Searching For the Cure for Fibromyalgia

The literal Latin-to-English translation for Fibromyalgia is "muscle pain." The term was coined in the 1970s, but the disorder has been studied since the 1800s with alternate names like "rheumatism" and "fibrositis."

The thing that has always perplexed researchers about the disorder is the difficulty in obtaining data based findings for Fibromyalgia symptoms. As a result, doctors have called it everything from a soft tissue disorder, like arthritis, to a sleep disorder.

Most recent research suggests that the disorder may have more to do with the brain and how patients process pain, than the actual muscles. Dr. Patrick Wood, a Fibromyalgia specialist, describes the difficulty in diagnosing the disorder, saying: "It doesn't have any markers to standard blood tests or X-rays. There's nothing in the blood that says, 'I have Fibromyalgia.' There's nothing you're going to see on an X-ray."

In February 2008, researchers revealed a new pill for fibromyalgia treatment. Nabilone, a form of synthetic marijuana, provided quality-of-life enhancements, allowing some people who had previously been unable to work, to increase mobility and better sleep patterns.

All 40 subjects noticed an improvement, although the pain never fully went away for Fibromyalgia patients. The other downside for a pill like Nabilone is that even in Canada, which is noted for having cheaper drug prices, a year's supply would cost $4,000!

While there may be no official "cure" for Fibromyalgia, there are pills that can ease the symptoms, and behavior modifications or coping skills that can often mute the pain symptoms.

If the pain is preventing the patient from going out with friends, doing household chores or working, then medication is suggested. For other patients, researchers find that stress causes the pain to worsen, as will the lack of sleep. The National Fibromyalgia Association often recommends a massage or a cup of chamomile tea.