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Brain Activity Is Different In Folks With Fibromyalgia
2 Comments · Posted by bjmdjd in Medical Studies
A study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Michigan and published in this months issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism found that there are differences in the pain processing centers of the brain in patients with fibromyalgia when compared to others without the disease.
Researchers performed MRIs of the brain on patients and non patients and found that those suffering from fibromyalgia had more activity and connectivity in regions of the brain that perform pain processing.
Up until about ten years ago many doctors didn’t know what to think about fibromyalgia and many didn’t think that it even existed as a disease process. The feeling was that the pain was secondary to psychological problems that usually accompany the problem. It’s possible that this study will be an important part of the puzzle in understanding this confusing disease. bjmdjd
Material modifications since posting: none
Arthritis and Rheumatism · fibromyalgia · Massachusetts General Hospital · MRI of the brain · Univ. of Michigan
Cheryl Weinreich · October 5, 2010 at 9:47 am
Was this research completed recently? If so, was the research checking for cognitive issues or pain? Also, what is your opinion on the SPECT scans?
Admin comment by bjmdjd · October 7, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Cheryl…Thanks for your comments. As far as I can tell from several sources this study was done over a 1 year period and appears to have ended this year so it is fairly current. The research was purely for pain and not cognitive issues. Though this is not the actual source of my information the following link will give you further facts you might find interesting:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100729172431.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29
I’ll have to admit that I am far from being an expert on SPECT scans or fibromyalgia. I think that SPECT scans are good in areas where they have been proven such as in evaluating Alzheimer’s Disease, seizures, and strokes. In addition let me add that there are many quack “physicians” who prey on desperate people that claim many things about these scans that just haven’t been proven. They claim many other things too and frequently will make a very nice living taking care of patients with such diseases as fibromyalgia. It’s not unusual to have them drive in from many states away for “treatment.” The caregivers claims and treatments are suspect at best. I hate seeing many of these patients empty their pockets for unproven treatments and therapies. That’s the end of my rant and I guess I said all of that to lead up to this summary…I don’t know enough about the use of SPECT scans in fibromyalgia diagnosis to comment. Thanks again, bjmdjd