12/27/11 The exact causes of fibromyalgia remain a mystery, but a new study offers a possible contributing factor: Norwegian researchers found women who have persistent sleep problems are as much as five times more likely to develop fibromyalgia than women without sleep issues.
“Fibromyalgia has been associated with sleep problems in cross-sectional studies. However, no previous studies have investigated whether sleep problems among healthy women increase the risk of future development of fibromyalgia. Our findings are important because they indicate that sleep problems can be an important factor in the development of fibromyalgia,” according to Paul J. Mork, PhD, the study’s principle investigator. “Sleep problems should therefore be taken seriously. Early detection and proper treatment may decrease the risk of fibromyalgia as well as other chronic diseases,” adds Mork, associate professor in the department of Human Movement Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.
Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes muscle pain and fatigue, among other symptoms, affects about 5 million people – 80 to 90 percent of them women – in the United States, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Insomnia and middle-of-the-night awakenings are common complaints among those with the condition. Still, the link was stronger than researchers expected.
“We were somewhat surprised that the association between sleep problems and risk of fibromyalgia was that strong – more than five-fold increase in risk among middle-aged and older women, even after adjusting our risk estimates for several potential confounding factors that may interfere with sleep like age, exercise, body mass index, psychological well-being and smoking,” Mork says.
For this study, which was recently published online in Arthritis & Rheumatism, researchers identified 12,350 women older than 20 who had no musculoskeletal pain or movement disorders and followed them for 10 years with self-reported questionnaires and physical exams.
After 10 years, 2.6 percent of the study group – 327 women – had developed fibromyalgia. Women older than 45 at the start of the study who said they “always” or “often” had difficulty sleeping were five times more likely within the 10 years to develop fibromyalgia than women in the same age group without sleep problems. Among women aged 20 to 44, those with sleep problems had an almost three-fold risk of developing fibromyalgia compared with those without. Overall, across both age groups, sleep problems more than tripled the risk of developing fibromyalgia.
And Tiffany Belcher hit the main point: "The only people who know about Fibromyalgia are those who have it." I've become isolated from some people I thought were my friends because they didn't understand in those early days how sick I really was.Just keep talking to your friends & family, & also look for good books that are simple to read. Highlight your symptoms & hand them the book. It worked wonders with both my grandson & my disability attorney. lol
The best book I have is "PARTING THE FOG: THE PERSONAL SIDE OF FIBROMYALGIA/CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME," by Sue Jones. Short chapters, terse descriptions, & a Personal Page at the end of each chapter where you can write in your own experiences. Get This Book!!!
And Bonnie, you are so right! Fibro & CPAP don't mix well with me, either. Now, if I could only convince my doctors of that! :)
Carol: Have you had a Dr. check you for Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (yes, jst like Carpal Tunnel, but in the feet), or Plantar Facsiaitis??? The last one affects the Achillies tendon and the heel. i have had both surgeries and know the pain. Sounds exactly like what y9ou are describing. Good Luck
I also have been recently diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea so have started on a CPAP machine which is absolutely great. I also happen to be a registered nurse and have worked in a sleep lab for the last four years and see a direct pattern with many health problems including fibro with patients that have OSA. The key to using a CPAP mask is getting the right kind of mask to fit the patient. They have come up with newer and lighter masks every year including a small nasal mask that only weigh a few ounces and are very comfortable. Even people that breathe through their mouth have great success with them.
Another thing that has really helped my chronic fatique is taking Vitamin B Complex pills. They contain all the vitamin B's which are what provide energy to the body naturally.
The best method of dealing with fibro is treating the symptoms. It is very much like rhematoid arthritis except it affects the muscles and ligaments. Heat is a very good source of relief. My pain definitely intensifies during cold weather. Even a ceiling fan or air conditioner seems to aggravate it. I plan on trying the Salon Pas strips.
I really appreciate any and all suggestions. I initially felt that my life was never going to improve but I still work full time and have been able to cope fairly well. Every day is different and with God's help, I feel very blessed.
I, too, wake up at around 3AM for and hour or 2, and play on the computer until my eyes cross, then go back to bed and watch tv till I fall asleep. Nothing!!! helps me sleep except pure exhaustion!!!
non-restorative sleep is what i've been told..my rhumetologist prescribed ritalin which helped but had gastro problems with it..adderall was next.. 20 mg 3x daily...not a miracle but close to it..i still get the extreme exhaustion, especially when stressed, however it allows me, for the most part to stay awake during the day and sleep at night..the amazing part of the adderall is what it does for the brain/fibro fog..it has been a true saving grace for me
Best of luck to all of you!
The adrenal glands, even in this day & time, have not been studied fully, and they are the least understood part of the human body. Most doctors are only aware of overactive adrenals & underactive adrenals. THIS is THE PRIMARY REASON fibromyalgia is such a mystery and is so misunderstood.
Those of you who awaken at 3 a.m., that's most likely because you are experiencing cortisol spikes in your sleep. One thing I noticed about all fibro sufferers is that most awaken at 3 a.m. I underwent a sleep study in 2008, and I was told that I was having cortisol spikes in my sleep, which was the cause of my inability to get back to sleep after waking up in the wee hours of the morning.
These researchers make such loose connections between certain things, and it only perpetuates misunderstanding of fibro. For many years, fibro was mislabeled as a condition that only neurotic older women suffered. Medical professionals thought this because a vast majority of known fibro sufferers were middle-aged & older women.
HOWEVER, the reason people mistakenly thought fibro was an older woman's condition was simply that
1) it takes SEVERAL YEARS to obtain a fibro diagnosis, after many different things have been ruled out & various treatments have been tried and
2) middle-aged & older women are far more likely to have BETTER HEALTH INSURANCE & be able to go to the doctor.
Simply put, sufferers within this demographic typically have the benefit of more financial security & better health care coverage/insurance, and more time (in terms of having many years behind them in which they have amassed a well-documented medical history that can be reviewed to ascertain a fibro diagnosis).
I have suffered ever since I was a teenager, BUT I was not diagnosed until I was 32 years old. However, I knew I had fibromyalgia many years before my diagnosis; it's just that doctors routinely blew me off & claimed that "only OLDER women have fibromaylgia" -- that is, if they didn't altogether dismiss fibro as "bunk."
Be VERY careful how much credence you give to research results. Researchers should spend far, far more time TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FOR YEARS ON END, and they should pay very close attention to our input/feedback. Only we can explain how we feel, when we feel it, what our triggers are, etc.
Until medical researchers figure out that they should be focusing on the role that our adrenal glands play in fibromyalgia and they finally develop a treatment that addresses this underlying problem, all we can do is continue to cope and cycle through all the short-term fixes for symptom flares.
For anyone with neck and head aches/pain (not migrains) try excedrin tension headache asprin free - from the top of my shoulders to the top of my head, this helps within 5 to 10 min. - for a small headache i take one and for more severe i take two pills.
Being diabetic and fibro, i can sympathize with you and wish you help.
short flare-ups but so much better.
Hope this helps.
One strange finding, I began a diet using HCG drops for a while last year. During the course of the diet, some of my symptoms went away. Especially the pain. I lost about 30 pounds. After I stopped the drops, the symptoms and pain did return, but not for a few months. However, the exhaustion was worse while on the diet, probably due to the low calorie intake. I don't know if that diet is for everyone, but I found that for me, the benefits were great.
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