And for pain, it’s also for:

Fibromyalgia: An autoimmune disease, one where the body attacks itself, fibromyalgia is still a very unknown, misunderstood disease that attacks mostly women. Some good links for fibromyalgia are:

• Questions and Answers about Fibromyalgia
• Fibromyalgia (Mayo Clinic)
• Fibromyalgia(American College of Rheumatology)

Facet Joint Syndrome: A major cause of back pain, facet joint syndrome or facet joint disorder, is caused by the inflammation of the facet joints in the spine. These sites explain it well:

• Facet Joint Syndrome (Cleveland Clinic)
• Facet Joint Syndrome (Spine Universe)

Image: Newscom

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Don’t forget the Pain Relief book give away, ending July 14th:

Pain Relief book give away

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Post from: Blisstree

ABCs of pain: F is for….

I have a book here called The Art of Body Maintenance: Winner’s Guide to Pain Relief, by Hal Blatman, MD, with art done by Brad Ekvall, BFA.

It’s a nice book with lots of detail and diagrams. The program also uses a rubber ball to help apply pressure to relieve chronic pain.

The author covers pain relief from fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, headache, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and sports injury. If you would like the book right away, it’s available through Amazon.com and you can follow this link directly: The Art of Body Maintenance: Winner’s Guide to Pain Relief.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the book, leave a comment in the comment section below about the pain you have and, if you would like, the things you have done to try to help yourself. By the way, comments like “just send it to me” don’t qualify!

In two weeks, on July 14th, I’ll gather all eligible comments and randomize them, choosing one winner. Please be sure that I can get hold of you to tell if you win. I have some prizes from contests that have been given to a second draw because the first winner didn’t leave a legitimate email address or never responded to my email.

So, tell me why you’d like the book.

Image: Marijke Durning

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Post from: Blisstree

Pain Relief book give away

Cymbalta Reduces Pain and Improves Functioning in Fibromyalgia Patients

INDIANAPOLIS, June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cymbalta(R) (duloxetine HCl) for the management of fibromyalgia, a chronic widespread pain disorder, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced today. Cymbalta is the first serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with proven efficacy for reducing pain inpatients with fibromyalgia. The fibromyalgia indication represents thesecond FDA-approved use for Cymbalta for a pain disorder, demonstrating the medication’s analgesic effect.

“The approval of Cymbalta is important because it provides physicians and patients with a new treatment option shown to help reduce pain and improve functioning in this difficult-to-treat disorder,” said Madelaine Wohlreich, M.D., medical advisor and research physician at Lilly.

The cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown; however, scientists believe it may be related to some combination of changes in brain and spinal cord chemistry, genetics and stress. Some researchers believe fibromyalgia is a disorder of increased sensitivity to pain. Although the way Cymbalta works in people is not fully known, medical experts believe it increases the activity of two naturally occurring substances called serotonin and norepinephrine. These substances aid communication in many areas of the brain and spinal cord that affect emotion. Research also suggests that these substances are part of the body’s natural pain-suppressing system. “The FDA approval of Cymbalta for the management of fibromyalgia is another important step in the efforts to ensure that people with fibromyalgia will have the availability of effective medications to help reduce the chronic, widespread pain of this life-altering disorder,” said Lynne Matallana, president of the National Fibromyalgia Association and a fibromyalgia patient.

Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2 percent of the U.S. population – approximately 5 million people – the majority of those diagnosed being women. The disorder is characterized by chronic widespread pain and tenderness. Some patients may have additional symptoms. Although there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, some physicians recommend a comprehensive care plan that can include education, medication, and lifestyle changes to help manage the symptoms of the disorder.

“In fibromyalgia, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing the disorder,” said Dan Clauw, M.D., professor of medicine in the University of Michigan’s Division of Rheumatology and director of the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan.

The approval marks the fourth disorder that the FDA has approved for Cymbalta. In addition to fibromyalgia, Cymbalta is approved for the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) and the treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, all in adults age 18 years and older.

Additional important changes have been made to the Cymbalta prescribing information, including updates to the Warnings and Precautions section. Full prescribing information can be found at http://www.cymbalta.com.

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

Post from: Blisstree

Press Release: FDA Approves Cymbalta for Management of Fibromyalgia

It’s difficult enough to find treatments for diseases that are undeniably present, it must be incredibly difficult to find treatments for diseases and disorders that don’t have that benefit. Another illness that falls into this category is chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS.

If you want to read the article, you can find it here: Lyrica Reduced Pain of Fibromyalgia in Patients Regardless of Symptoms of Anxiety or Depression.

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Work Safe, Play Safe

Post from: Blisstree

More positive Lyrica news for fibromyalgia