Fibromyalgia

//Patient Education

Fibromyalgia Tutorials

Direct your patients to this site to review tutorials on Fibromyalgia. Visitors can choose from an interactive tutorial, a self-playing tutorial, or read the information via a text summary. Both the interactive and self-playing versions cover causes, symptoms, treatment options, and self-care tips through more than 70 slides. The interactive version additionally requires patients to answer multiple-choice questions along the way. The site also offers access to the latest research, clinical trials, and patient handouts.

Link Code: pm3521

http://hcp.lv/cifTkp

Functional Medicine Applications

Patients can learn about the eight “Vicious Cycles that block Fibromyalgia” healing at this site. Richard Podell MD, clinical professor, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, maintains the site with relative information on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The eight vicious cycles include non-restorative sleep, disordered breathing rhythms, inactivity, magnesium loss, hormonal imbalances, blood-sugar instability, mind/body tension, and losing perspective; Podell offers advice and tips on avoiding these cycles.

http://hcp.lv/9Kd6yo

//Online CME

Debates and Directions in Fibromyalgia: Recognizing Signs and Selecting the Appropriate Paths

Credits: 1.00

Fee: None

Expires: April 30, 2011

Multimedia: None

The objective of this activity is to help participants “improve diagnostic skills related to fibromyalgia and other forms of chronic pain” and “evaluate and address comorbidities in patients with fibromyalgia.”

http://hcp.lv/anCPDU

The Reality of Fibromyalgia: Pathways to Diagnosis, Therapy, and Quality of Life

Credits: 2.25

Fee: None

Expires: February 23, 2011

Multimedia: Audio/Slides

This program is designed to “provide attendees with a thorough understanding of the pathology and epidemiology of fibromyalgia, FDA-approved treatments for the condition, and patient management guidelines.” Upon completion, providers should be able to “better recognize and diagnose fibromyalgia, treat symptoms more effectively, and improve quality of life for patients affected by this disorder.”

http://hcp.lv/96cZ3v

//eAbstracts

Self-regulatory Deficits in Fibromyalgia and Temporomandibular Disorders

Journal: Pain (June 17, 2010)

Authors: Solberg Nes L, Carlson C, Crofford L, et al.

Purpose: The researchers evaluated the practice of self-regulating in the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM). Since research “indicates that self-regulatory strength is a limited source that can be depleted or fatigued,” the current study is “aimed at demonstrating that patients with FM and temporomandibula (TMD) are vulnerable to self-regulatory fatigue as a consequence of their condition.”

Results: The study included 50 patients and 50 controls. Both groups were “exposed to an experimental self-regulation task followed by a persistence task.” Patients with FM and TMD “displayed significantly less capacity to persist on the subsequent task compared with controls.” Additionally, “patients exposed to low self-regulatory effort displayed similar low persistence to patients and controls exposed to high self-regulatory effort.” This indicated that patients with chronic pain conditions may suffer from chronic, self-regulatory fatigue.

http://hcp.lv/9vzthO

//Clinical Trials

Coping Skills Training for Adolescents with Fibromyalgia

Study Type: Interventional

Age/Gender Requirements: 11-18 years (male/female)

Sponsor: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Purpose: “To determine whether coping skills training, when combined with usual medical care, can reduce pain and disability in adolescents with fibromyalgia.”

Link Code: pm3561

http://hcp.lv/a5F3sC

TMS Effects on Pain and Depression in Patients with Fibromyalgia

Study Type: Interventional

Age/Gender Requirements: 18-80 years (male/female)

Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina

Purpose: The pilot study will include “20 African American participants with Fibromyalgia to explore the effect of [transcranial magnetic stimulation] on pain and depressive symptoms.”

Link Code: pm3562

http://hcp.lv/dfHfcc

Cyclobenzaprine Extended Release (ER) for Fibromyalgia

Study Type: Interventional

Age/Gender Requirements: 18-65 years (male/female)

Sponsor: State University of New York - Upstate Medical University

Purpose: The double-blind, placebo-controlled study is designed to “determine if cyclobenzaprine ER is safe and tolerable in the treatment of FM induced pain, and secondary fatigue and insomnia.”

Link Code: pm3563

http://hcp.lv/9PJhro