FM

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The patient was diagnosed with FM in late 2003, by both her PCP, and

then by her Rheumatoligist. A Fibromyalgia diagnosis requires a history

of widespread pain lasting at least three months, and pain and

tenderness in at least 11 of 18 tender-point sites. My patient had

these, as well as other symptoms related to FM including

-fatigue, headaches,morning stiffness, muscle spasms, muscle weakness,

musculoskeletal pain, numbness in hands and feet , sleep disturbances

tingling sensation that travels throughout the body, widespread pain in

joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues.

 

As you know, we do not treat the disease in CM, but treat the patient,

and the root cause of their problems. So looking past her western

diagnosis of FM, looking at her tongue, pulse, as well as the rest of

her health history, this patient was showing clear signs of a blood

deficiency.

One of the factors that I believed helped her to respond well to

treatments is that she is young- 26 years old. Another factor which is

helpful is that these symptoms were present for just about a year- so

this was relatively early in her diagnosis.

From the start, I was using points to nourish blood, as well as help

deal with the pain and fatigue. I used moxibustion with the treatments

as well.

She came for weekly treatments for 3 months, and started feeling some

pain relief after the first few treatments. Things weren't hurting as

much, nor as long as they had before.

After 2 months, her sleep had improved greatly, and she found that she

did not need to take her medications. (She was not a heavy med user,

they were prescribed, but she tried to use the lowest possible dose-

since the high dose didn't make much of an improvement. A major reason

why she wanted to try acup. is because she didn't want to be on the meds

for the rest of her life. as she told me, she is 26, and shouldn't feel

this bad or be taking this much med. at such a young age.)

Shortly after that, she went on vacation with her sister, and was

concerned that the long flight would leave her in pain, and she wouldn't

be moving around much on vacation. But she was fine- a little tired, but

she was up and out the whole trip- dancing and walking around, and

waking up without pain. These were things which previously caused her

a lot of pain and discomfort.

It has been 7 months since I first saw her, and she has been coming

about 2 times a month for maintenance for the last 3 months. I just saw

her again this week, and she was excited to tell me a story. She usually

goes to give blood, but is cautioned when she does so since her iron

levels are usually a point below average. She recently went, and it was

the first time ever that her iron level was within normal range. This

is something which markedly shows that her condition has improved, and

her blood building treatments are doing their job.

 

As with any disease, there are varying degrees of severity. My patient

was indeed diagnosed with FM, but was not suffering with it for many

years- as are some of the patients I have seen in clinic work. I had met

a woman who was in her late 70's, who had a long case history

(including childhood polio), which lead to her FM diagnosis- who was

suffering for 25 years, and showed a completely different case

presentation from my current patient. (The older woman had sever heat

signs, as well as depleted yin). Each patient is different, and as you

know, you can have five people with the same western diagnosis, but you

can and often will find five different chinese medicine diagnosis for

these patients.

 

If anyone has any other questions, please let me know

Lauren

 

 

 

 

> ________________

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> Message: 2

> Tue, 30 Nov 2004 18:53:34 -0000

> vinod3x3

> Re: FM

>

>

>

> Could you please post your protocal for this case?

> Also could you please tell the time line in the case - how long it

> took to get effect etc.

> From your posting I got the impression that the patient got

> improvement in a short time. If that was the case then I would be

> suspecious of the diagnosis. Fibromyalgia is an extremely complicated

> case and will take quite sometime rebuliding the yin - in FM there is

> always a multitude of hormonal imbalances that will take long and

> commited treatment.

> Not all muscle pain is fibromyalgia.

> If any here have had a differant experience with any FM case please

> report your case here.