down the pain while improving daily function. 

Read full article at Arthritis Foundation

Life hacks for living with chronic pain

This article give strategies to cope when living with pain ~ little things to make each day just that bit easier.

5. Inflatable Pillow & Fold-Up Chair

Keep a folding or deck chair in your car, as well as an inflatable pillow and blanket. Many travel pillows are compact in size and will fit in your purse. There are also lightweight, portable back supports for chairs, that you can easily transfer from the car to any chair.

Read full article at  The U.S. Pain Foundation by Amy Orr is a U.S. Pain Foundation Junior Ambassador and author. Her new book, Taming Chronic Pain: A Management Guide for a More Enjoyable Life, has hundreds of tips just like these.

Are You Making This Common Vitamin D Mistake?

Many clinicians and patients now know that vitamin D plays an important role in immune health, bone health and brain health.

However, most physicians and patients are unaware that vitamin D can create some problems.

This article recommends a regular intake of vitamin K2 with vitamin D and suggests the foods that supply it. 

Read full article at the official website of Terry Wahls MD

A Tension Myositis Syndrome breakthrough.

To be clear, this post is on the topic of Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) and the related approach that is useful for treating chronic pain and other conditions.

This article explains Helen’s experience with TMS. 

It was devised by Dr John Sarno who spent years being rebuffed by mainstream science whilst he touted his theory that the mind-body connection lay at the root of most if not all unresolved healing, especially from chronic pain and other chronic conditions that defy conventional approaches.

Read full article at Living Whole by Helen White, who came down with Myalgic Encephamialitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia back in 2005. 

Free Pain Clinics in Australia

I am slowly adding information here about Pain Clinics around Australia that can help with Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions. 

As you probably know Fibro is a condition that we are often told requires a multidiscilinary approach and this is what these clinics offer.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The Living Well with Persistent Pain program is offered to patients at no cost, and utilises local primary health care workforce to support patients in their pain management in the community. It provides a holistic self-management course, case coordination, group sessions and one-on-one allied health services.

Northern region — Living well and persistent pain program

Telephone: (08) 8354 9800
Email: painprogramnorth@adelaidephn.com.au

Central western region — Living well with persistent pain program

Telephone: 0450 539 733
Email: painprogramwest@adelaidephn.com.au

Services:

• Individual support services
• Group pain management programs.

Staff:

• GPs
• physiotherapists
• dieticians
• pharmacists
• pain educators
• psychologists.
• exercise physiologist.

Public hospital services

Central Adelaide Local Health Network Pain Management Unit

Address: Level 2B North-East Building, Queen Elizabeth Hospital 28 Woodville Road, Woodville South SA 5011
Telephone: (08) 8222 7826
Email: calhnpainunit@sa.gov.au

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network Pain Management Unit

Address: Flinders Drive, Bedford Park SA 5042
Telephone: (08) 8204 5499
Email: fmcpmu@sa.gov.au

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network Pain Rehabilitation Service

Address: C/- the Specialist Ambulatory Rehabilitation Centre, Cnr Smart Road and Hatheleigh Ave Modbury 5092
Telephone: (08) 7321 4133
Email: health.NorthernPainRehabService@sa.gov.au

Women’s and Children’s Hospital Paediatric Chronic Pain Service

Address: Level 1 General Outpatient Clinic, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Street North Adelaide 5006
Telephone: 0481 900 577
Email: Health.PaediatricChronicPainService@sa.gov.au

ONLINE COURSES  AUSTRALIA WIDE

Chronic Conditions Course is a new free, 8 week, online and internet-delivered education program, run through eCentreClinic, Macquarie University. It is designed to provide good information and teach practical skills for managing the impact of chronic health conditions on day-to-day activities and emotional wellbeing. Register here 

The MindSpot Chronic Pain Course is five lessons over an eight-week period. It provides the information and practical skills you would normally receive from a mental health professional if you attended a specialist pain management clinic. You can choose to receive weekly therapist support during the course, or you can choose to contact us when you need to. Do the assessment to enrol here.

Overactive bladder and fibromyalgia

Find out more about the connection between Fibromyalgia and the bladder including what is an overactive bladder, the causes and first line treatments.

What Is Overactive Bladder?

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition marked by sudden, frequent urges to urinate—often with or without leakage. It may also be referred to as sensory bladder, urgency, irritable bladder, or neurogenic bladder. These terms describe conditions involving increased urinary urgency and frequency due to abnormal bladder sensation or control.

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Understanding the Link Between Fibromyalgia and Overactive Bladder

Many people with fibromyalgia report bladder-related symptoms, including increased urgency and frequency. In fibromyalgia, the need to urinate may not originate from typical bladder filling signals. Instead, disrupted nerve signaling may prevent the brain from correctly interpreting or responding to these sensations.

Survey Insights and Clinical Research

• In a 2023 poll conducted in our Fibromyalgia support group, 33 participants reported symptoms of increased urinary urgency or frequency (irritable bladder), while only 3 said they did not experience these issues.

• A 2012 study involving 920 participants found that fibromyalgia (FMS) is significantly associated with overactive bladder. The severity of FMS was found to correlate with OAB intensity.

• A 2021 systematic case-controlled study confirmed a strong association, reporting that 93% of fibromyalgia patients experienced OAB symptoms. This high prevalence highlights the importance of assessing bladder symptoms in fibromyalgia patients.

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How Fibromyalgia Affects Bladder Function

Normal bladder function requires coordination between muscles and nerves. Nerve signals must travel effectively between the bladder and brain to manage urination. In both OAB and fibromyalgia, this communication may be disrupted.

Shared Mechanisms Between Fibromyalgia and OAB

1. Central Nervous System (CNS) Sensitization
   Fibromyalgia involves CNS sensitization—a heightened response to stimuli, including pain. Similarly, OAB may result from abnormal CNS signaling, leading to increased urgency and sensitivity in the bladder.

2. Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction (Dysautonomia)
   People with fibromyalgia often exhibit dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system, which regulates bladder control. This can lead to bladder overactivity and misfiring of urgency signals.

3. Chronic Pain Syndrome and Comorbidities
   Fibromyalgia frequently coexists with IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, and interstitial cystitis—all of which share features with OAB. This suggests a common pattern of systemic dysregulation.

4. Neurotransmitter Imbalances
   Both fibromyalgia and OAB have been linked to imbalances in serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine—neurochemicals involved in pain regulation and bladder control.

5. Sleep Disturbances
   Poor sleep, common in fibromyalgia, may worsen bladder symptoms. In turn, night time urination can further disrupt sleep, creating a vicious cycle.

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What Causes Overactive Bladder?

There are many possible causes of OAB, and they can often overlap. These include:

• Hormonal changes (e.g., menopause)

• Enlarged prostate (in men)

• Certain medications

• Kidney problems

• Herniated disc or spinal issues

• Neurological conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis)

• Multiple pregnancies

• Vitamin D deficiency

• Aging

• Diabetes

• Excess body weight

• Pelvic floor dysfunction or injury

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What to Do if You Have Symptoms

If you experience symptoms of OAB—frequent urination, sudden urges, or incontinence—consult your doctor. If they can’t provide adequate help, ask for a referral to a urologist.

First-Line Treatment Options for OAB

(According to The Urology Group)

1. Behavioral Therapy

   • Fluid Management: Aim for 64 oz (2 liters) of daily fluid intake.

   • Avoid Bladder Irritants: Limit caffeine, alcohol, spicy or acidic foods, and carbonated drinks. Quit smoking.

   • Weight Loss: Losing just 8% of body weight can cut incontinence episodes in half.

   • Bladder Retraining: Learn techniques to gradually extend the time between urination and reduce urgency.

   • Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: A 4–6 week therapy program can strengthen pelvic floor muscles, often using electrical stimulation.

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Resources

• Urology Care Foundation

  • Overactive Bladder Patient Guide (PDF)

  • OAB Assessment Tool (PDF)

  • OAB Diary (PDF)

  • Managing OAB at Work and On the Go Fact Sheet

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Sources

• Fibro Connect Facebook Group Poll, July 2023

• The Association Between Overactive Bladder and Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Community Survey

• Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia, 2021

• The Coexistence of the Fibromyalgia Syndrome and the Overactive Bladder Syndrome

• The Urology Group – First Line Treatments for OAB

• Urology Care Foundation

What's going on in the Fibromyalgia Brain and Nervous System?

 In 'Key Milestones Contributing to the Understanding of the Mechanisms Underlying Fibromyalgia' two Australian researchers give a fascinating overview of what they consider to be the breakthrough findings in FM.

• Three nerves that transmit pain signals to the spinal cord have been found to be overactive in FM.

• Nerves should calm down and adjust to repeated stimulation, but in a process called windup the pain nerves that get activated in FM stay activated. They also respond more quickly to a stimulus and are apt to fire off spontaneously more.

• Twitchy nerves leading from around the spinal column could explain some of the upper body pain common in FM and the problems with bending, moving etc.

• Two neurotransmitters associated with pain, substance P and glutamate, have been found elevated in FM patients’ brains.

• The brain exerts enormous influence over the amount of pain we feel through a pain inhibition process which can reach all the way down the spinal cord.

• When one part of the body is exposed to pain, our sensitivity to pain in other parts of the body actually reduces. This process – called controlled pain modulation – is due to a pain inhibition process which begins in the brain.

• This process has been shown many times not to be working well in many, but not all, people with FM. Interestingly, although it’s not clear why, the low heart rate variability found in FM is associated with reduced pain inhibition. Mestinon is one drug that has proved helpful for some people with ME/CFS.

• Pain signals are believed to need to pass through a series of checkpoints or gates in order to make it to the brain. Those gates are believed to be opened wider than usual in FM.

• Some researchers, though, think that the pain inhibition process in FM is working just fine. They believe its signals are being overridden by a constant stream of pain signals emanating from the body.

• Brain scans show more problems. Blood flows to various parts of the brain are altered. The pain processing areas of the brain are hyperactive. Even when the brain is resting, it still maintains its tight connection to those areas.

• The authors of this study believe that widespread neuroinflammation could explain all the symptoms in FM.

• With so many validated issues in just the brain and nervous systems of FM patients, it seems incredible that any doctor worth his or her salt could dismiss this disease.

Thank you so much to Cort Johnson at Health Rising for all he does to help people with fibromyalgia, ME and CFS understand the scientific side of things. The above is the gist of one of his great articles so if you want to read the full explanation of this 2020 research please visit Cort's site. His article is called 'Wound up, Overheated and Tweaked: A Look at the Fibromyalgia Brain and Nervous System.'