FIBROMYALGIA
Fibromyalgia/ Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a chronic (long duration) condition that results in pain all over the body.
Apart from widespread pain, patients with fibromyalgia may also have:
What causes fibromyalgia?
The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. In many cases, the condition appears to be triggered by a physically or emotionally stressful event, such as:
Who's affected?
Fibromyalgia can develop in anyone, although it affects 7 times as many women as men. It generally develops between 30 and 50 years of age, but may occur at any age. Fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose as there is no specific test to diagnose fibromyalgia, and the symptoms can be similar to a number of other conditions.
Conventional treatment methods include medication to reduce the pain and include pain relievers, antidepressants, and anti-seizure drugs followed by physical therapy to improve the strength, flexibility and stamina.
Alternative treatment methods at Beth Yehuwdah Arthritis Centre, Pullad & Daystar Clinic, Alappuzha:
& Neural & Soft Tissue Infilteration Therapy (NESTIT)
Low Dose Steroid Infilteration/ Neural & Soft Tissue Infilteration Therapy (NESTIT): Steroid tablets and injections of the group Corticosteroids, (which are very different from Anabolic steroids misused by some athletes) have been repeatedly proven medically for the last 70 years in the successful treatment of inflammatory conditions due to its potent anti-inflammatory effect. Though corticosteroids are very effective in reducing inflammation, they carry numerous potential side effects, which are undesirable. To circumvent this problem, and in order to utilize the potent anti-inflammatory effects of steroid injections, at the same time taking appropriate measures to considerably lower its side-effects, Dr Tejaz Koshy John in 2010 while working as an Orthopaedician in his private clinic in Guyana, South America developed NESTIT. NESTIT stands for (Juxta) Neural and Soft Tissue Infilteration Therapy. It consists of injecting small amounts of diluted anti inflammatory steroid solution indirectly near (juxta) nerve CCPs- (chronic constricting points) in the lower back/ hip/ neck/ shoulder regions, in order to reduce juxtaneural and perineural inflammation, as well as in certain soft tissue sites including but not limited to trigger points (painful muscle “knots”)/ myofascial syndrome and/or enthesitis (inflammation of soft tissue-bone junctions) and/or sites of nerve inflammation (neuritis/ radiculitis) and/or bursitis (inflammation of fluid filled cushions called bursa) and/or additional sites causing pain referrals (referred pain) to distant sites; in order to obtain a reduction in inflammation and pain in the concerned joint/ region/ limb. It is preferably given for those patients who have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory Arthritis, Synovitis, Inflammatory Low Back Pain, Spondyloarthropathy & Nerve and Nerve root irritation. It is not a substitute for DMARDS (Disease modifying anti rheumatoid drugs), however when given with low dose DMARDS, in Dr Tejaz John’s clinical experience it may result in significant reduction of local inflammation, pain and improvement of joint function in most cases, also indirectly reducing side effects of high dose DMARDS.
NESTIT involves
In Dr Tejaz John’s clinical experience, the patient benefits of Low Dose Steroid Infilteration/ Neural & Soft Tissue Infilteration Therapy (NESTIT) treatment are:
2) Prolotherapy for treatment for fibromyalgia
Dr Tejaz John’s experience in Prolotherapy has taught him that many patients with Fibromyalgia may respond well to Prolotherapy, especially when given in areas of Trigger points and near specific Soft tissue sites in the neck, and lower back/ lumbar spine and pelvic regions.
Prolotherapy is an almost painless injection technique under local anesthesia where very thin needles are used to inject high concentrations of dextrose solution (sugar similar to glucose) in to loose and damaged ligaments, tendon and muscle attachments around Joints and Soft tissues. Prolotherapy works by increasing the glucose concentration in the fluid outside the cells. This results in movement of fluid from inside the cells to the outside of the cells thereby shrinking the cells and causing temporary cell damage (hyperosmolar damage). As the cells are temporarily damaged, they release many biosignals to the body which results in stimulation of the immune system of the body to accelerate the inflammatory process locally resulting in increased local blood circulation, fibroblast (fibrous cell) proliferation, ligament regeneration, tightening and repair. In Dr Tejaz John’s experience Prolotherapy can result in significant local symptomatic improvement in Fibromyalgia patients.
Patient Benefits of Prolotherapy:
At Beth Yehuwdah Arthritis Centre, Pullad and Daystar Clinic, Alappuzha we tailor customized treatment plan to treat patients suffering from Fibromyalgia. To know more about treatment plans and treatment costs, book an appointment now.
MBBS, MS Ortho (Christian Medical College, Ludhiana), Joint Replacement Fellowship (HOSMAT Hospital, Bangalore), Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship (Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel)
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