Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Women's group discusses fibromylagia

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter, ecronce@dchieftain.com

Women's Opportunities for Wellness held a luncheon Aug. 16 on the topic of fibromyalgia. Dr. Rachael Evans from the Presbyterian Medical Services clinic on U.S. 60 addressed the audience about the syndrome also referred to as "pain in the muscle fibers."

At the meeting, Evans said the syndrome affects both men and women, although women are 20 percent to 30 percent more likely to contract fibromyalgia than men.

"Some physicians still do not consider fibromyalgia an appropriate diagnosis," she said. "There are no blood tests to indicate the condition."

Evans said there is no cure for the syndrome, only treatments to lessen the pain, anxiety and depression that accompany the condition. She suggested treatments with and without medications. Some treatments work better for some people than for others.

For treatments without medication, Evans suggested such things as exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis, acupuncture, biofeedback, myofacial therapy or trigger point injections.

Some medications that researches say are affective in the treatment are amitriptyline, Flexeril, or antidepressants such as Prozac.

Listed under the topic of things that don't work, Evans listed cortisone, opiates or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aleve, aspirin or ibuprophen. She said these may work short term but don't improve the course of the condition.

"Opiates make it (fibromyalgia) worse in the long run," Evans said. "They actually make you more sensitive to pain."

The program closed with the idea of forming a support group for people with fibromyalgia, and their friends and families. Ellen Rippel, treasurer of the American Association of University Women, is compiling a list of people who attended the luncheon to try to organize a group. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to contact Rippel at 505-838-2067.

The AAUW has sponsored WOW for more than 10 years said coordinator Linda Gonzales.

"We've been meeting off and on since the '90s," she said, "mostly on."

The group started to help the community establish a health center that would charge people on a sliding fee scale according to income. Now the group has changed their focus to health education, especially, but not exclusively, for women.

The group does not have a schedule of meetings but meets "every month or so," according to Gonzales.

"I thing there are still some things we can have meetings on that are of interest to the public," Gonzales said.

For more information on WOW or to make suggestions regarding future meeting topics, contact Gonzales at 505-835-4393.

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