Fibromyalgia News

Silicone-gel Breast Implant Rupture and Fibromyalgia - Is there a link?
A branch of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating a possible connection between silicone breast implant rupture and an increased reporting of fibromyalgia. An initial study showed up the link and it is being confirmed by a wider investigation. It is not known how silicone released in the body would activate fibromyalgia.

[Curr Rheumatol Rep – 2002 Aug; 4 (4): pages 293-8.]

Amish Fibromyalgia - It’s More Than a Modern “Western” Disease
In a study to see if fibromyalgia was an “invented” syndrome for medical compensation claims and/or totally linked to our western lifestyle, a group of 242 Amish (a subsistence farming community) were investigated for incidence of fibromyalgia. Not only was fibromyalgia present, but it was observed at a high rate of 7.3%, higher than most western populations.

[J. Rheumatol – 2003 Aug; 30 (8): pages 1835-40.]

It’s Hard Work Behaving as a Credible Patient: Encounters between Women with Chronic Pain and their Doctors
In a study involving women with chronic muscular pain, it became evident that the women invested considerable “work” in order to appear as a credible patient, and not too smart, too stupid, too well, too sick, etc. in the eyes of their doctor. The women’s stories illustrated a struggle for the maintenance of self esteem and dignity in being both a woman and a patient.

[Soc Sci Med. 2003 Oct; 57 (8): pages 1409-19.]

Fibromyalgia Muscles are Different
A study comparing muscle from fibromyalgia sufferers with muscle of non-sufferers showed a decrease in the amount of collagen in the fibromyalgia group. Collagen is the “connective glue” that holds muscle bundles together. The amino acids that make up collagen were also found to be relatively lacking in the fibromyalgia group.

[Rheumatology (Oxford) 2003 July 16 [Epub ahead of print].]

Fibromyalgics who stay at Work are Healthier
It might seem obvious, but a study comparing fibromyalgia sufferers who were employed versus those who were not, reported that the employed group enjoyed better health. A key feature of the study was a link between psychological demands of family work and poorer health. More research needs to be done to clarify the issue, but the message is: keep working if you can.

[J. Rheumatol. 2003 Sep; 30 (9): pages 2045-53.]

Severity of Fibromyalgia Linked to Lower Bone Density
A study looking at fibromyalgia and bone density showed slightly less dense bones in pre menopausal fibromyalgia patients compared to those without fibromyalgia, although this difference wasn’t considered significant. A significant finding, however, was that severity of fibromyalgia corresponded to lower bone density.

In other words, worse fibromyalgia might mean weaker bones. More study needs to be done to confirm this finding.

[Scand J. Rheumatol. 2003; 32 (3): pages 146-50.]