A BETTER TREATMENT FOR FIBROMYALGIAValeria Maria Nieves Rivera

Rise Summer Bridge Program 2014

PROBLEM

The side effects that fibromyalgia patients experience by taking the medications doctors prescribe

Are natural remedies actually better at treating fibromyalgia than the prescriptions drugs doctors give?

QUESTION

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA(FMS)? Fibromyalgia, also known as FMS is characterized as a widespread of chronic pain through the muscles and the bones. It can also be felt by a heighten response to pressure. The cause of this syndrome is still unknown but it is related to:

stress or trauma-recurrent lesions-genetic causes

Symptoms include: pain, anxiety, “fibro fog”, fatigue, headaches, stiffness, numbness and sleep problems.

MEDICAL TREATMENTS Doctors mostly prescribe drugs to reduce the

pain, stop the inflammation and to treat the depression (if the patient develops it)

Cymbalta pills- duloxetine (treats depression)

Lyrica pills- pregabalin (reduces pain)

Aspirin 300mg tablets

feeling and being sick

stomach aches

dizziness

heart burn

weakness

The side effects of medication:

NATURAL REMEDIES

acupuncture

aerobic exercisehot

springs

yoga

ice and heat patches

HOT SPRINGS The hot springs are basically

pools of hot water heated underground. They are very rich in minerals such as Sulfuric acid, calcium carbonates, iron sulfate, etc.

BENEFITS

Helps relax the neuromuscular systems the nervous system and the joints.

Increases the oxygenation of cells, and helps the metabolism.

ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture is a technique

which involves an insertion of small needles to stimulate specific acupoints. Mainly used for relieving stress and muscle pain.

BENEFITS

It relieves stress in your muscles.

Helps balance your “qi”.

HOW WILL I DO IT? I plan to use rats to test my hypothesis, specially female Wister rats (Rattus

norvegicus).

Dividing a group of fifteen female rats into three groups of five is the way to start. I will only use female rate because the range of people with this syndrome are women.

Two of the three groups will be stimulated to feel the pain of fibromyalgia in the muscles and joints.

Group one will be treated with medications; group two with natural remedies; group three will be stimulated the pain but it will not be given any treatment.

For group one every day the administration of the drugs will be by pills and will be two times a day. The same for group two but instead of drugs it will be applied the natural remedy.

The experiment will run for three weeks. At the end of the week the results will be studied an the outcome will be presented.

REFERENCES Handbook of Clinical Neurology Volume 119, 2014, Pages 513–527

Neurologic Aspects of Systemic Disease Part I http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702040863000333

Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/antidepressants/art-20044970

http://www.nlac.mahidol.ac.th/nlacmuEN/p_animal_Rat.htm

http://www.mdconsult.com/das/citation/body/452335700-380/452335700-380/jorg=journal&source=&sp=24091763&sid=0/24091763/1.html?issn=15265900&fulltext_requested_noright=true