Bakgrund: Fibromyalgi är en kronisk sjukdom som drabbar cirka 2 - 4 % av befolkningen, varav 80 % kvinnor. Trots att sjukdomen beskrevs redan under tidigt 1800-tal, under andra alias, är orsaken fortsatt nebulös. Fibromyalgi manifesteras av extensiva symtom som dagligen utgör fysiskt-, socialt-, mentalt- och kognitivt lidande för patienten. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa patienters erfarenheter av att leva med fibromyalgi. Metod: En allmän litteraturstudie genomfördes, baserad på data från tio kvalitativa artiklar. Materialet kodades och delades in i kategorier. Resultat: Resultatet delades in i fem kategorier: begränsningar i vardagen, mentala begränsningar, begränsningar i sociala relationer, begränsningar i arbetslivet ochbegränsningar i vårdkontakten. Fibromyalgi påverkade hela patientens liv och orsakade lidande. Upplevda symtom bidrog till social isolering där bristande kunskap även ansågs vara en bidragande faktor, vilket påtvingade livsstilsförändringar som utgjorde ett hot mot patientens identitet och självkänsla. Slutsats: Studien tydliggjorde hur fibromyalgi påverkade patienten fysiskt, kognitivt, mentalt och socialt. Extensiva symtom och bristande bemötande bidrog till social isolering, vilket utgjorde ett hot mot patientens identitet och självkänsla. Samtliga patienter upplevde genomgripande brister i sjukvården. Ökad kunskap om fibromyalgi och sjukdomens påverkan på patientens liv skulle främja sjuksköterskans omvårdnad ur ett personcentrerat- och hälsofrämjande förhållningssätt. / Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease which affects about 2 - 4 % of the population, of which 80% are women. Although the disease was described in the early 18th century, during other aliases, the cause remains nebulous. Fibromyalgia is manifested by extensive symptoms that daily constitute physical, social, mental and cognitive suffering for the patient. Aim: The aim was to enlighten the patients ́ experience of living with fibromyalgia. Method: A general literature study was conducted, based on the findings in ten qualitative articles. The result was encoded and divided into categories. Results: The results were divided into five categories: limitations in everyday life, mental limitations, limitations in social relationships, limitations in working life andlimitations in the care contact. Fibromyalgia turned out to affect the patients ́ world of life and caused suffering. Experienced symptoms contributed to social isolation where lack of knowledge was a contributing factor, as a forced lifestyle change proved to be a threat to the patients ́ identity and sence of self. Conclusion: The study clarified how fibromyalgia affected the patient physically, cognitively, mentally and socially. Extensive symptoms and lack of reception contributed to social isolation, which posed a threat to the patient's identity and sence of self. Some patients experienced profound shortcomings in health care. Increased knowledge of the fibromyalgia impact on the patient's life would promote the nurse's care from a person-centered and health-promoting approach.

INTRODUÇÂO: Fibromialgia é caracterizada como síndrome, a qual inclui dor muscular, fadiga e distúrbio do sono. Ansiedade e depressão estão freqüentemente associados, porém a causa é desconhecida. A intensidade da dor piora ao se deitar, durante a noite e no despertar. Normalmente a dor se difunde na região lombar e cervical. A TENS é um método não medicamentoso, estabelecido para controle da dor, o qual minimiza o consumo de analgésicos. OBJETIVOS: Este estudo visou avaliar a utilização de dispositivos de TENS simultâneos em pacientes portadores de Fibromialgia. MÉTODOS: Após aprovação do Comitê de Ètica em Pesquisa e consentimento, 39 pacientes portadores de Fibromialgia foram avaliados de forma prospectiva, aleatória e duplamente-encoberta. Avaliou-se a utilidade clínica de um novo, muito pequeno e leve dispositivo de a TENS (TANYX). Dois dispositivos de TENS, foram aplicados de forma simultânea em cada paciente: 1) na região lombar (perpendicular à coluna sobre L5), e 2) na região cervical (perpendicular à coluna, entre C7 e T1), durante 20-min, a cada 12 horas, durante 7 dias consecutivos (antes de se deitar, à noite, e antes de se levantar, pela manhã). Os pacientes foram divididos em 3 grupos (n=13). O grupo placebo (GP) utilizou adesivos que não transmitiam estímulo elétrico, semelhantes aos originais. O grupo de únicoTENS (TENS-1) (n=13), utilizou um adesivo de TENS ativo na área mais dolorida (cervical ou lombar) e placebo na área menos doloroa. O terceiro grupo (TENS-2) utilizou dois adesivos ativos de TENS nas áreas cervical e lombar, simultaneamente. Para controlar a dor, diclofenaco (50mg) foi utilizado como analgésico de resgate, até três vezes ao dia. Foram avaliados a intensidade da dor através da escala numérica visual (ENV 0-10 cm), consumo de analgésicos de resgate, qualidade do sono e fadiga. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes foram demograficamente semelhantes. 36 pacientes completaram o estudo. Três pacientes do grupo placebo desistiram no 4o dia de ausência de alívio da dor. A avaliação entre cada grupo antes e após o tratamento revelou que pacientes do grupo placebo não apresentaram alívio da dor (ENV 8 cm, p>0,05), da fatiga, ou melhora do padrão de sono, enquanto o grupo TENS-1 apresentou diminuição de 2,5 cm na ENV para dor (ENV anterior 8,5 cm e após 6 cm) (p<0,05). Finalmente, o grupo TENS-2 referiu redução de 4 cm na intensidade da dor (ENV anterior ao tratamento 8,5 cm e 4,3 cm após tratamento) (p<0,02). O consumo de analgésicos diários foi menor para TENS-1 (p<0,05) e TENS-2 (p<0,02). A comparação entre os 3 grupos revelou que a analgesia, qualidade de sono e melhora da fadiga foi: grupo TENS-2 > TENS-1 > GP (p<0,05). Os participantes consideraram os aparelhos ativos úteis. Não foram observados efeitos adversos. CONCLUSÕES: enquanto a aplicação de um dispositivo de TENS na área dolorida, lombar ou cervical, amenizou a dor em pacientes portadores de fibromialgia, a fadiga e a qualidade do sono foram minimizadas apenas quando dois dispositivos foram utilizados, demonstrando que este novo dispositivo pode ser adjuvante para dor da fibromialgia. / BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is characterized by a range of symptoms that include muscle pain, fatigue and sleep disorders. Anxiety and depression are often also present, and the cause is unknown. Worst pain is normally felt during bedtime, at night and before waking up in the morning, and pain is normally widespread at the low back and cervical area. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an established method for pain relief, which does not involve the use of medication and can be advantageous, as adjuvant, for pain control. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the use of two simultaneously new TENS devices for Fibromyalgia pain. METHODS: The local Ethics Committee approved the study, and informed consent was obtained. This prospective, double-blind randomized study evaluated the clinical utility of a new, very small and light, high frequency TENS device (TANYX) in 39 patients suffering from Fibromyalgia. Two TENS device were applied simultaneously in each patient: 1) at the lower back (perpendicular to the vertebrae canal, at the level of the 5th lumbar vertebrae), and 2) centrally above and below the space between the C7 and T1 spinous processes, perpendicular to the spine. The two devices were applied during 20-min at 12-hour interval during 7 consecutive days (Before bed-time and just after waking up in the morning). Patients were randomly divided into three groups (n=13): For the placebo group (PG), the two devices did not transmitted electrical stimulus, although they were externally similar to the active ones. The single-TENS group (STG) had applied one active TENS device at the worst area of pain (low back or cervical), and the placebo device at the less painful area. The third group double-TENS group (DTG) applied both active TENS devices at the low back and cervical areas. Diclofenac (50 mg) up to three times daily was used as rescue analgesic if necessary for pain control. The efficacy measures were pain relief evaluated on a visual analogue scale (VAS 0-10 cm),, reduction in use of daily analgesic tablets, quality of sleep, and fatigue. MAIN RESULTS: Patients were demographically similar. 36 patients completed the study. Three patients from the PG give up the study on the fourth day for absence of any pain relief. The evaluation within groups revealed that patients from DPG refereed no pain relief when compared to their previous VAS pain score (8-cm, p>0.05), while patients from the STG refereed improvement of 2.5 cm in the pain VAS (previous 8.5 cm compared to 6-cm after treatment) (p<0.05); and the DPG refereed daily maintained reduction of 4 cm in the VAS-pain (previous 8.5-cm to 4.3-cm) (p<0.02). Concurrent daily consumption of analgesic tablets was reduced in both STG (p<0.05) and DTG (p<0.02). Comparison among groups revealed that analgesia, as well as quality of sleep and disposition was: DTG > STG > PG (p<0.05). Participants subjectively found the active device useful. No adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: while the application of one active TENS device at either the lower back or cervical area improved pain relief in patients suffering from Fibromyalgia pain, the pain and fatigue were further improved when two actives devices were simultaneously applied, reflecting this new device an useful adjuvant for Fibromyalgia pain.

Introdução: Pacientes fibromiálgicos freqüentemente referem fadiga e estudos apontam esse sintoma como o segundo mais intenso, podendo limitar as atividades de vida diária, aumentar o estresse a até mesmo a dor. Não há um consenso se as queixas de fadiga correspondem a padrões alterados nos mecanismos de fadiga muscular, já que predominam as avaliações com questionários e escalas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a fadiga muscular em fibromiálgicos por meio da eletromiografia de superfície durante o teste de sentar e levantar. Métodos: Participaram do estudo 49 sujeitos divididos em dois grupos: Grupo Fibromiálgico (n=34) e Grupo Controle (n=15). Os padrões de fadiga muscular foram avaliados pela análise da freqüência mediana (MDF) do sinal eletromiográfico do terço distal do músculo vasto lateral durante o teste de sentar e levantar. A dor pela Escala Visual Analógica (EVA), os sintomas da fibromialgia pelo Questionário do Impacto da Fibromialgia (QIF) e o desempenho no teste de sentar e levantar pelo tempo total utilizado e número de repetições. Todos os participantes foram instruídos a realizar o teste numa velocidade confortável até a exaustão. A coleta da eletromiografia foi feita em três momentos, simultaneamente ao uso da escala de Borg para avaliação do nível de esforço percebido: início (T1), após um minuto (T2) e na exaustão (T3). Resultados: O grupo fibromiálgico apresentou MDF reduzida em T3 (p=0,04) e relato de esforço percebido mais intenso que o grupo controle em T2 (p=0,00). Foi observada correlação moderada entre MDF em T3 com as variáveis: intensidade da dor (-0,40; p=0,00) e tempo total em segundos (0,43; p=0,00). Conclusão: o grupo fibromiálgico apresentou sinais de fadiga precocemente com diminuição da freqüência mediana e percepção de esforço mais intenso comparado ao grupo controle. / Introduction: Fibromyalgia patients usually report fatigue and this symptom is the second more intense, limiting daily life activities, increasing stress and pain. There is no sense if fatigue complains are related to muscle fatigue altered patterns, since most studies performed questionnaires and scales to quantify this symptom. The aim of this study was to evaluate muscle fatigue patterns by surface electromyography during the sit to stand test. Methods: Participated 49 subjects in two groups: Fibromyalgia Group (n=34) and Control Group (n=15). Electromyography muscle fatigue patterns were evaluated by median frequency analyses (MDF) of the distal third of the vastus lateralis muscle during sit to stand test, pain by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), fibromyalgia symptoms by Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the test performance by total time spent in test and by number of movements. All subjects performed the sit to stand test in a comfortable velocity until exhaustion. Electromyography recording was performed in tree moments, simultaneously at Borg scale perceived effort evaluation: initial time (T1), after one minute (T2) and at exhaustion (T3). Results: Fibromyalgia group present MDF decrease at T3 (p=0,04) and more intense perceived effort at T2 (p=0,00). There was a moderate correlation for MDF in T3 with pain intensity (-0,40; p=0,00) and total time in sit to stand test in seconds (0,43; p=0,00). Conclusion: Fibromyalgia patients showed early muscle fatigue signs with MDF decrease and more intense perceived effort.

MARTORI, AH. Macroestrutura do sono em pacientes com fibromialgia, antes e após tratamento. 2011. 59 f. Dissertação (Mestrado) Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 2011. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram: - avaliar a macroestrutura do sono de pacientes com Fibromialgia sem tratamento medicamentoso; - avaliar se há modificações na macroestrutura do sono, após a instituição de tratamento medicamentoso da síndrome com Amitripitilina ou Fluoxetina + Ciclobenzaprina; - avaliar a queixa de dor, através da Escala Analógica Visual (EVA), e de comprometimento do sono, utilizando escala semelhante adaptada para o sono (Escala de Qualidade do Sono EQS), antes e após o tratamento. Vinte pacientes (19 mulheres e 1 homem) foram selecionados do ambulatório de Reumatologia do HCFMRP-USP, entre aqueles com diagnóstico clínico definido de fibromialgia, sem tratamento medicamentoso atual para a síndrome. Os pacientes preencheram a EVA e a EQS, antes e após a introdução do medicamento de escolha, ao mesmo tempo em que foram submetidos a polissonografia (PSG), antes e após tratamento. As alterações da macroestrutura do sono na primeira PSG foram aumento de N1, redução de N3 e aumento do número de microdespertares, o que pode ser, em parte, atribuído a efeito de primeira noite. Após o tratamento, houve aumento significativo na latência de sono REM e na porcentagem de N1, com tendência a aumento na eficiência de sono. Observou-se expressiva frequência de padrão alfa-delta, antes do tratamento (9 de 20 pacientes = 45%), mantendo-se inalterada após o mesmo. Apesar disto, após o tratamento, houve melhora significativa das queixas de dor e da qualidade do sono, segundo os dados das respectivas escalas analógicas. Três pacientes exibiram movimentos periódicos durante o sono a partir do segundo exame, o que foi atribuído ao efeito da medicação, não se repercutindo em redução na qualidade do sono, segundo auto-avaliação do paciente. O distúrbio respiratório não se mostrou como um fator relacionado aos transtornos do sono em fibromiálgicos, tendo sido observada síndrome da apnéia e hipopnéia obstrutivas do sono (SAHOS) em 3 dos 20 pacientes estudados (grau leve, em 2, e moderado em 1) Na segunda PSG, apenas 1 paciente se manteve com diagnóstico de SAOS. Em conclusão, observamos que o paciente com fibromialgia não exibe alterações significativas na macroestrutura do sono, antes de iniciar o tratamento, apesar de sua qualidade comprometida segundo a auto-avaliação do mesmo. A imposição do tratamento não modifica significativamente a macroestrutura do sono, porém, melhora as queixas dolorosas e a auto-avaliação da qualidade do sono. Entretanto, o padrão alfa-delta, sugestivo de sono não-reparador, ocorre em quase metade dos pacientes com fibromialgia, de forma independente do tratamento, e da referida melhora nos sintomas dolorosos e na qualidade subjetiva do sono, sugerindo a possibilidade deste ser um marcador cortical independente, cuja provável relação com a fisiopatologia da doença carece de maiores estudos. Palavras-chave: Fibromialgia. Sono. Polissonografia. Tratamento. / Our goals in the present study were: - to evaluate sleep macrostructure in patients with Fibromyalgia free from medication; - to investigate if there are changes in sleep macrostructure, after the institution of medical treatment either with Amitriptiline or a combination of Fluoxetin and Cyclobenzaprine; - to evaluate the complaint of pain through the Visual Analogical Scale (VAS) and sleep impairment through an analogous scale so called Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), before and after treatment. Twenty patients (19 women and 1 man) were selected from the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic of Ribeirão Preto University Hospital University of São Paulo, among those classified as suffering from Fibromyalgia without any current medical treatment for the syndrome. They fulfilled VAS and SQS and were submitted to two polysomnographic recordings (PSG), before and after the introduction of either one of medical treatments, chosen by the Rheumatology staff. As a result, we did not find significant changes in sleep macrostructure, before and after treatment, but an expressive frequency of alpha-delta pattern, in the first PSG (9 out of 20 patients = 45%), which remained unchanged after treatment. Even though, after treatment, there was significant improvement in regard to pain and sleep quality, according to the respective analogical scales. There was a significant increase in both REM latency and N1 percentage, as well as a tendency to increase in sleep efficiency, in the second PSG. Three patients showed periodic limb movements in the second exam, which has been attributed to an effect of the medications, without repercussion in sleep quality according to SQS. Respiratory sleep disorders did not appear to be related to sleep disturbances in fibromyalgia patients, as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was found in 3 out of 20 patients studied (mild degree, in 2, and moderate, in 1). Only 1 of those patients remained with OSA in the second PSG. In conclusion, we observed that patients with fibromyalgia, before starting medical treatment, do not show significant changes in sleep macrostructure, despite of sleep bad quality as referred by SQS. Medical treatment does not significantly modify sleep macrostructure, although improves complaints of pain and auto-evaluated sleep quality. Alpha-delta pattern, a possible marker of non restorative sleep, occurs in fibromyalgia patients independently from the treatment and from the self-attributed improvement in pain and sleep quality, suggesting its possible role as an independent cortical marker, eventually related to the physiopathology of this syndrome, which demands further studies to be determined.

Objetivo: avaliar a percepção da dor na fibromialgia por meio de técnica metodológica quantitativa e qualitativa. Métodos: 30 clientes foram avaliadas por meio de uma entrevista analisada através de análise de conteúdo temática e do Instrumento de Descritores de Dor, sendo que para os dados resultantes foram calculados a média aritmética e o desvio padrão para determinar quais descritores caracterizam melhor a dor na fibromialgia. Resultados e discussão: a análise de conteúdo resultou na construção de categorias de análise referentes às percepções de: diagnóstico, motivações, doença, sentimentos, pensamentos e repercussões na qualidade de vida. Já o Instrumento de Descritores de Dor revelou que os descritores de maior atribuição na caracterização da dor foram incômoda, que espalha, latejante, desconfortável e persistente e os de menor atribuição foram desgraçada, demoníaca, maldita, aterrorizante e assustadora. Os dois instrumentos mostraram tendência das clientes em perceber e relatar a dor, principalmente relacionada às características sensorialdiscriminativas. Além disso apresentaram dados relativos à importância do papel da família e do profissional de saúde no manejo da dor. Conclusão: percebeu-se a necessidade de estimular a percepção e a expressão das clientes com relação à dor, abarcando sua multidimensionalidade e que, o manejo da dor deve ser realizado levando-se em conta a tríade equipe de saúde - cliente - família, face à complexidade do fenômeno. / Objective: Evaluate the perception of pain in the fibromyalgia through the quantitative and qualitative methodological technique. Method: A total of 30 clients were assessed through an interview analyzed by the thematic content and through the instrument Descriptors of Pain. Arithmetic mean and standard error were used to determine which descriptors better characterize the pain in the fibromyalgia. Results and Discussion: The result of the content analysis was the construction of categories of analysis regarding the perceptions of: diagnosis, motivation, disease, feelings, thoughts and repercussions on the quality of life. The Descriptors of Pain instrument revealed the descriptors of higher attribution in the characterization of pain were inconvenient, spreading, pulsating, uncomfortable and persistent and the descriptors with the lower attribution were miserable, demoniac, cursed, terrifying and frightening. The two instruments showed the clients\' tendency in perceiving and reporting the pain regarding to the sensorialdiscriminating characteristics. In addition, data related to the importance of the family\'s and the health professional\'s roles in managing the pain were presented. Conclusion: The need to stimulate the perception and expression of clients regarding the pain in its multidimensionality was perceived. It is concluded that the management of pain must be performed considering the complexity of the phenomenon in terms of the triad health team - client - family.

INTRODUÇÂO: Fibromialgia é caracterizada como síndrome, a qual inclui dor muscular, fadiga e distúrbio do sono. Ansiedade e depressão estão freqüentemente associados, porém a causa é desconhecida. A intensidade da dor piora ao se deitar, durante a noite e no despertar. Normalmente a dor se difunde na região lombar e cervical. A TENS é um método não medicamentoso, estabelecido para controle da dor, o qual minimiza o consumo de analgésicos. OBJETIVOS: Este estudo visou avaliar a utilização de dispositivos de TENS simultâneos em pacientes portadores de Fibromialgia. MÉTODOS: Após aprovação do Comitê de Ètica em Pesquisa e consentimento, 39 pacientes portadores de Fibromialgia foram avaliados de forma prospectiva, aleatória e duplamente-encoberta. Avaliou-se a utilidade clínica de um novo, muito pequeno e leve dispositivo de a TENS (TANYX). Dois dispositivos de TENS, foram aplicados de forma simultânea em cada paciente: 1) na região lombar (perpendicular à coluna sobre L5), e 2) na região cervical (perpendicular à coluna, entre C7 e T1), durante 20-min, a cada 12 horas, durante 7 dias consecutivos (antes de se deitar, à noite, e antes de se levantar, pela manhã). Os pacientes foram divididos em 3 grupos (n=13). O grupo placebo (GP) utilizou adesivos que não transmitiam estímulo elétrico, semelhantes aos originais. O grupo de únicoTENS (TENS-1) (n=13), utilizou um adesivo de TENS ativo na área mais dolorida (cervical ou lombar) e placebo na área menos doloroa. O terceiro grupo (TENS-2) utilizou dois adesivos ativos de TENS nas áreas cervical e lombar, simultaneamente. Para controlar a dor, diclofenaco (50mg) foi utilizado como analgésico de resgate, até três vezes ao dia. Foram avaliados a intensidade da dor através da escala numérica visual (ENV 0-10 cm), consumo de analgésicos de resgate, qualidade do sono e fadiga. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes foram demograficamente semelhantes. 36 pacientes completaram o estudo. Três pacientes do grupo placebo desistiram no 4o dia de ausência de alívio da dor. A avaliação entre cada grupo antes e após o tratamento revelou que pacientes do grupo placebo não apresentaram alívio da dor (ENV 8 cm, p>0,05), da fatiga, ou melhora do padrão de sono, enquanto o grupo TENS-1 apresentou diminuição de 2,5 cm na ENV para dor (ENV anterior 8,5 cm e após 6 cm) (p<0,05). Finalmente, o grupo TENS-2 referiu redução de 4 cm na intensidade da dor (ENV anterior ao tratamento 8,5 cm e 4,3 cm após tratamento) (p<0,02). O consumo de analgésicos diários foi menor para TENS-1 (p<0,05) e TENS-2 (p<0,02). A comparação entre os 3 grupos revelou que a analgesia, qualidade de sono e melhora da fadiga foi: grupo TENS-2 > TENS-1 > GP (p<0,05). Os participantes consideraram os aparelhos ativos úteis. Não foram observados efeitos adversos. CONCLUSÕES: enquanto a aplicação de um dispositivo de TENS na área dolorida, lombar ou cervical, amenizou a dor em pacientes portadores de fibromialgia, a fadiga e a qualidade do sono foram minimizadas apenas quando dois dispositivos foram utilizados, demonstrando que este novo dispositivo pode ser adjuvante para dor da fibromialgia. / BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is characterized by a range of symptoms that include muscle pain, fatigue and sleep disorders. Anxiety and depression are often also present, and the cause is unknown. Worst pain is normally felt during bedtime, at night and before waking up in the morning, and pain is normally widespread at the low back and cervical area. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an established method for pain relief, which does not involve the use of medication and can be advantageous, as adjuvant, for pain control. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the use of two simultaneously new TENS devices for Fibromyalgia pain. METHODS: The local Ethics Committee approved the study, and informed consent was obtained. This prospective, double-blind randomized study evaluated the clinical utility of a new, very small and light, high frequency TENS device (TANYX) in 39 patients suffering from Fibromyalgia. Two TENS device were applied simultaneously in each patient: 1) at the lower back (perpendicular to the vertebrae canal, at the level of the 5th lumbar vertebrae), and 2) centrally above and below the space between the C7 and T1 spinous processes, perpendicular to the spine. The two devices were applied during 20-min at 12-hour interval during 7 consecutive days (Before bed-time and just after waking up in the morning). Patients were randomly divided into three groups (n=13): For the placebo group (PG), the two devices did not transmitted electrical stimulus, although they were externally similar to the active ones. The single-TENS group (STG) had applied one active TENS device at the worst area of pain (low back or cervical), and the placebo device at the less painful area. The third group double-TENS group (DTG) applied both active TENS devices at the low back and cervical areas. Diclofenac (50 mg) up to three times daily was used as rescue analgesic if necessary for pain control. The efficacy measures were pain relief evaluated on a visual analogue scale (VAS 0-10 cm),, reduction in use of daily analgesic tablets, quality of sleep, and fatigue. MAIN RESULTS: Patients were demographically similar. 36 patients completed the study. Three patients from the PG give up the study on the fourth day for absence of any pain relief. The evaluation within groups revealed that patients from DPG refereed no pain relief when compared to their previous VAS pain score (8-cm, p>0.05), while patients from the STG refereed improvement of 2.5 cm in the pain VAS (previous 8.5 cm compared to 6-cm after treatment) (p<0.05); and the DPG refereed daily maintained reduction of 4 cm in the VAS-pain (previous 8.5-cm to 4.3-cm) (p<0.02). Concurrent daily consumption of analgesic tablets was reduced in both STG (p<0.05) and DTG (p<0.02). Comparison among groups revealed that analgesia, as well as quality of sleep and disposition was: DTG > STG > PG (p<0.05). Participants subjectively found the active device useful. No adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: while the application of one active TENS device at either the lower back or cervical area improved pain relief in patients suffering from Fibromyalgia pain, the pain and fatigue were further improved when two actives devices were simultaneously applied, reflecting this new device an useful adjuvant for Fibromyalgia pain.

Mindfulness is a cognitive attribute that is associated with better health and well-being. Fibromyalgia is a neurosensory disorder primarily characterized by chronic pain and comorbid depression, leading to an increased risk for alcohol-related problems. Empirical literature confirms mindfulness has beneficial associations with chronic pain, depression, alcohol-related problems, and fibromyalgia. Mindfulness may lead to better health and well-being by facilitating self-monitoring, objective reperceiving, and purposeful changing of health-related behaviors. It was hypothesized that higher levels of mindfulness would be related to lower levels of chronic pain and depressive symptoms, and, in turn, to fewer alcohol-related problems among individuals with fibromyalgia. Cross-sectional data was collected from 287 participants, and statistically analyzed using parallel mediation models. Hypotheses were only partially supported; mindfulness had an inverse relationship with alcohol-related problems, as hypothesized, although the relationship was not mediated by chronic pain or depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: We compared the magnitude and direction of associations between forgiveness and pain, mental and physical health, quality of life, and anger in a sample of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) participants and healthy controls. In addition, we compared FM and controls on mean levels of these variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 173 individuals with FM and 81 controls completed this study. FM participants and controls were residents of Germany recruited with the support of the German Fibromyalgia Patient Association and several self-help groups. FM participants and controls were about 53 years of age, mostly married (70%), Christians (81%), with levels of education ranging from 9 to 13+ years. All participants completed assessments of forgiveness, pain, health, quality of life, and anger. RESULTS: Analyses revealed that FM participants reported higher pain and anger and poorer health and quality of life. FM participants also reported lower levels of both forgiveness of self and others. Size and direction of associations of forgiveness with pain, health, quality of life, and anger in were not significantly different between healthy individuals and individuals with FM. DISCUSSION: Forgiveness of self and others is beneficially associated with pain, health, quality of life, and anger in FM participants at levels that are of similar size and direction as in healthy controls. However, FM participants manifest lower levels of forgiveness of self and others. Therapeutic promotion of forgiveness as a psychosocial coping strategy may help patients with FM to better manage psychological and physical symptoms, thereby enhancing well-being.

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1990 criterion classifies fibromyalgia as a clinical syndrome characterized by chronic widespread muscular pain and tenderness with hyperalgesia to pressure over 11/18 tender points of at least 3 months duration. Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and is associated with fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it has been shown to demonstrate sensitization of the central nervous system pain pathways by demonstrating lower pain pressure thresholds and reduced conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia can interfere with daily function, work, and social activities. Without greater understanding of the interaction of pain, fatigue and function, we are limited in our ability to improve these symptoms for individuals with fibromyalgia. We designed three experiments to examine the relationship of pain, fatigue and function in individuals with fibromyalgia. Regression analyses demonstrated significant models that included pain, fatigue and fear of movement for prediction of function and quality of life in individuals with fibromyalgia and healthy controls. The fatigue study (cognitive fatigue, physical fatigue and dual fatigue task) demonstrated that people with fibromyalgia show enhanced pain and fatigue to both cognitive and physical fatigue tasks and reduced function in the physical fatigue task in comparison to healthy controls. Our final study showed active TENS restores CPM, decreases deep tissue pressure pain, decreases pain and fatigue during movement for individuals with fibromyalgia.

This research sought to clarify the role of the self in chronic illness by developing and evaluating several new constructs, which intend to describe the extent to which illness permeates the self-concept. Following the works of Lewin and Asch, the concepts of central and peripheral regions of the self were elaborated to describe the state of illness within the self, termed "illness self-concept". Three subsidiary constructs were introduced to further depict illness self-concept: directionality, pervasiveness, and illness self-consciousness. Directionality refers to whether illness drives the self or self drives illness. Pervasiveness refers to whether illness affects many or few regions of the self. Illness self-consciousness refers to the degree of preoccupation with illness. A 23-item scale was developed to assess illness self-concept (ex= .94), with items addressing each construct. A 14-item scale measuring "illness self-concept support" (ISC Support, ex= .89) was developed to assess whether family and friends reinforce illness as central or peripheral to the self. I hypothesized that illness self-concept relates to adjustment such that the more illness is peripheral to the self, the better the adjustment. My second hypothesis was that personal, interpersonal, and illness-related factors would influence illness self-concept. The third hypothesis was that illness self-concept would predict additional variance in adjustment after controlling for each of these factors. Fibromyalgia patients (n = 109) completed measures of illness self-concept, optimism, ISC support, illness intrusiveness, and functional status. Results supported hypothesis one, indicating that illness self-concept significantly predicted quality of life (R2Δ. = .39) and depression (R2Δ = .24). Results supported hypothesis two, indicating that ISC support, optimism, illness intrusiveness and functional status each contribute to illness self-concept. Results supported hypothesis three, indicating that illness self-concept predicted substantial variance in adjustment even after controlling for personal, interpersonal, and illness-related factors. All three hypotheses were strongly supported, indicating that illness self-concept is an important predictor of adjustment in chronic illness. This study demonstrated that the extent to which illness permeates the self-concept has implications for adjustment in fibromyalgia, and may be an important variable in improving psychological adjustment in other chronic illnesses.