Study Proves Temperature Sensitivity in Fibromyalgia
Monday November 3, 2008
NEWSBRIEF: A study published in the journal Pain shows sensitivity to both heat and cold in women with fibromyalgia, and demonstrates an inability to adapt to changes in temperature.
Researchers found that women with fibromyalgia felt heat- or cold-related pain at more moderate temperatures than women in the control group. Both groups habituated (became less sensitive) to repeated heat stimulus, but the fibromyalgia group grew more sensitive to repeated cold stimulus.
Researchers believe these findings could have important implications in the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia.
Related Content: Fibromyalgia Symptoms; Poll - Do You Run Hot, Cold or Both?
Comments
So…does this mean that the suggestion of “taking a cold shower” is no longer a good idea? There had been an article several months ago dealing with cool showers and how it boost something in those with fibro. It seems that this wouldn’t be a good thing to do if it would make individuals more sensitive to cold. I hope they can link this to a discovery of why this illness takes place.
Good question! It’ll be interesting to see if the “cold shower” researchers make any changes based on this discovery.
I couldn’t stand a cold shower. Even tepid water sends me shivering for my warm fuzzy towel. I usually am the only one in the room with a coat or sweater on. I’m also the first one in the house when it’s hot outside. What a wonderful disease. We have it all!
I have cold sweats with my armpits are soaked& my body is covered in goosebumps ALL THE TIME it is literally driving me insane it is almost harder to cope with than pain
I am writing to you from the Pacific Northwest Foundation about a case study that may be of interest to your concerns regarding fibromyalgia. While this was not a study undertaken by the Foundation, it was a case with which we have had access to in virtually every detail. This includes the chart notes (with the patient’s approval) as well as the observations and insights of the patient’s health care provider.
The case involves an adult female who had been disabled for eight years with diagnosed fibromyalgia. Within four months of treatment, she was able to backpack, regularly work a full day and have little or no pain.
As with all our studies, it is our hope to stimulate additional efforts to determine if these results were an aberration or have wider implications. To this end, we wanted to make you aware of the cast study (which can be found online at http://pnf.org/html/fibromyalgia.html), in the hope that it might prove useful as a starting point for research within your organization.
Thanks and kind regards,
Frank Cook
Pacific Northwest Foundation