Posted by James
Physicians do not have successful treatments for fibromyalgia, which has made this a very attractive area for alternative medicine providers who often claim to have successful treatments. Patients with fibromyalgia are more likely than the general population to seek out alternative medicine, with up to ninety one percent of these patients seeing alternative providers. Several therapies have become standard fare for the fibromyalgia patient seeking alternative care. The Internet has become a major source of information with over 100,000 sites showing up on an alta vista search. The following are some of the more common treatments that fibromyalgia patients use.
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Posted by James
The patient most likely to be diagnosed as having fibromyalgia is a women between 25-50 years of age.. Almost all patients with fibromyalgia will have some pain in the head and neck area. The pain is described as tingling, aching, soreness, flowing, and diffuse. Since the disease takes so long to diagnose, most patients suffer from chronic pain syndrome by the time their symptoms are taken seriously and they have trouble localizing the pain to discrete areas. Another common theme in these patients is fatigue. The fatigue is severe, sometimes preventing any movement at all. Sleep in non-restful and not restorative. People wake up feeling like they need eight more hours of sleep. Another frequent complaint is swelling of the hands that is not obvious to the examiner, but the patient is clearly able to discern a difference, regardless of whether the swelling effects the ability to wear jewelry, clothing, and can be shown to not effect the shape and size of the fingers. Forgetfulness and an inability to concentrate and think or plan for long term events is also a hallmark of this condition. This last symptom is called fibrofog by the afflicted and is one of the most bothersome symptoms.
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Posted by James
The most common complaint in people with fibromyalgia is that they “feel bad”. One third to one half of patients with fibromyalgia relate the onset of the condition to a traumatic experience often can recount the day and time the condition started. Chronic widespread pain not associated with inflammation is considered the hallmark of the disease. Chronic fatigue, cold fingers and feet, impaired memory, frequency and awareness of urination, depression (stipulated as reactive and not clinical), sleep and balance disturbance, muscle twitching, muscles aches, pain, dry mouth, headache and sore throat are all common symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Symptoms occur daily, but vary in severity. Patients are never symptom free, but at times may reach functional levels in which time they typically see no need for treatment. Symptoms of the condition and the body awareness eventually become a large part of the person’s life. Desires to get better and full awareness of the abnormalities differentiate this entity from depression. A search for normalcy and a focus on the symptoms often aggravate intrafamily relationships and get the affected individual labeled as an “emotional vacuum cleaner” and worsen otherwise minor family issues.
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Posted by James
INTRODUCTION
The fibromyalgia syndrome is seen amongst all socioeconomic classes in most countries, most ethnic groups, and in all types of climates. It is a common condition frequently seen in primary care settings. An estimated 6 million Americans have fibromyalgia, and between two and six percent of people presenting to a primary care physician’s office will have the illness. Making an accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia is important, patients are often relieved that there is a diagnosis which reduces anxiety and tension. Once diagnosed, consultations and laboratory tests can be used in a more judicial manner.
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Posted by James
The study has shown the efficacy and tolerability of Toto products (skin ointment and soap) in the management of common skin disorders. It also has a superior outcome as compared with sulfur ointment, a commonly used skin product. It is particularly efficacious in the management of skin conditions such as fungal and bacterial skin infections and scabies. The products are particularly effective in treating fungal infections and scabies. Such fungal skin infections include tinea cruris, corporis, pubis, and capitis. In treating tinea unguium and tinea pedis however, although the products have some effects, a definitive statement is difficult to make concerning the efficacy because of the few patients and duration of treatment. We suggest application of the ointment for a longer period in the management of tinea unguium and tinea pedis. Very few cases of dandruff and acne vulgaris were seen to allow for determination of the effects of the products, although the clinical trial recorded good effects on all the cases seen. Toto products were also effective in treating common bacterial skin infections such as folliculitis and septic spots caused especially by Staphylococcus aureus. The clinical trial has shown that there is an added advantage in combining Toto skin ointment and soap over and above those conferred by the individual agents, while treating fungal skin infections.
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Posted by James
A total of 607 patients were seen at the beginning of the study period but 12 (1.8%) could not satisfy the inclusion criteria fully. Five hundred and ninety-five patients participated in the clinical trial, all of which were Nigerians. Their ages ranged from six years to seventy-five years (mean 13.87 ± 10.55 years) with a sex ratio M/F of 1:1, (302 males and 293 females), and a mean body mass index of 17.2 ± 5.5.
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Posted by James
This clinical trial was carried out in the medical outpatient department of the Ogun State University Teaching Hospital (OSUTH), Sagamu. Study participants also were recruited from area schools. Local ethical committee approval was obtained. This is a randomized, comparative, parallel, prospective, and blinded observational study.
- Inclusion criteria: Patient must be Nigerian and have any of the common skin diseases such as acne vulgaris, dandruff, scabies, fungal and bacterial skin infections.
- Exclusion Criteria: Patients with known hy-persensitivity/contraindication to sulfur; renal impairment; clinically significant abnormality of haematopoietic, hepatic, endocrine or cardiac function and existence of any concurrent disease, which in the investigator opinion would make it undesirable for the patient to participate in the study. Others include women of childbearing age who are not using an acceptable method of birth control; breast-feeding mothers; presence of psychosis, antagonist personality or poor motivation, emotional or intellectual property that is likely to impair compliance with trial procedures or validity of consent.
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