Seem to have turned a corner with my GP, now appears to be onside with me in trying to treat me for fibromyalgia. She dropped the name of the rheumatologist at the local hospital who specialises in fibromyalgia into the consultation and has prescribed Amitriptyline
as it is considered one of the most effective treatments for fibro as it acts to give deep sleep and helps with the pain...Started on 10mg, have to double dose after two weeks then go back to review.....
Also had DSS medical yesterday, the doctor also seemed to be onside...advising me to keep up my efforts, daily goals, exercise etc and to take jacuzzis or saunas to make sure muscles are warm and reduce pain. He also reckoned I look a lot younger than 47!
Fibromyalgia by David A. Nye, M.D. "Patients with fibromyalgia often report subjectively shallow sleep as well as an increase in fibromyalgia symptoms after disturbed sleep (Campbell 1983). In 1973, Hauri and Hawkins reported abnormal amounts of electroencephalographic alpha activity during deep sleep in patients with symptoms of fibromyalgia (Hauri 1973). Moldofsky et al. reproduced these findings and were able to induce fibromyalgia symptoms in normal volunteers by depriving them of deep sleep (Moldofsky 1975). They noted however that sleep deprivation did not induce symptoms of fibromyalgia in subjects who exercised. Subsequent trials have confirmed the value of aerobic exercise in the treatment of fibromyalgia (McCain 1988). Exercise increases time spent in deep sleep (Hobson 1968), perhaps the the mechanism for its theraputic efficacy.
The presence of considerable symptom overlap in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome and the efficacy in all of low doses of amitriptyline has led to speculation that they may be different facets of the same underlying, as yet unknown disease process, possibly a viral infection (Goldenberg 1990, Yunus 1989). Although no specific inheritance pattern has been identified, an increased incidence in relatives of affected patients has been noted (Pellegrino 1989).
Most patients with fibromyalgia respond favorably to low doses of amitriptyline, vigorous exercise, and maintenence of a regular schedule of adequate amounts of sleep. On this regimen, 30 (83%) of the last 36 patients I have seen with fibromyalgia have had substantial improvement.
Amitriptyline is more effective than anti-inflamatory medications or other anti-depressants in the treatment of fibromyalgia, and appears to work through its effect on deep sleep (Goldenberg 1986). It should be started at 5 mgs. an hour or so before bedtime. The dose should be increased by 5-10 mgs. every 4-7 days to maximum relief of symptoms without unacceptable side effects. In the 30 patients mentioned above, the best dose ranged from 2.5 to 300 mgs. per day but generally was between 30 and 60 mgs. per day. The few patients who experience an initial stimulant effect and tachycardia from amitriptyline should take it earlier in the evening so that this effect has given way to sedation by the patient's usual bedtime. The dose usually needs to be pushed to the point that it causes a significant and continuous dry mouth. When dry mouth and constipation are sufficiently bothersome, pyridostigmine may be used to block these and other peripheral anticholinergic side effects. A craving for sweets is a common side effect of amitriptyline so I recommend that patients taking amitriptyline avoid sweets entirely to avoid weight gain.
Daily, vigorous, low-impact aerobic exercise has also been shown to have a beneficial effect on fibromyalgia symptoms (McCain 1988). It appears to be more effective if done later in the day. The kind of exercise does not seem to matter as long as it gets the heart rate into the aerobic range. Aerobic dance videotapes can be used at home at a convenient time every day, are paced, and provide warm-up exercises that can help prevent injury. The patient should choose a type of exercise that does not aggrevate their pain. If the pain is worst in the back and legs, for example, exercise just the arms.
Getting adequate sleep is essential. Fibromyalgia symptoms commonly appear during times of sleep disruption (12) such as may be brought on by stress, pain, starting shift work, or having to get up to attend to young children. At times just re-establishing a regular sleep schedule may be enough to relieve symptoms.
Education, frequent follow-up visits, temporary dose reductions, and reassurance help to get patients over the initial side effects of amitriptyline, the most bothersome of which are usually fatigue and dizziness. It may be difficult to convince patients to get adequate exercise because of their fatigue and because it may initially increase the aching. It may take two weeks or so before the beneficial effects of the amitriptyline and exercise outweigh their side effects. The physician should check on the amount and type of exercise and sleep at return visits and reinforce their importance. Patients should be warned that despite optimum treatment and good initial results, brief relapses are common, often caused by temporary sleep disturbances. The patient will do best if she "gives in to it" and tries to get extra rest during a relapse.
In summary, fibromyalgia is a common, chronic, often disabling disorder of unknown etiology associated with disordered deep sleep and probably abnormalities involving serotonin or other neurotransmitters. Most patients can be helped with a combination of amitriptyline, exercise, and maintenence of a regular sleep schedule. Think of this condition in any patient with a complaint of aching and look for associated symptoms and tender points to confirm the diagnosis.
Table 1: Associated signs and symptoms (Wolfe 1990).
widespread pain -- 97.6% of patients
tenderness in tender points -- 90.1
fatigue -- 81.4
morning stiffness -- 77.0
sleep disturbance -- 74.6
paresthesias -- 62.8
headache -- 52.8
anxiety -- 47.8
dysmenorrhea history -- 40.6
sicca symptoms -- 35.8
prior depression -- 31.5
irritable bowel syndrome -- 29.6
urinary urgency -- 26.3
Raynaud's phenomenon -- 16.7
Other commonly reported associated symptoms include dizziness (often with some swaying on Romberg testing), an eczematous malar rash and chronic itching (my unpublished observations).
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Table 2: Location of tender points (Wolfe 1990).
suboccipital muscle insertions at occiput
lower cervical paraspinals
trapezius at midpoint of the upper border
supraspinatus at its origin above medial scapular spine
2nd costochondral junction
2 cm distal to lateral epicondyle in forearm
upper outer quadrant of buttock
greater trochanter
knee just proximal to the medial joint line.
To meet ACR 1990 diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, digital palpation with an approximate force of 4 kgs. must produce a report of pain in at least 11 of these 18 (bilateral) tender points. Other areas can be tender but the tenderness should be focal rather than diffuse. In addition, tender points must be present on both sides of the body, above and below the waist and in the midline. Widespread pain must have been present for at least 3 months. Some accept a diagnosis of fibromyalgia with fewer than 11 tender points if several associated symptoms from table 2 are also present (Wolfe 1989).
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