Today is World Fibromyalgia Day and for the occasion we have the following article by two fibromyalgia experts, Dr. Jaume Graell and Dr. Antonio M. Garcia, who reflect on the more than 20 years they have been diagnosing, treating and monitoring fibromyalgia.
The Institut Català de Reumatologia created its Fibromyalgia Unit in 1993, the first specific unit in Spain dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and management of this process.
After more than 20 years we have a long-term perspective of the problems presented by these patients at each evolutionary stage of their disease, and of the responses obtained with the different therapies applied.
This experience accumulated over the years and the careful analysis of statistics, together with the in-depth review of all contributions in the field of research, whether at the biochemical, clinical or therapeutic level, allows an updated view of Fibromyalgia and also new perspectives to achieve a better quality of life for those affected.
At the last International Congress of Ozone Therapy we presented a review of more than 3,000 cases controlled for at least 10 years. The results showed us an endless number of aspects to improve the treatment, both in the pharmacological, physical and social areas. Among the most striking facts, always according to statistics, was the better level of quality of life of those people who have followed stable guidelines, adapted to each moment according to the activity, but constant, under the direction of the same professional.
When comparing certain treatments there were big differences; the group of patients who followed a certain pharmacological and physical regimen plus systematic annual ozone therapy batches, obtained a much better result after 10 years than the comparative group, with the same treatments but without the application of ozone therapy.
Also in terms of specific symptoms, for example fatigue, one of the most difficult to control, we observed that a proportion of more than 70% improved with ozone therapy in general.
The well-established physical guidelines, appropriate exercises according to the evolutionary phase, massages, always with nuances in each case, were an important help in the improvement of the state of the musculature.
Today, after so many years working on the subject, we are still struggling to know more about the origin, the causes; it is indisputable that we know many more aspects than 20 years ago, but the road continues and we do not cease to fight to expand them. However, it is a process with such particular characteristics that it will not only help the patient to know if there is another altered neurotransmitter, but also to know how to manage the patient, as the Americans say.
After these reflections, we would like to point out some negative aspects that we observe are happening nowadays:
A) In the past fibromyalgia was not diagnosed, today there is a “hyperdiagnosis” daily we see patients with the label of fibromyalgia and suffer from another pathology, and others remain undiagnosed even suffering from it.
B) Unfortunately, some of the clichés of the 90s have not yet disappeared, such as ‘get used to the pain’, ‘we know nothing about the disease’, ‘we can’t do anything’, ‘you can’t be discharged for it’ etc. Expressions that should definitely disappear from medical language, as inadequate and false.
The future is hopeful as long as all the alternatives currently available are applied. It should not be forgotten that the treatment of fibromyalgia should always be “multidisciplinary” in order to obtain the best possible results.
Dr. Jaume Graell
Dr. Antonio M. Garcia