Fibromyalgia Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Tender Points free essay sample

Fibromyalgia: Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Tender Points BY Jkush374 Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. Tender points refers to tenderness that occurs in precise, localized areas, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. People with this syndrome may also experience sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and other symptoms. Fibromyalgia affects 3 to 6 million Americans. It primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, but hildren, the elderly, and men can also be affected. Although the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, researchers have several theories about what causes or triggers the disorder. Some scientists believe that the syndrome may be caused by an injury or trauma. This injury may affect the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia may be associated with changes in muscle metabolism, such as decreased blood flow, causing fatigue and decreased strength. Others believe the syndrome may be triggered by an infectious agent such as a virus in susceptible people but no such agent has been identified. We will write a custom essay sample on Fibromyalgia: Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Tender Points or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms mimic those of other disorders. The physician reviews the patients medical history and makes a diagnosis of fibromyalgia based on a history of chronic widespread pain that persists for more than 3 months. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has developed criteria for fibromyalgia that physicians can use in diagnosing the disorder. According to ACR criteria, a person is considered to have fibromyalgia if he or she has widespread pain in combination with tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites. The 18 Tender points are at the base of the skull beside the spinal column; at the base of the neck in the back; on the top of the shoulder toward the back; on the breastbone; on the outer edge of the forearm about 2 cm below the elbow; over the shoulder blade; at the top of the hip; on the outside of the hip; and on the fat pad over the knee. Some other symptoms include pain, fatigue, memory and concentration impairment, sleep disorders, exercise difficulties, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic headaches, Jaw pain, and others to many to list here. Treatment of fibromyalgia requires a wide-ranging approach. The physician, physical therapist, and patient may all play an active role in the management of fibromyalgia. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise, such as swimming and walking, improve muscle fitness and reduce muscle pain and tenderness. Heat and massage may also give short-term relief. Anti-depressant medications may help elevate mood, improve quality of sleep, and relax muscles. Patients with fibromyalgia may benefit from a combination of exercise, medication, physical therapy, and relaxation. Common sleep-aid medications include Ambien, Lunesta, clonazepam, orepinephrine are commonly prescribed in low doses for the treatment of fibromyalgia, Examples include amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine, Cymbalta, and Savella. The pain medication Ultram may help with the treatment of fibromyalgia pain also. In addition to medications some other treatments that can be preformed to help alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia, these include trigger point injections with lidocaine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture/acupressure, relaxation/biofeedback techniques, osteopathic manipulation, chiropractic care, therapeutic massage, and a gentle exercise program. As you can see fibromyalgia is very difficult to diagnose and to treat. Also from everything to I have read on it there is no specific reason on how the disease started or what caused it or any glaring factor that can be concentrated on how to treat fibromyalgia. This is exactly why many suffers from the disease feel helpless and scared cause they dont know what course of action to take to help alleviate their pain. Because of the on going pain and seemingly no answers as to why it is happing or what is causing it, many suffers start to feel as if they Just have to live with the pain and that it is normal. Which in turn is not good for the suffers mental state of mind. My aunt was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and few years ago and I can see how the on going pain and lack of a specific reason for the pain has affected her both physically and mentally, not to mention the many number of medications that she has been prescribed that have not helped. Although this is not a deadly disease it can affect people very profoundly. With on going research I hope that one day soon they will find a cause and a cure, and at the least away to help alleviate the symptoms of this disease to bring some relief to its suffers.

Copper Age Cemetery

Varna Bulgaria - Eneolithic/Copper Age Cemetery Varna is the name of a Eneolithic/Late Copper Age cemetery located in northeastern Bulgaria, slightly inland of the Black Sea and north of the Varna Lakes. The cemetery was used for about century between 4560-4450 BC. Excavations at the site have revealed a total of nearly 300 graves, within an area of approximately 7,500 square meters (81,000 square feet or approximately 2 acres). To date, the cemetery has not been found to be associated with a settlement: the closest human occupation of the same date consists of 13 pile-based lake dwellings, located near Varna Lakes and thought to be of approximately the same period. However, no connection to the cemetery has been established as of yet. Grave goods from Varna included an enormous amount of goldwork, a total of over 3,000 gold objects weighing more than 6 kilograms (13 pounds). In addition, 160 copper objects, 320 flint artifacts, 90 stone objects and more than 650 clay vessels have been found. In addition, over 12,000 dentalium shells and about 1,100 Spondylus shell ornaments were also recovered. Also collected were red tubular beads made from carnelian. Most of these artifacts were recovered from elite burials. Elite Burials Of the 294 graves, a handful were clearly high status or elite burials, probably representing chiefs. Burial 43, for example, included 990 gold artifacts weighing 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) alone. Stable isotope data suggests that the people at Varna consumed both terrestrial (millet) and marine resources: human remains associated with the richest burials (43 and 51) had isotope signatures that indicated higher percentage consumption of marine protein. A total of 43 of the graves are cenotaphs, symbolic graves containing no human remains. Some of these contained clay masks with gold objects placed in what would be the location of eyes, mouth, nose and ears. AMS radiocarbon dates on animal and human bones from burial contexts returned calibrated dates between 4608-4430 BC; but most artifacts of this type date to the later Eneolithic period, suggesting that the Black Sea location was a center of social and cultural innovation. Archaeology The Varna cemetery was discovered in 1972 and excavated well into the 1990s by Ivan S. Ivanov of the Varna Museum, G. I. Georgiev and M. Lazarov. The site has not been as yet been completely published, although a handful of scientific articles have appeared in English language journals. Sources This article is a part of the About.com guide to the Chalcolithic, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Gaydarska B, and Chapman J. 2008. The aesthetics or colour and brilliance - or why were prehistoric persons interested in rocks, minerals, clays and pigments? In: Kostov RI, Gaydarska B, and Gurova M, editors. Geoarchaeology and Archaeomineralogy: Proceedings of the International Conference. Sofia: Publishing House St. Ivan Rilski. p 63-66. Higham T, Chapman J, Slavchev V, Gaydarska B, Honch NV, Yordanov Y, and Dimitrova B. 2007. New perspectives on the Varna cemetery (Bulgaria) – AMS dates and social implications. Antiquity 81(313):640-654. Honch NV, Higham TFG, Chapman J, Gaydarska B, and Hedges REM. 2006. A palaeodietary investigation of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) in human and faunal bones from the Copper Age cemeteries of Varna I and Durankulak, Bulgaria. Journal of Archaeological Science 33:1493-1504. Renfrew C. 1978.  Varna and the social context of early metallurgy.  Antiquity 52(206):199-203.